Patterning
K80's sure fire method of patterning your gun!
(read with a grain of salt
)
Go to a paper supply house and buy a roll of kraft paper, preferably 3' wide. Butcher paper or other similar paper will work also.
Gather up the following items; A box cutter knife with fresh blades, a piece of 2 X 4 wood at least 3 ft long, magic marker, or those large stick on target posters sold in gun shops that are round and orange, stapler or tape, wood for a frame, old pallets will do, pencil and 18" of string, Out of the way area where you can shoot without alerting the local constabulary.
Go out to your spot. Build a wood frame or metal frame that will allow you to tape or staple a 3 x 3 foot piece of the paper. Use the box cutter and 2 x 4 to cut off a 3' long piece of the paper. Tape or staple the paper to the frame. Place the orange paster in the middle of the paper, or use the magic marker to draw a target in the center. The target pasters are removable and can be used several times before they are shot up. Use 7 1/2 birdshot for the test.
Step back to a distance that approximates the distance you expect to engage the perp. Load up, raise your SG and fire as quickly as you can after acquiring the target.
Unload, go to the paper, check for the center of the pattern if possible. You may be able to draw a circle around the entire pattern with the pencil and string. Do this several times. This will help you determine the center of your pattern and if your gun shoots where it is aimed. You may have to adjust the distance if you fill up the entire 3 X3 ft of paper. If you do move closer and shoot again.
Shooting at varied distances will tell you what the patterns are at given distances, keep a record and write the distance on each sheet for your records. The size of the pattern may surprise you, and it is very revealing to non shotgunners who have misconceptions about patterns.
Some people draw a 30" circle around the pattern and count the pellets inside and out, there are charts available to tell you what choke should produce which percentage at given distances. More important, this will tell you if your gun shoots where it is aimed.
Some ranges have a pattern board, usually a metal plate that is witewashed and which will display the shot pattern. This is a PITA to determing shot percentages, but is good for checking aiming point. With the paper you have a permanent record, or extra lining for the bottom of the parrot cage
Remember, this is my method, take it for what it is worth, but it has revealed many things to me about my shotguns.
Geoff Ross