this is a pretty dumb question but i need to know the correct distance and size of the target that you use to pattern a shotgun.i have never really bother to do it before but am interested to see how my mirokou and remmington shot.also and tips would be greatly appreciated

I am not an expert on scatter guns. However one test would be to check point of impact Vs point of aim. Put in the tightest choke and shoot off a bench (just like a rifle) at a targer 20-30 yards away. The center of the pattern should be within a few inches of target center. A friend did this with a new gun and found it off by about 18 inches at 25 yards (down and left). The gun went back to the dealer.

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy.308:
this is a pretty dumb question but i need to know the correct distance and size of the target that you use to pattern a shotgun.i have never really bother to do it before but am interested to see how my mirokou and remmington shot.also and tips would be greatly appreciated

Shoot from 40 yards at a 30" circle. The 410 i think is shot at 25 yards. You can shoot at a mark in the middle of the target or draw a circle around you pattern after u shoot. Shooting at a mark lets you know where you gun prints it pattern. Drawing a circle over the pattern gives you the true % of pellet hits. YOu must know how many pellets in the load, factory ammo is very close in pellet count. 10 patterens are best, but as little as 3 can give u an idea. The bigger the size pellet, the tigher the pattern. A plastic buffer mixed in with the shot will give the tightest pattern. Don't put the pattern paper on anything hard like plywood, as the pellets will bounce back through the paper giving you wrong pellet counts.

What's been said plus:
1. Shoot from a measured 40y.
2. Use a standing rest. I use a camera tripod with sandbag on top.
3. Shoot at a mark. When you measure your pattern record vert. and lat. distance from the mark to pattern center. This will help you sort out a gun that is not regulated properly.
4. 5 is good, 10 is better, but tedious.
5. I use 40" wide brown wrapping paper as it is too easy to loose shot with 36" paper.
6. Watch the wind, it can really affect percentages.
7. If you are after a particular percentage you can go nuts trying to get there.
C.G.B.

There are two reasons to pattern a gun. First is to see if the gun fits. The guy who's gun patterned 18" low and left could have been remedied by raising the comb and having some more cast added. Of course eye dominance and facial shape both play a major part in where a gun shoots. When pattering it is best to be 15m away from a steel plate painted white. Mount the gun at the mark and shoot quite quickly once the gun is in the shoulder and mounted comfortably. That places the shot where you are looking naturally not where you adjust your mount to rifle sight the gun. 3-4 shells should give you an idea of where you are shooting. If this isn't done first then the best patterning load will not be shooting in the right place.

Once the gun fits then patterning a load is a worthwhile exercise. No point in having a cartridge that shoots 80%-90% inside a 30" circle if the circle doesn't go where the target is.

Rgds,
FB

30" is the standard "pattern circle."

Have a look at this link, down toward the bottom with "Pattern And Choke" and "Shot."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shotgun

-- Then you get into discussions about "Point Of Aim" and "Point Of Impact."

Point of Aim (POA) is where the gun is pointed.

Point of Impact (POI) is where the pattern hits the target.

Trap guns shoot "high" -- POI is above POA.


You hear around the trap club discussions about 60/40% and even 70/30%. Trap shooters set up the gun to shoot 60% or 70% of the pattern ABOVE the bead at the 16 yd. line. That's hitting the target (clay pigeon) at about 40 yds. (16 yds to the trap house, another 25 yds to the clay bird out beyond the trap house.)

Trap is shooting at a "rising target" and so you want the "bird" above the bead on the gun. That way you can see it.

If you set up the gun at 60/40 or 70/30 your "point of aim" is below the bird, but 60% or 70% of the pattern strikes the bird as it "floats" above the bead.

You shoot both eyes open. Focus on the bird. If the gun fits and points, it should put the pattern on the bird, floating above the bead.

You can screw in a full choke and "pattern" at about 15 yds. 7 1/2 shot. At 15 yds with a full choke, you blow a hole in the target.

Sight down the rib, like a rifle, one eye closed, off a rest. Shoot at a mark. At 15 yds, the "hole" should be about two inches above the point of aim.

Then you can screw in the chosen choke, step off the distance and shoot at a mark -- off a rest.

30" circle is the "pattern" -- figure your % of shot in the circle. If it's not dense enough, you need a tighter choke, or larger shot.

For trap doubles, we shoot the first barrel an 8 shot, Mod choke. Second barrel runs 7 1/2 shot and an Imp Mod. or Full choke.

On a trap gun, you adjust POI and POA with the comb height.

Mostly, it's crucial to have a good idea where your gun points and where the pattern impacts.

-- It is sorta like rocket science.