Breaking in a new gun

H

HKguy9

New member
Hi,

I'm picking up a Benelli M1 Super 90 on Tuesday/Wednesday depending on the traffic. (Probably Wednesday!)

How many rounds should I run through it before I consider it 'broken in'?

What is 'patterning loads' and once it is broken in, how many bucks and slugs should I run through it to determine that the stuff runs good? Is one jam out of 50 acceptable? 1 in 100? 1 in 500?
 
Skunk, patterning loads are those used to pattern a shotgun. This is shooting at a large piece of paper at a given distance and seeing where the shot hit.

Everyone should pattern their shotgun, to determine Point Of Aim, Point of Impact, and whether your load of choice puts all the pellets where you want them.

I'd consider 200 rounds a typical break in period.

For a "Serious" shotgun, I'd want 100% reliability with a chosen load, and the only way to determine that is to shoot that load.

Slugs have extremely limited use in HD, a little more in LE stuff or riot management/containment. Buck is the usual choice for "Serious" use. Try different loads and test for pattern and reliability.

The archives here have a wealth of info on this.
 
Just tried some patterning of 00 buck in a coupla shotguns & was disappointed at 25 yards.

BUT.

There's no place in my house that's 25 yards long where I could even take a shot that long. 10-12 yards is much more likely for the longest shot.

You want to pattern any specific load at the distance that you would expect to use it.

If you'll be hunting turkeys at 40 yards, pattern that load at 40 yards. If you want to see what a 00 buck load will do at a "furtherest shot" in your own self defense/home scenario, pattern that load at that distance. Only way to be sure.

Dave's correct re point of aim & point of impact +, you want a "certain acceptable number of pellets" within that target zone at whatever range you pick as optimum. For an "in home distance," I'd want 9 pellets of 00 buck in a 12" circle .... I still have some work to do .....

It very well may be that a "bird load," within your "10-12 yard home distance" will give you an almost solid slug ....

Again & refreshing some of my "old days," I'm finding I like #4 buck - for # of pellets and patterning, all told. YMMV.

Gotta go out & shoot enough stuff to find out what works in yours .....
 
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