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Mr. Hale:

I'm not sure that your skeet scores translate well to the grouse woods. I could be wrong here, but I think there are far too-many variables involved. IMHO the data derived from a static shooting "game" won't likely apply well to the realities encountered in actual hunting situations.

Well, the data doesn’t lie.

Doesn’t mean that there isn’t an infinite number of ways to arrive at the same data set.

If you shoot skeet for scores and consistency, you shoot it pre-mounted with a dedicated target gun with a pattern that’s optimized for breaking the targets 5 feet either side of the center stake.
If you shoot it for its original intention, you shoot Low gun, delayed pull, and work at breaking the target at all kinds of different places on the field.

They are not quite the same, but they can be close.

If you shoot 50 rounds of skeet with a light load under the original set of rules, your forest grouse shooting will improve exponentially.
There is just a lot of overlap in training the mind, eye, and body, to put the barrels where they need to go to break the thing in front of you. If you can make that happen in two seconds, your first shot kill percentage goes way up.

The Skeet field is a valuable tool for improving close range wing shooting.

Lloyd,

I am glad you are optimistic regarding your new gun and share your enthusiasm.

The subject of shot charges vs shot strings has fascinated me for many years. I have fired and examined literally thousands of patterns, counted a corresponding number of pellet holes and generally wasted years trying to optimize my results. I have also read all I can find on the subject.

The earliest mention of shot string I am aware of is from old Winchester advertising of the Super X ammo. Late 1920’s to early 1930’s. Prior to that I can find no mention. Oberfell and Thompson did extensive testing in the early 1960’s. (University of Oklahoma press) After that Ed Kotsky did some testing in the late 60’s or early 70’s, again for Winchester at NILO Farms. Then came Bob Brister who tested and published his comprehensive results in SHOTGUNNING, THE ART AND SCIENCE. (Winchester press)

I also went outside the box and had a physics professor examine all my data as well as published data mentioned above.

Long to short is that it’s the shot charge and to a much lesser extent velocity, not the bore diameter that provides killing patterns. On going away targets (which most grouse seem to be) shot string is completely irrelevant. On short to medium (under 30 yards) range it’s almost irrelevant on a fast 90 degree crossing bird. At 50 yards plus, on a fast crossing target it’s a small but present factor.

What does matter is ammo quality. Progressive powders, quality, cushioned shot cups and most of all hard, round shot pellets. In consideration of the above factors I maintain that a 20 gauge with a top end target load similar to Win AA or Remington’s quality target load will likely put a higher % of pellets into a given area than any 2” ammo loaded today.

I’m sure your gun is lovely and has many virtues. Hope you post photos. I don’t think out patterning a quality 20 gauge load is likely.

Just about any practice with a gun improves my use of same. If I was serious, I’d live somewhere I could shoot 25 crossers and 25 long straights every morning off my back porch.

I don’t, however.

Best,
Ted

I always say we look at them and carry them a lot more than we shoot them. So, do what pleases you.
I’ve not seen such, but I suspect if you put a spreader post inside of a 2 inch 12 gauge load you would probably come up with a load that would cover plenty of aiming error. In other words, a crutch for poor shooting.

But I wouldn’t want you shooting over my dogs.

Mr. Hale:

I'm impressed. You've taken this far further than I ever have. I own Brister's book but I'm guilty of only idly reading the various articles that have been printed over the years so....I defer to your data.

I am however counting on the human element here. The success or failure of any of my birdguns relies heavily on my enthusiasm for them it seems...

Lloyd,
I sure hope you enjoy the new gun and hope to see photos. 👍