I've been,among others,preaching the bennies of patterning one's shotgun and load. This ensures effectiveness of the shot. But it occurs to me that some folks may not know what patterning is(Thanks, Pat).
Patterning is the testing of the gun/load setup to perform a specified mission. It can be used to check the Point of Impact,or the spread of the shot column.
So,here's some methods and ideas...
Think safety, of course, and then...
The first thing to do is locate a proper area for shooting. Once this is done, measure
off the distance.
And what distance is good for______?
HD, no more than 25 yards, and maybe the greatest distance one may have to shoot inside the home + one yard would be better.Being the cautious type, I do both.
Birds and clays, 25 to 40 yards depending on game sought or game played. A woodcock and grouse enthusiast might want to pattern at 20 yards, a SD Pheasant specialist at 40.
I like to use a 3'X 3' piece of butcher's paper, others may want to use silohuettes or whatever. Newpaper will work for patterning Buck, but it's hard to see little holes among the print. A big cardboard box makes a nice holder.
Set up the target and mark an aiming point in the center. Using your best form, mount your shotgun and shoot WITHOUT aiming if it's wingshooting you're testing for, WITH if it's HD. To even out discrepancies, repeat a few times with new paper.
Now, if it's wing shooting, connect two pencils with 15" of string. Setting one pencil at the aiming point use the other like a compass and draw a circle of 30" diameter. Note where the shot hit, where the most and least holes are. Remember, many folks like a pattern hitting a little high for rising game.
Count hits if you want, but looking over the area hit can tell you most of what anyone needs to know.If there's LOTS of hits outside the circle but the pattern seems centered, your choke is too open for that load, at that range.
For HD, see where the shot hit and use a template or eyeball how CNS hits would be.
Let's critique.If POI is different than POA,or where you want it to be, stock work is probably called for. You may not need a smith for this,some varieties of pump and semi auto can be shimmed with foil between the stock and receiver.Go easy, a 1/16" difference here can be a coupla inches at 25 yards.Slow careful work can dial in a pattern just like adjustable sights.
Other shotguns AND shooters may need the ministrations of a good stock fitter to get things right,but the chances are the gun/load is pretty close.
Hope this explains this important subject satisfactorily, if not sing out...
Patterning is the testing of the gun/load setup to perform a specified mission. It can be used to check the Point of Impact,or the spread of the shot column.
So,here's some methods and ideas...
Think safety, of course, and then...
The first thing to do is locate a proper area for shooting. Once this is done, measure
off the distance.
And what distance is good for______?
HD, no more than 25 yards, and maybe the greatest distance one may have to shoot inside the home + one yard would be better.Being the cautious type, I do both.
Birds and clays, 25 to 40 yards depending on game sought or game played. A woodcock and grouse enthusiast might want to pattern at 20 yards, a SD Pheasant specialist at 40.
I like to use a 3'X 3' piece of butcher's paper, others may want to use silohuettes or whatever. Newpaper will work for patterning Buck, but it's hard to see little holes among the print. A big cardboard box makes a nice holder.
Set up the target and mark an aiming point in the center. Using your best form, mount your shotgun and shoot WITHOUT aiming if it's wingshooting you're testing for, WITH if it's HD. To even out discrepancies, repeat a few times with new paper.
Now, if it's wing shooting, connect two pencils with 15" of string. Setting one pencil at the aiming point use the other like a compass and draw a circle of 30" diameter. Note where the shot hit, where the most and least holes are. Remember, many folks like a pattern hitting a little high for rising game.
Count hits if you want, but looking over the area hit can tell you most of what anyone needs to know.If there's LOTS of hits outside the circle but the pattern seems centered, your choke is too open for that load, at that range.
For HD, see where the shot hit and use a template or eyeball how CNS hits would be.
Let's critique.If POI is different than POA,or where you want it to be, stock work is probably called for. You may not need a smith for this,some varieties of pump and semi auto can be shimmed with foil between the stock and receiver.Go easy, a 1/16" difference here can be a coupla inches at 25 yards.Slow careful work can dial in a pattern just like adjustable sights.
Other shotguns AND shooters may need the ministrations of a good stock fitter to get things right,but the chances are the gun/load is pretty close.
Hope this explains this important subject satisfactorily, if not sing out...