"progressive" powders and tight patterns

[OH Osthaus]

thanks

less powder and better patterns is a long standing general rule-

my goal is to get those old patterns at the longer range with Nice Shot and perhaps Bismuth

and my goal has never been to get nose bleeds


back in the lead pre-steel days my long range load out my doubles was a Remington express load- 1 1/4 #4 for geese and big ducks - #6 over decoys

i still have a few #4's left- they are saved for troublesome varmints -out of of a full choke they will end the marauding of a large racoon at a real distance

[Bill Murphy]

For pattern testing, I don't think you have to use expensive shot. My patterns shot with my old #4 lead duck loads, 1 1/4 ounce, Herco powder, were so tight when fired out of a .040 choked Sterlingworth, that the 60 yard patterns would fill a mallard full of shot. At 40 yards, the patterns were too tight to shoot at any bird. With harder shot, that gun may have shot patterns in the mid 90s at 40 yards. I still take these pattern sheets out occasionally, just for a look.