Tom I agree with you regarding pass shooting and several other points. I think so called squaring the load or maybe reducing the load mass sometimes is best possible option to help eliminate shot stringing. I think the brits had figured it out years ago since pass shooting is their predominant style, but they came to same conclusions you did through experience and then simplified it to a term of "squaring the load" (my thought no proof). A fella named Brister here in US tried to figure it out before slow motion cameras became more available and he became the foremost expert talking about shot stringing.
I brought up the same topic several weeks ago it got me to pondering and researching and to some extent came to somewhat same conclusion that others such as you had experienced, but I always want to know a little bit more as to the how and what. Bruce Day as well as many others are incredible brain trusts with their shotgunning and loads knowledge.
http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthr...t=square+loads
To each their own when it comes to shooting a shotgun at a somewhat stationary target like a turkey though. Shot stringing is not a real issue there and I can think this is the only time where pattern boards are real significant to not only determine point of aim but to see density of patterns. I have a 12 gauge that can shoot 3.5 inch shells that use for turkey hunting and it also has sights. Using a 3.5 shell and loaded with 5 shot and a turkey choke it patterns very well. Same load with 6 and 4s sized shot in same setup patterns lousy at distance. Probably several factors at play but more or less shot sometimes is not better, its finding the sync between load, gun setup and shooter comfort.
BTW there is a fella playing with reloading using tungsten for turkey loads that are light loads and some of the loads they have setup have reported incredible ballistics and patterns out to long distances using about the same amount of shot and powder you described.
Fun and interesting stuff. BTW Jerry that was playing with the tungsten loads and using 9 shot just posted some interesting update and followup.