Widest patterning cartridge?

[Geordieboy]

So then, I want to shoot fixed chokes. But want to know your opinions on the widest patterning shell, you've come across. 

I'll want them for close stuff as I want to shoot tight chokes. Weight and sh*t size don't matter. Pattern does!

 

[Will Hewland]

Express 21g Fibre used to be, by far, that I ever found. They were actually 7.5 shot. (All this “9 shot = wide spread” is a bit of a myth). 

 

[bisondan]

Hull Pro Pistons

 

[Geordieboy]

Cheers. I shoot Fiocchi Officials and Golden trap and both pattern tight with Golden very tight in particular 

 

[MJJ]

Your question is a contradiction in terms really. You are not going to make a shiiiites worth of difference on close targets with tight chokes, that you will ever notice. I use the same cartridge for everything and couldn't give a stuff wether its 20 or 60 yards away. I use 3/4 in both if i am lucky.

 

[Jonny English]

Pro piston is the way to go, very nice green case as well, but very pricey.

 

[Will Hewland]

Hull Pro pistons do very little. Nowhere near the one I said.. I’ll dig out my pattern records tomorrow.

 

[Geordieboy]

Your question is a contradiction in terms really. You are not going to make a shiiiites worth of difference on close targets with tight chokes, that you will ever notice. I use the same cartridge for everything and couldn't give a stuff wether its 20 or 60 yards away. I use 3/4 in both if i am lucky.

I know you're right. I really do. I've proven it time and again. 9 shot breaks 70yd teals with cylinder. I've got my barrels mixed up and done it......several times.

...hence wishing to change to 2 x tight chokes and change shells.

It's all in the mind.....I know. But when I'm AA class and shooting fixed chokes and 1 shell I'll pack all this in. Until then....I need a comfort blanket!

 

[chippy]

42g high performance steel through a fixed full choke gun will give very open patterns.

After the first couple of shots.

 

[DavidJ]

Would a fibre wad cartridge be a better option.

I'm confused about your insistance on a tight fixed choke gun but then shooting a different cartridge to try and achive the same result as changing multi choke gun changed to an open choke.

 

[Geordieboy]

It's all about reducing the amount of variables in my own mind. Instead of twiddling every stand, all I have is 3 choices.  After a while of shooting, the confidence goes up and then get down to 2 shells then 1.  Concentrate more on the target than the cartridge and choke.

That's the plan.......at least.

 

[wylye]

I'm confused about your insistance on a tight fixed choke gun but then shooting a different cartridge to try and achive the same result as changing multi choke gun changed to an open choke.

Not as confused as he is! Keep it simple for goodness sake.

 

[schmokinn]

F3 bior similar to the pro piston but with better nickel coated shot and MUCH cheaper!

 

[Doug Pinnegar]

F3 bior similar to the pro piston but with better nickel coated shot and MUCH cheaper!

Great shells but I found the F3 Blue 8.5's gave a more open pattern through my gun at least. I didn't get a photo of the pattern plate but was surprised to see.

 

[schmokinn]

Great shells but I found the F3 Blue 8.5's gave a more open pattern through my gun at least. I didn't get a photo of the pattern plate but was surprised to see.

I use both Doug guess it varies from gun to gun,my old Perazzi was tight on the bore.

 

[Geordieboy]

I shoot Fiocchi. All great shells. In fact my father says the Fblack sporting fibres are the best pigeon she'll he's ever shot. I'd buy the Biors, no problem, I was just wandering if anybody had experience of a wider shell. I'll try the 21 gram Express shells. I'll have to get the pattern plate out I guess.

Thanks everyone 

 

[Hamster]

This subject has cropped up before and the truth is you just can't buy targets that way; yes of course it helps if you open up a pattern to double the size (extremely unlikely even with specialist spreader loads) but you'll let as many slip with "under-thinking" gimme birds. 

If you're routinely shooting tight fixed chokes at everything then you need to up your game and understand why we miss close birds and address the root cause, the trouble with identifying a given load as "usefully more open" is that you go from stand to stand with your mind in a state of target/distance analysis, far better to sick to the one shot size (and load), say 8's and carry a small handful of 7.5's for long going away edge ons. 

If you really want to gain the extra couple of targets for close stuff then you need a multi choke and CYL or Sk providing you have the knowledge and experience to use them when appropriate. 

 

[Will Hewland]

Having found the ultimate spreading shell I found that I couldn’t hit anything close with it because I assumed the shell would do the work..

 

[Geordieboy]

Totally agree Hamster. 100%. But it's a mind thing. A "spreader load" won't hit more targets,  we miss by feet, not inches. 

It's a comfort thing. I've got every choke under the sun, but spend more time changing the bloody things than concentrating on the targets. The thought is 3 shells, reduces my thinking.