Good points, and I do recognize the problem with shot stringing and pattern degeneration in the .410 especially, due to a higher percentage of the pellets being deformed due to setback, etc.
My idea is not to try and make the .410 equal to the 12, or any gauge in between, but to have a means to say, within reason, "Okay, I know how far I can dependably kill a dove with my 20 ga., 7/8 oz. of 7 1/2s and .020" choke. At what range do I need to turn down a shot with my .410, given that it has .032" choke and I'm using 11/16 oz. of the same 7 1/2s. Again, I'm asking about pattern density only, and I know how hard it is to keep shootability, shot stringing, moon phases and the constant shifting of magnetic north out of the discussion. And I am not belittling any of those real or perceived influences, just trying to get to the actual numbers.
You're right that each gun is different, and is a rule to itself. But, that doesn't keep every gun related outfit that comes along from publishing their own version of the "choke chart", showing what the constriction of each commonly referred to choke is actually dimensioned. We saw that in a recent thread. Is this any more difficult to determine than that?
Miller, I know you could tell me what the method is to determine this. Couldn't one simply determine the number of shot in the payload and use the square inch area of the pattern diameters to get a comparable density? Help me determine the formula(e) to use and I'll make the blasted chart myself!
SRH
