Long range patterning

[Frank Srebro]

This came out of a discussion on the Fox site regarding patterning of non-tox shot at long ranges. Might be of iinterest to others interested in long range performance and I'll copy it here fwiw.

> Anyone interested in long range patterning of Supers etc might get one of these template gizmos made up. Made of 1/16" butyrate by a friend in the plastics biz who has a laser cutter - but a template could be made by a careful craftsman with a jig saw. Sorry for the lack of contrast on the carpeting but the template is transparent. I've put on a piece of blue tape to show the difference between the 30" diameter outer circle, and a 20" diameter inner one that's particularly useful to check for a so-called "hot center" (pellet density in the center 20" circle versus in the larger/standard 30" circle). That blue tape is 5" long.

In practice you place a mark on your patterning paper at the normal 40 yards, shoot at the mark with gun held to the shoulder in normal position, then overlay and center the template over the BULK of the pellet pattern. Use a table and draw the two circles with a pencil. That will let you see the center of the pattern versus your aiming point, and see how far your point of impact deviates from point of aim. Using a Super-Fox or something like an thaca Super 10 - I'll normally just count the pellets that missed the 30" circle and subtract from the average number of pellets in the shell (less counting). Then do the math for pattern percentage. You should do a "composite" of 3 or better yet 5 shots and average to get a good count - owing to an aberrant shot that might produce a random high/low count for some reason. Trying to determine pattern percentage with only one shot will often give an erroneous % number.

For our long range experimenters .........

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/IMG_4211-1_zps9d253559.jpg (http://s1044.photobucket.com/user/silvers897/media/IMG_4211-1_zps9d253559.jpg.html)

[Bill Murphy]

Is the area of the center circle identical to the area of the outer circle? I didn't do the math.

[Frank Srebro]

The 20" center concept was shown to me by a noted barrelsmith, now passed, and is useful to evaluate what might otherwise be thought of as comparable patterning loads. Area of the 20" circle is about 80% of the "donut" formed by the 20 and 30" circles.

[Dean Romig]

The 20" circle (314 sq. in.) is less than half the area of the 30" circle (696.5 sq. in.) The area of the 5" wide band between the 20" dia. and the 30" dia. is 381.5 sq. in.

It's deceiving to look at it and try to guess at the areas. gotta put a slide rule to it.

[CraigThompson]

I never was enamored with patterns as such . I was always more intrested in point of impact .

[Dean Romig]

No kidding Craig?

The point of impact of which pellet then?

[Frank Srebro]

I came up with 314 sq in for the 20" circle, 707 for the 30" circle, and 393 for the band or donut as I called it.

314/393 = 80%.

[CraigThompson]

No kidding Craig?

The point of impact of which pellet then?

The center of the shot cluster in relation to the aiming point .

NO KIDDING :bigbye:

When you say pattern I see images of people sitting at tables laying the target out in different quadrants etc etc and then counting pellet percentages . While great if a person wants to do it , it ain't for me .

[Dean Romig]

Okay, thanks :bigbye:

[Rick Losey]

what ever happened to Dr Pepper cans?

[charlie cleveland]

there still around.. at 70 long steps and a can hung up on a steel pole is my patterning board...so far my record with any gun is 7 hits in can with no 5 s in a 3 inch loading of 1 7/8 ounce in asmith and wesson auto 12 ga.... but i do appreciate the fellows efforts here their way is the proper way to pattern a shotgun at long range.and it takes patieance to do this..i have shot the 30 inch circle a many of a time have never owned a gun that would put a 100 percent of shot in the 30 circle at 40 yards yet..but would love to own one that would and there are some that will...charlie

[scott kittredge]

there still around.. at 70 long steps and a can hung up on a steel pole is my patterning board...so far my record with any gun is 7 hits in can with no 5 s in a 3 inch loading of 1 7/8 ounce in asmith and wesson auto 12 ga.... but i do appreciate the fellows efforts here their way is the proper way to pattern a shotgun at long range.and it takes patieance to do this..i have shot the 30 inch circle a many of a time have never owned a gun that would put a 100 percent of shot in the 30 circle at 40 yards yet..but would love to own one that would and there are some that will...charlie

I did come close once to a 100 %, Did it with a NID Ithaca short 10 ga. 1 1/8 th oz 7 1/2 shot 99.6%. have other 10 ga with 85 % patterns, scott

[charlie cleveland]

boy thats a shooting gun..pete told of some fellow who had a big ithaca10 ga 3 1/2 inch gun that would shoot a 100 percent.pete said the fellow sold it he could not hit to good with it...charlie

[Rick Losey]

.pete said the fellow sold it he could not hit to good with it...charlie

or find anything left of it if he did hit it