Variances in chokes?

[Bill Murphy]

Dean, to answer your question and clarify my point, "I don't think the patterning was random, I just feel that to know exactly what was used in the patterning, we have to read the stock book entry or have access to the hang tag." The range and diameter of the target probably remained the same for long periods of time. The load weight and shot size changed with the wind. I have seen stock book entries for #8, #7, #7 1/2, and all manner of charge weights. To know when changes were made, we would have to look at the book or the card. When the order book entry calls for a gun to pattern well with #4 bird shot or 00 Buck, I assume the stock book entry just may show test patterning with #4 bird shot or 00 Buck. I have some serial numbers of guns ordered to shoot buckshot. It would be interesting to read the stock book entries on those guns to see whether test patterning was done with buckshot. Unfortunately, as Mark and I have explained in the past, much patterning information is cut off the right end of the stock book copies because of the limitations of the copying equipment used by Commander Gunther when he copied the stock books. Page 866 of TPS shows an example of "loads changing with the wind" in the stock books. In a page of 12 gauge guns being patterned with 1 1/4 ounce loads of #7 1/2 shot, serial number 226,232 shows up being patterned with 1 1/8 ounces of #7 1/2 shot. Why? Who knows? But it is there for all of us to see (with a magnifier in my case). I have seen the same thing in the many Model 21 Winchester build sheets I have in my collection. The shells that are used to pattern these guns are all over the map. They used what they had, within the confines of what was proper for the gun. It tickles me to see the loads that they used to test 7 1/2 pound Model 21s with 3" chambers. They often used loads I would not even think to shoot in a 7 1/2 pound gun, but every day was a different day and the test loads changed with the wind just like they did at Parker Brothers.