Patterns are interesting, and I do my share of patterning. My ONLY certainties after all that shot counting is that hard shot helps even distribution (and that is the no. 1 most important aspect of a pattern for me), high velocities hurt evenness of distribution, and larger shot sizes are easier to create nice even patterns with.
The thought has occurred to me that if there were some magic formula for perfect patterns 100 percent of the time someone would have found it by now, what with the tens of thousands of combinations tested over the decades by ammo companies and reloaders.
My procedure works like this. I try a new load with the gun and choke I intend to use it with on paper. I shoot several patterns. If they are all patchy (have numerous places where the quarry in question could be missed inside the pattern) I scrap the load/choke combination. No shot counting, no statistical data generation, just outlining the "empty places", or "holes" in the pattern. If the load patterns evenly, I try it in the field. As much as possible. I am confident enough in my shooting abilities that I believe I can tell if a problem arises over time with the load that did not reveal itself on paper. That statement may bring jeers form the statistical minded members, but I firmly believe that if you shoot a great deal you can begin to tell a lot about loads from their performance in the field over time.
Over the years I have arrived at several loads that serve me well with this procedure. One defies reason, but is deadly effective on crows. One and one quarter ounce of hard 4's at 1240 fps MV, but here's the kicker, through a XXXFull Comp-N-Choke. That's a .655, or somewhere around 74 thousandths constriction, depending on the gun. By all reason that much choke should deform pellets to a fare-thee-well. But, the crows that die at 80+ yards don't know that, and I don't care, because it kills like proverbial lightning. When a load will take 10-12 straight without a miss at all distances and angles, day after day, there can't be much wrong with it, regardless of what the "experts" say it should or should not do.
My solution : shoot more, worry less.
All the best, Stan
