doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Patterning Shotguns

Anyone had experience making a patterning plate? I know there's a million ways of doing it, but I'd like to hear from someone whos had experience first...

I am sorry that I never heard of a patterning plate so I can't help you there. Most people just get some kind of a piece of cardboard and pin it to a large board that they have made to pattern a gun with. The best I have heard of is to get a piece of disposable picnic table cloth at the local store and use it. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Jimmy - The patterning plate Daniel is referring to is used to judge where a gun shoots, as opposed to aiding in the counting of shot holes (for calculating pattern density, etc.).

Patterning plates are often used in the gun fitting process, usually in combination with a try-gun. They are typically comprised of a mounted steel plate that is painted or whitewashed between sessions. By having the shooter instinctively fire at a spot on the plate and noting where the gun places the shot in reference to the mark, the gun stock can be adjusted to bring the shot pattern onto the mark.

Daniel - can't help much on the construction. I've shot at a few of them but never built one :-).

Good luck,
Ken

We have one at Emmet County that sees quite a bit of use. Steel plate (don't know the exact thickness, but it's pretty thick) about 4 feet square mounted between two 4x4 poles. We use white lithium grease applied with a paint roller. It is useful for estimating pattern, and if you make up a string with a loop you can scribe out a 30" circle around the densest part and count holes if you wish. Just use the roller to smear out the pellet marks for the next shot. Simple and effective, but you don't have a permanent record of your patterns.

Per Sgj - thicker is better. Not thick enough and it will "batter" out of flat. Cheap white latex paint also works as a surface. A digital camera makes a record of each shot - just be sure to keep careful data sheets of each load and the photo number.

OK. I get it. And thanks. I just thought that the steel plates were called patterning boards, also, except that the were made of steel instead of wood. So what would you guys say? At least 1/2 inch steel should do it? Wouldn't you say?

Jimmy; 1/2" seems like about twice as thick as it needs to be....Nobody is going to be shooting slugs at it are they?...just my uninformed and humble opinion but a 4'X 4' .500 steel plate is gonna be a HEAVY project...Art

I'd reckon 1/8" would be fine, and perhaps a bit bigger would be better..5x5?...but if you're shooting close I guess 3/8 or 1/4"...if close wear some good classes ...& REAL close perhaps some body armour
Franc

Daniel,

I made one up many years ago out of 3/16" steel plate and it is still going strong with no deformation using up through BBB shot. It is 4.5' x 5.5' in dimension and sports a four-inch hole cut out of the center to provide a permanent pointing spot at eye level. This eliminates the need to spray-paint a spot for each shot taken. I backed that hole with (i.e. welded) a small 12" x 12" x 4" open-sided, steel plate box that I can also whitewash and count the pellet strikes within the four inch circle as well.

That size and thickness of plate was about all two strong men could hang vertically back then without equipment, as I remember(somewhere approaching 200 lbs.) and has held up well on its 6" x6" treated post framework. If you test 'T' sized shot or larger, you may very well need more thickness to prevent denting. Can't say....

If interested, I can either personally e-mail you pics of the plate when first constructed, or sit down and figure out how to post them here.

Good Luck,


Rob

The one I made is from 1/4" sheet steel about 4' X 5'. It is welded to two steel fence posts and has been in the ground for about ten years. I use any old white or light paint I lay hands on.


AL