shotgun patterning

[jwpzx9r]

Hi

I am reading a lot online just now about shooting in general and have come across lots of articles on patterning a shotgun. Is it a worthwhile exercise to pattern your shotgun with the cartridges and chokes you use to better understand and characterise your shotgun and where it shoots, or is it just a lot of blah blah blah. What are the opinions of the shooters in the trap section of the forum? 

 

[Will Hewland]

Sorry to but in as a non-trappie..

IMO, it is very useful to pattern your gun and several cartridge choke combinations to see what the actual pattern is like. (Evenness of pellet distribution, overall size of pattern, gaps, shape etc.) Knowing that this all looks good at the correct distance is helpful for the mind if nothing else..

In terms of patterning for POI, I am much less convinced. In fact I would suggest it is useless. Only with movement and 'target attack' mindset will you shoot where you shoot. You won't reproduce that rifling a cross on a pattern plate.

 

[jwpzx9r]

Hi Clever

All shooters can add their views it is just as important to me :biggrin:  ! This is going off at a slight tangent but the reason I was asking this was also to do with cartridge choice. I am currently using a cartridge..well mainly because others use it and its the cheapest. I think this is the wrong criteria for selecting anything let alone a cartridge, which lets be fair, is a pretty major thing that enables you to break the caly. I am thinking of moving up to a more expensive catridge, but in the interests of shooting science and thrift think it would be a good idea to check out the patterns of a couple of the more expensive brands verses the cheappies The ones I currently use are called Solognac we get then from Decathlon €160 (£135)  per 1000 no idea who make them. As I say I could go and buy carts at about €200 per 1000 Saga Solera for example  but if the pattern is the same then why bother? Mind you I have only seen the Solognac in 28g 7.5 wheras I would like to try 8s in th efirst barrel then the 7.5 in the second.

 

[Will Hewland]

Hi Clever

All shooters can add their views it is just as important to me :biggrin:  ! This is going off at a slight tangent but the reason I was asking this was also to do with cartridge choice. I am currently using a cartridge..well mainly because others use it and its the cheapest. I think this is the wrong criteria for selecting anything let alone a cartridge, which lets be fair, is a pretty major thing that enables you to break the caly. I am thinking of moving up to a more expensive catridge, but in the interests of shooting science and thrift think it would be a good idea to check out the patterns of a couple of the more expensive brands verses the cheappies The ones I currently use are called Solognac we get then from Decathlon €160 (£135)  per 1000 no idea who make them. As I say I could go and buy carts at about €200 per 1000 Saga Solera for example  but if the pattern is the same then why bother? Mind you I have only seen the Solognac in 28g 7.5 wheras I would like to try 8s in th efirst barrel then the 7.5 in the second.

Good logic. I have done exactly this and now found an inexpensive cartridge that I would choose above many other dearer ones, regardless of price.

 

[Jan Powell]

Yes, patterning is important, particularly if your'e looking to change gun, choke or cartridge. A good pattern instills confidence and reduces doubt but once you're satisfied don't fiddle.

 

[Hamster]

In terms of patterning for POI, I am much less convinced. In fact I would suggest it is useless. Only with movement and 'target attack' mindset will you shoot where you shoot. You won't reproduce that rifling a cross on a pattern plate.

Don't know about useless, if you've ever had a gun you couldn't shoot with and suddenly found out why on a pattern plate because it was printing low and left  :shocked:  . I know I have.  :blink:

 

[Will Hewland]

Don't know about useless, if you've ever had a gun you couldn't shoot with and suddenly found out why on a pattern plate because it was printing low and left  :shocked:  . I know I have.  :blink:

I've never had a 'funny' poi. Agreed if you have a major prob, its a start.

All I know is that I need to shoot really low to hit a painted cross. Weird.

 

[** Pending Removal **]

Any more trap shooters going to answer...... :smile:

 

[** Pending Removal **]

Hi Clever

All shooters can add their views it is just as important to me :biggrin:  ! This is going off at a slight tangent but the reason I was asking this was also to do with cartridge choice. I am currently using a cartridge..well mainly because others use it and its the cheapest. I think this is the wrong criteria for selecting anything let alone a cartridge, which lets be fair, is a pretty major thing that enables you to break the caly. I am thinking of moving up to a more expensive catridge, but in the interests of shooting science and thrift think it would be a good idea to check out the patterns of a couple of the more expensive brands verses the cheappies The ones I currently use are called Solognac we get then from Decathlon €160 (£135)  per 1000 no idea who make them. As I say I could go and buy carts at about €200 per 1000 Saga Solera for example  but if the pattern is the same then why bother? Mind you I have only seen the Solognac in 28g 7.5 wheras I would like to try 8s in th efirst barrel then the 7.5 in the second.

Used to shoot a lot of Parcours in France and the first thing we used to do when getting there was to head for Decathlon for their 'supermarket 9's' .....they were brilliant....

Now I am a trappie I am afraid that I am much more picky.....!

After going through all the sweeties in the sweetie shop over the last 28 yrs I finally know what I like and what works for me....and that is Fiocchi.

I do not know what their supply is like over there in France.

However you have a fantastic top French cartridge manufacturer.....Mary Arm. If you are shooting FITASC sporting or trap and want to up your game.....look for Mary Arm Extreme (red/orangey coloured case) and Mary Arm JM (purple/bluey case and gold washed shot).

The extremes mash everything at all distances but you get great long range kills......and JM are a great middle distance smasher named after Pierre's father.

If you can.....always go for a better cartridge.....if you seriously want to win. If you are just having a kick around....you can use any old sh*te. :smile:

 

[Hawkeye]

You mean ANY trappies don't you Nicola 

 

[** Pending Removal **]

You mean ANY don't you Nicola 

274368 is a trappy I think.

Luckily Jwpz has said he does not mind who answers :smile:

 

[Salopian]

Patterning your cartridge / choke combination, correctly, will do no harm at all.

It is better to have  made the journey, than to have not set foot on the trail.

As for cost is it not better to win with a cartridge that is just a little dearer than to lose with cheap cartridges?

Of course the correct choice for you may not be the dearest, it will be the one you have confidence in.

 

[** Pending Removal **]

Patterning your cartridge / choke combination, correctly, will do no harm at all.

It is better to have  made the journey, than to have not set foot on the trail.

As for cost is it not better to win with a cartridge that is just a little dearer than to lose with cheap cartridges?

Of course the correct choice for you may not be the dearest, it will be the one you have confidence in.

True Salop True....

As mentioned on another thread.....I have just gone to Official Trap 7's for Helice.....which is cheaper than what I was using before (I think).

 

[Hawkeye]

Would they be the same as a british 6 1/2  

 

[** Pending Removal **]

:laugh:

 

[ips]

Would they be the same as a british 6 1/2  

Yes

Wouldnt it be easier if we all adopted the same format

 

[Andy S]

Yes

Wouldnt it be easier if we all adopted the same format

How long have we be Metric? Yet we still buy guns measured in inches :crazy:

 

[ips]

Good point.

Not shooting related but the things I find most funny are buying a sheet of plywood or hardboard.

8'x4' sheet 6mm thick ????

or

1 - 1/2" waste pipe 3m long ???

 

[Will Hewland]

Stick 80 litres of fuel in my car. Then hope to get 30 miles per gallon.