Patterning Question - Specifically 10ga

[Tom Roller]

I always like to pattern my doubles, particularly any gun that I am going to turkey hunt with. My favorite turkey gun, a basic 12ga LC Smith Field grade in Mod/Full, patterns so well for turkeys you couldn't buy a new fancy screw in specialized turkey choke that good. I've taken 12 birds with it out to 35-40yds and only missed once.

That being said, I collect 10gauges but i dont often hunt with them. I have several GH/EHs as well as couple LCSmiths including an Ideal I Recently bought off a member here.

What I have noticed, and I have tried a whole slough of RST offerings and shot size, is that to almost a rule all the 10gas I've put to paper pattern quite high. While I usually find a shot size, etc that shoots better than others, the pattern will often miss a turkey silhouette altogether unless you are specifically choosing a lower point of aim. I doubt it is my form.

Has anyone else noticed this before? Or am I just doing something wrong....or just unlucky?

[scott kittredge]

I always like to pattern my doubles, particularly any gun that I am going to turkey hunt with. My favorite turkey gun, a basic 12ga LC Smith Field grade in Mod/Full, patterns so well for turkeys you couldn't buy a new fancy screw in specialized turkey choke that good. I've taken 12 birds with it out to 35-40yds and only missed once.

That being said, I collect 10gauges but i dont often hunt with them. I have several GH/EHs as well as couple LCSmiths including an Ideal I Recently bought off a member here.

What I have noticed, and I have tried a whole slough of RST offerings and shot size, is that to almost a rule all the 10gas I've put to paper pattern quite high. While I usually find a shot size, etc that shoots better than others, the pattern will often miss a turkey silhouette altogether unless you are specifically choosing a lower point of aim. I doubt it is my form.

Has anyone else noticed this before? Or am I just doing something wrong....or just unlucky?

sounds like you are lifting your head,(????) look down the whole rib,
scott

[Jerry Harlow]

Tom,

I am finding that my double guns in the left tighter choked barrel at 40 yards are missing to the right, both 20s and 12s.
http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?p=240907#post240907

I believe in this thread I wrote of an L.C. Smith that would tear up a shooting match target at 30 yards, but only if one held it to the right hand top corner of the target. Probably ideal for 40 yards.

Thus my theory is the guns/barrels are regulated to a specific distance. As my doubles are shooting to the right at 40 yards, I believe they have crossed the regulated point of impact and are now on their way to the right even more at the distances beyond 40. With your 10s shooting high, my theory is if you move closer it will be on the center of the target. Or maybe the opposite; with a large size shot, say buckshot that will have more drop due to being heavier, it may hit center at a longer distance. The Parker letters are interesting to see specific requests for certain patterns with a specific shot size at certain distances. Those 10s may like number 2s better than what we shoot at turkeys today. At least I can explain away my misses. Just my 2 cents.

[davidboyles]

My top lever Parker 10 ga hammergun rolled 2 turkeys this year at 30 yds with RST #6 shot. Both barrels are full basically and I patterned the gun prior to this turkey Hunt. Dead on hold at 30 steps put pattern dead on and good density at that range. Maybe mine is just meant for Thanksgiving dinners. Also shot some doves with this gun last year with 7 1/2 shot little tougher with full chokes!!