doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Choke Work

That .000 in the right barrel makes me feel a lot better about the way I am headed with this gun. Thanks, Chuck.

Dennis

Dennis,
Just remember, you have other tools to change pattern. 3" vs 2 1/2" and shot size, to name the two big swingers I employ. I've hunted SD roosters with a flushing dog with this gun, using 3" #5&6 shot.

I patterned with some different shells today. Tried Win. #6, Rem. #7 1/2, and Fio. # 8. All 3". 11/16 oz.
From the right barrel at 15 yds. the pattern diameter is 10 inches with # 8's. With the # 7 1/2's about 9 1/2" diameter. And with the #6 the diameter was only about 7". It appears that the smaller the shot the more open the pattern. The patterns are far too dense to be usable even if I could hit a quail with a ten inch pattern. I have some 3", #8 1/2's ordered and will pattern those when they arrive. I also want to try some #8's in 2 1/2".

I shot a few patterns with #7 1/2's from the left barrel at 20 yards diameter was about 7". Again not usable.

Interesting pattern results but I still don't think I can get this gun where I want it to be without opening chokes.

Looks like I have a summer project.

Dennis

You're on the right track, Dennis. Patterning the gun with different loads is the only way to know for sure. The issue of the long but patchy shot strings from .410s, mentioned by GRF are not that big a deal in your case, real though they are. You are using it on quail that, for the great majority of shots, are going away. Yes, all the shot from a long shot string don't arrive on the target at the same time. But, with a straight away shot, the difference in time lag between the front shot and the last in the swarm does not matter at all. Overall pattern size IS important to you, tho', and you're hot on the heels of nailing it down. Stick with the testing ...... it will pay off for you.

SRH

I think you'll find a 2 1/2" is plenty for a pointed quail...first shot. The second shot could use a 3", IMO.

Dennis, if you are going to engage in a patterning project, I'd suggest you read Dr. Andrew Jones's book, "Sporting Shotgun Performance." It deals in considerable detail with a statistically valid method of pattern testing. It will lead you to a digital photo based computer analysis of patterns.

Note that there is a lot of variability from one pattern to the next with the same variables (barrel, choke, load). The book shows that ten (yes, 10) sample shots are required to define a pattern. I suspect that much of the variation in results found by previous researchers is because they shot too few samples.

I would dearly love to see some valid .410 pattern research. You seem to have a very good test bed with a control barrel and a candidate barrel, both with tight choke that can be opened slowly. If you are going to do the work, I'd suggest you do it really right.

DDA

Best

The barrels are with Mike Orlen. Opening chokes to .000 & .006. I will pattern them again with various loads when I get them back. Hopefully I will have a quail gun.

Dennis