Patterning

[Randy Roberts]

A couple weeks or so back a newly acquired Parker DHE 12 bore arrived. The letter specified as follows: DAC 1 3/8", DAH 2". Special instructions were Silvers rubber butt, medium thick comb, 2" of pitch, no safety, trigger pull 3 pounds, 2 Lyman sights, and full choke. The price was $75 plus $10 for extra long barrels (34").

The gun now has 1 9/16" DAC and 1 3/4" DAH AND now sports a manual safety with a PB slide. The engraving used to disguise the slot is still visible under the slide. PB work, who knows? My concern was the where the darn thing was going to shoot as it felt and looked really high to me. I can see a lot of rib on this one so off to the patterning board we go. I shot it at 34 yards as 40 would have required me to get muddy. Using Fiocchi 1 oz of #8 with both bores at .040 constriction I was both pleased and surprised. Right bore was dead on as pictured with the left shooting the same pattern but shifted to the left about 4". Now if it ever quits raining we can try some clay targets.

[mobirdhunter]

Does it still have the thicker comb, and if so, how do you like it? I have three Parkers with the medium full comb. I don’t notice any difference except the wrists are thicker, and I do notice that in handling them.

[Randy Roberts]

Originally Posted by Garry L Gordon

Does it still have the thicker comb, and if so, how do you like it? I have three Parkers with the medium full comb. I don’t notice any difference except the wrists are thicker, and I do notice that in handling them.

Yes Garry, it still sports the thicker comb. Wrist would be normal and not thicker. Can't say that I can tell any difference either with the fuller comb

[Rick Roemer]

That pattern would be difficult to fly out of!

Can you let me know what you use for the pattern board? Is it metal and do you repaint it between shots?
Thx

[Stan Hillis]

With a gun stocked that high I have never had one to shoot flat. They're always way too high for me, too. I know how surprised you must've been. I cannot explain that, can you? When you're looking down on the rib I have found them to ALWAYS shoot high, sometimes VERY high.

But, first, congratulations. I'd be elated as I know you must be.

[Randy Roberts]

Originally Posted by Stan Hillis

With a gun stocked that high I have never had one to shoot flat. They're always way too high for me, too. I know how surprised you must've been. I cannot explain that, can you? When you're looking down on the rib I have found them to ALWAYS shoot high, sometimes VERY high.

But, first, congratulations. I'd be elated as I know you must be.

No explanation Stan. I see more rib on this than any other gun I shoot regularly. I shot it 4 times on the board and the results in terms of elevation were exactly the same every time.

[Double Lab]

Originally Posted by Randy G Roberts

No explanation Stan. I see more rib on this than any other gun I shoot regularly. I shot it 4 times on the board and the results in terms of elevation were exactly the same every time.

Now go shoot some flying thingies. That will tell you where it really shoots.

[Randy Roberts]

Originally Posted by Daryl Corona

Now go shoot some flying thingies. That will tell you where it really shoots.

That's the plan Daryl.

[Stan Hillis]

Originally Posted by Randy G Roberts

No explanation Stan. I see more rib on this than any other gun I shoot regularly. I shot it 4 times on the board and the results in terms of elevation were exactly the same every time.

Amazing. Maybe pitch can help explain it?

[ArtS]

I think it is just the nature of shotgun shooting. With a rifle, you carefully align the sights and adjust them to coincide to the aiming point. With a shotgun, and focusing on the target, you see the target and the alignment of the barrels to point to where you want the shot to go. I like to shoot a gun with a high stock so that I can see the barrels while focusing on the target. Doing that lets my brain point the barrels at the target point without thinking about it.

If I try to pattern a shotgun and treat it like a rifle, I often miss the center. If I instinctively mount the gun and shoot when I see the gun pointed at the center, I usually hit closer to the intended point. I have seen and read some gun coaches who teach this style of patterning.

Pattern like you shoot.