Old Shells/New Shells?

[John Dallas]

We all "know" that modern shells pattern better as a result of plastic shot cups/wads. Has anyone ever seen any testing which confirms that?

[Dennis V. Nix]

While I have not personally, "seen" pattern tests which show better patterns (define better-is it denser shot patterns or more even shot patterns) I have read a lot of articles from sporting gun magazines which indicate that the newer shot shells with shot cups throw denser patterns. An older gun marked modified choke will most likely shoot a full choke pattern.

Dennis

[charlie cleveland]

new shot shells will throw a better pattern than old shells..i ve tested this on paper a number of times..i have loaded lots of reloads useing no shot cup and they will not pattern as good as a shell that uses a shot cup..then we can get into speciatiy loads useing buffer and no slit wads and these loads really shoot tight patterns...... charlie

[CraigThompson]

My handloads throw better patterns !

Oh yeah I forgot about all I shoot are handloads :whistle:

[CraigThompson]

new shot shells will throw a better pattern than old shells..i ve tested this on paper a number of times..i have loaded lots of reloads useing no shot cup and they will not pattern as good as a shell that uses a shot cup..then we can get into speciatiy loads useing buffer and no slit wads and these loads really shoot tight patterns...... charlie

When I first started with the 10 gauge buckshot loads I tried buffered and non buffered and saw no great difference in my W&C Scott . So I forgot about the buffer .

It may help in the Ithaca and LC Smith but based on what I've seen with them shooting several sizes of non buffered buck I see no reason to try .

[charlie cleveland]

i too dont use a buffer in my loads but it will help keep a tighter pattern for sure especally with no slit wad petals..for my average shooting no buffer is used..mainly because of cost and the time it takes to put in the load.but if i was loading a turkey load it would have buffer and a no slit padal wad...charlie

[scott kittredge]

We all "know" that modern shells pattern better as a result of plastic shot cups/wads. Has anyone ever seen any testing which confirms that?

I shoot a lot of patterns, I have some old paper factory 1 1/8 oz 4's 12 ga, look to be from 1930's or 40's. had to try one, it shot 80 % out of a full choked parker. I couldn't get my reloads to shoot that tight out of the same gun. 72%. maybe I will try it again to see if it shoots the same, I will get back to you all, scott

Well ,I just did another test pattern after my post above with the old rem. 1 oz 4's with my 28 in. Trojan 12 ga F/F and it too shot 80 %. 108 hits out of 134 in the load, so new shell to old ?? I am still out on it , need more test, scott