<P style="MARGIN: 0px">Hi guys, I spent some time patterning a few of my guns last night... wanted to see how some of the loads I've been using look on paper. I had done some patterning a few years ago, but have since bought a few cases of some new stuff. I first shot my new Browning Gold 10 with the factory Mod. Choke, with Remington Nitro-Steel BB's, 1 3/4 oz. I wanted to try some other brands, but nobody in the area carries 10ga ammo this time of year, I drove all over! Anyway, the patterns looked good at 40yds, but I still plan to try some other loads. Next I tried my 11-87 Super Mag. I've been using 3.5in Winchester Super-X BB's 1 9/16 oz since I got it, and patterned them a few years ago with the Mod choke and things looked good. However, I have since begun to use Kent and Federal's in it as well. I first shot the Kent 3.5in #1's with 1 9/16 oz. The patterns at 40 yds thru the Mod choke were pretty sparse, didn't appear even and dense enough to ensure killing a duck from that range. Next I tried my Federal's. They are the new Premium Heavy High Velocity 3.5in #1's, with 1.5oz of shot. This load had a little bit better pattern, but I still am not satisfied. I have the full choke for the gun, which is supposedly approved for use with steel shot. However, I'm wondering if any of you have been using the Rem Choke full for steel shot, and if any barrel damage has occured. I guess I still have it stuck in my head that I shouldn't use anything tighter than Mod unless I buy an aftermarket extended choke (patternmaster, haydels, etc..) because I read somewhere that the full chokes that aren't extended can lead to ring bulging. Does anyone else out there use a similar gunning system? I'm reluctant to just start buying new chokes because of their cost, and I doubt you can return them if the patterns didn't turn out well. Any advice would be appreciated.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">Dustin</P>
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<P>the full should be fine........i shot mine with full for year's with no problem....i had the 11-87 3" gun.........look at some of the aftermarket tubes..they choke down more then your remington factory tube..... </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px">When I used an 11-87, I got my best patterns, in terms of tightness, with an improved modified. Factory full was just a little too tight for best patterns. I used the Hastings flush IM, and also used their extended Xfull for T & F Steel, which is also a IM, but is specifically designed for big steel shot, and called an Xfull because of the patterns it shoots, rather than the IM lead shot constriction it possesses.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">With a Browning Invector Plus barrel, we got our best patterns with a Briley extended light full.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">While it isn't always true, generally a good extended aftermarket choke will pattern steel shot better than most factory chokes. You really have to try them out to be certain.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">In my BPS10, I have the factory chokes, a Pattern Master, an extended Trulock Mod., an extended Trulock Imp. Mod., a .705" Terror and a .720" Terror choke. The Trulocks are nearly identical to Brileys.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">I found the best long range patterns (50-60 yards) were consistently delivered in my 10ga. by the Terror chokes. I prefer the .720" for my 1500 fps. BBB loads, although the .705" will deliver tighter patterns with lead and duckshot size steel shot. The Trulock modified gave the best maximum 40 yard range patterns, but I wouldn't push it beyond 40 yards. The Imp. Mod. was too tight for best patterning with BBB's, but may be a good choice for BB's and smaller if you want to save a little money by not buying a Terror.</P>
<P>Here's a couple of pics. of patterns shot with the .720" Terror choke and a 1 1/2 oz. 1500 fps. BBB hand load at 50 yards. If you shoot nothing bigger than BB's, perhaps for snow geese, the .705" would probably give a tighter pattern for long range shooting.</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px">hey guys thank you very much for the input, I appreciate it! i'll let you know what happens as I continue to try different chokes/loads.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">Dustin</P>
<P>Did some more patterning work last night. I tried my 11-87 Super Mag with the factory full lead/steel choke (I'd used the Mod tube last time, and ran out of daylight so I didn't get to continue). The patterns still look like crap at 40 yards, very little noticable difference compared with the Mod choke. I first shot my Kent loads thru it- 3.5" 1 9/16 oz of #1 shot. I then shot my Federal loads, which are the new HHV loads, 3.5" 1.5oz of #1 shot. This pattern didn't look any better. I read in a post about Rem Chokes that some of you havn't had good luck with 26" and shorter barreled guns, and my gun has a 26". I was frustrated, and wanted to see how the Federal and Kent loads patterned in one of my other guns, so I got out my Browning BPS Mag. I shot the Kent load thru the gun with the Mod. tube in, and the pattern looked OK, actually it'd probably be a gread combo for using over decoys at shots in the 30-35 yard range. I then tried the Federal load thru the Browning, and the patterns were beautiful! It was actually a tighter patten than I had been able to achieve with the Remington full choke, and this was thru a Browning Mod tube! Now, the Browning has a 28" barrel, and it's back-bored, do you guys think that's what made the difference? Or maybe it's just that the Rem Full choke is just too tight, as tripleb suggested. Looks like I'm gonna have to start trying aftermarket tubes if I want to get this 11-87 shooting well.</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px">It's hard to say definitively why one barrel patterns better or worse with a particular load. Some people believe it's due to barrel harmonics, the way the barrel is vibrating when the shot charge leaves the barrel. Just as a centerfire rifle barrel vibrations can adversely affect bullet grouping, they argue that it also can affect patterns. I don't know if that is true, but there does seem to be a pattern where certain guns tend to pattern better than others. Generally, a Rem. 12ga. will pattern well, but like most 12ga. guns, it often requires an extended choke to do so with steel shot.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">If you can borrow an extended Briley improved modified or a Hastings Xfull for T & F shot (which is really an improved modified), I would expect your patterns to improve. Personally, I prefer the .675" Terror chokes for shooting 35 yards up to 50 yards. They have consistently outperformed all other chokes I have tried with a wide range of shot sizes, types and velocities. They are expensive, but there is a liberal return policy if you are unsatisfied with it, provided it is undamaged. </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px">Havn't seen Terror chokes for sale anywhere, where do you get them? Didn't even see them in Cabela's catalog, or Macks! Is there a different name for them?</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">Dustin</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px">The Terror chokes can be purchased from either of the following:</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"><A href="http://surecycle.com/default.asp" target=_blank>http://surecycle.com/default.asp</A></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">or</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"><A href="http://wadwizard.com/TerrorTubes.htm" target=_blank>http://wadwizard.com/TerrorTubes.htm</A></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">Surecycle makes both the Wad Wizard and the Terror chokes, however Wad Wizard, as a retail source, sells them a little cheaper ($5.00). Do not get the .655" unless you want a turkey choke or a choke for shooting snow geese at very long ranges. Do not get the .700" unless you want a mid range (20-35 yards) choke. The .675" is best suited with most loads for 35-50 yards in most guns.</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px">hey tripleb thanks again for the info, you're the one-stop-shop ballistics expert!</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">Dustin</P>
<P>Don't forget DeWayne Knight. I acquired what I know by being too cheap to pay someone else to work on my guns. DeWayne is the one I would ask if I had a question on firearms.</P>
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