Patterns of loads

[jshoebot]

So as I've said in all previous threads I've started in this subforum, I'm new to shotguns. Just thought I'd get that out of the way

Now that being said, I have a few questions regarding patterns of loads.

First: what's the purpose of shooting for patterns?

What is a good way to pattern different loads in my shotgun? Just load up different brands/loads and fire a few off?

What should I look for in a pattern? What's good? What's bad?

Thanks guys!

[corrupt]

First, I assume you're talking about a defensive shotgun and ammo since you did not specify.

Find ammo that patterns well (all shot is within a certain area, typically man-sized target) without fliers. Typically you should find ammo that does this at 25 yds, anything over that you're lucky or you have a barrel that's been worked on to tighten the groups (vang comp for example). I think this is obvious why you would want ammo for your gun that patterns well. You want to know where all your projectiles are going at distance.

[Reductio]

What you do NOT want to see in a shotgun pattern is a doughnut shape showing up. If you're getting pellets everywhere except where you're aiming, it's a bad load. What you do want is for the pellets to be fairly close together, the tighter the better. They'll take different paths once they hit something, eh, organic.

If you're shooting buck in a cylinder bore, hands down get some Federal Flitecontrol wad buckshot: stuff patterns tighter than anything else.

Now if you're going hunting or shooting clays, that's an entirely different world....

[corrupt]

You might even want to save the paper targets for liability reasons (as well as reference) to show that you're not some yahoo should you have to use your shotgun for defensive purposes. Also note that a shotgun bbl made by the same company on the same line will pattern and prefer different loads than the one you have. Buy boxes of a few different ammo and try em all out. You should be able to get all the shot in a man-sizes target at 25 yds.

[j1133s]

So as I've said in all previous threads I've started in this subforum, I'm new to shotguns. Just thought I'd get that out of the way

Now that being said, I have a few questions regarding patterns of loads.

First: what's the purpose of shooting for patterns?

What is a good way to pattern different loads in my shotgun? Just load up different brands/loads and fire a few off?

What should I look for in a pattern? What's good? What's bad?

Thanks guys!

A good pattern is a nice round pattern with even distribution of shots. A bad pattern is uneven distribution. If you try different ammos, you'll see some give better patterns.