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2/28/2026 4:53:40 PM EDT
Had a couple of hunting loads I’ve been meaning to pattern test.

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All were fired from my 18.3” Benelli M1 Super 90 with a cylinder bore barrel. 10-yard increments. Clean target each shot.

Both loads kept every pellet on a standard USPSA target out to 20 yards but at 30-yards both had pellets missing the target. For self defense use from this gun I would limit shots to 20-yards or less.

The Hornady 4B had very mild recoil.
2/28/2026 4:54:28 PM EDT
[#1]
Federal 3” 10-Pellet 000 Buck

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2/28/2026 4:55:17 PM EDT
[#2]
Hornady Varmint Express 2 3/4” 24-Pellet 4B.

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2/28/2026 5:12:25 PM EDT
[#3]
My body would rather pass on getting hit by any of it at any distance.
2/28/2026 5:15:01 PM EDT
[#4]
For the birdshot users here is a 10-yard shot with a 3” Turkey load

Attached File
2/28/2026 5:17:18 PM EDT
[#5]
Thanks for posting this.
2/28/2026 5:18:49 PM EDT
[#6]
Here is a prior patterning test of flite-control 9-Pellet 00 Buck.

https://www.ar15.com/forums/armory/Quick-and-simple-flite-control-9-pellet-00-test/1-559401/
2/28/2026 5:46:35 PM EDT
[#7]
Doesn't mean much without knowing the chokes used.
2/28/2026 5:53:13 PM EDT
[#8]
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Quoted:
Doesn't mean much without knowing the chokes used.
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Doesn’t mean much even then.  You could take the shotgun/choke that came off the line after his and get different results.  Each is an individual and why patterning is so important.
2/28/2026 5:57:49 PM EDT
[#9]
Should I do this even for my celebratory shockwave?
2/28/2026 6:12:16 PM EDT
[#10]
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Quoted:
Doesn't mean much without knowing the chokes used.
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At the top of the original post he said cylinder bore.
2/28/2026 6:19:47 PM EDT
[#11]
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Quoted:
At the top of the original post he said cylinder bore.
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2/28/2026 7:14:48 PM EDT
[#12]
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Should I do this even for my celebratory shockwave?
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Yes, you should.  Pattern all the smooth bores.
2/28/2026 7:44:53 PM EDT
[#13]
Thanks, I’ll keep it in mind if I’m attacked by birds.
3/3/2026 9:43:59 PM EDT
[#14]
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Thanks, I’ll keep it in mind if I’m attacked by birds.
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The odds are never zero
3/3/2026 10:15:49 PM EDT
[#15]
Quoted:
For the birdshot users here is a 10-yard shot with a 3” Turkey load

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/128204/IMG_7330_jpeg-3721182.JPG
View Quote


Wish I still had my Pic of the same ammo at 20 yards with my turkey choke on, much different.

Cool thread though.  I should do this with my little Judge this weekend, lol.
3/3/2026 10:28:35 PM EDT
[#16]
My HD shotgun is a remington 870 with a 12.5” barrel.  The pattern is a cone of buckshot that would fill my main hallway from side to side, at maybe 18 feet.  Pattern?  Eh, everything in that general direction may or may not get a piece of 00 buck through it..
3/3/2026 11:08:13 PM EDT
[#17]
Thanks, op. I really need to do this as well.
3/4/2026 1:56:20 AM EDT
[#18]
Get some flite control.
3/4/2026 5:34:34 AM EDT
[#19]
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Quoted:
Get some flite control.
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https://www.ar15.com/forums/armory/Quick-and-simple-flite-control-9-pellet-00-test/1-559401/

Additionally, the Hornady 4B in this thread uses Hornadys licensed version of the flite control wad.
3/4/2026 7:10:44 AM EDT
[#20]
Quote History
Quoted:
Get some flite control.
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This
3/4/2026 8:23:43 AM EDT
[#21]
Get a Buck kicker Xfull choke.
3/5/2026 12:45:50 AM EDT
[#22]
I did pattern tests with my 18 1/4" Remington 11-87 Police fixed I/C choke and my 870 with the 20" barrel and 4 different chokes and 3 different loads a few weeks ago. I actually had a lot of fun doing it and it gave me a lot better idea of the capabilities of each of them.

I still have to test my 14" barrel on my 870.

And Federal flight control is awesome!
3/5/2026 12:58:23 AM EDT
[#23]
Quote History
Quoted:
For the birdshot users here is a 10-yard shot with a 3” Turkey load

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/128204/IMG_7330_jpeg-3721182.JPG
View Quote


Flesh from bone
3/5/2026 1:35:02 AM EDT
[#24]
Will #4 Buck penetrate deeply enough?
3/5/2026 11:08:35 AM EDT
[#25]
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Will #4 Buck penetrate deeply enough?
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Ive shot 2 deer between 40-50 yards with that hornady load. Dropped them in their tracks.

I prefer 00 but I was coyote hunting. I was impressed.
3/5/2026 11:14:17 AM EDT
[#26]
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Will #4 Buck penetrate deeply enough?
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On unobstructed shots at close range, yes.

It’s not what I would want for shooting through windshields or car doors though.
3/5/2026 2:04:14 PM EDT
[#27]
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Quoted:


On unobstructed shots at close range, yes.

It’s not what I would want for shooting through windshields or car doors though.
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View All Quotes
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Quoted:
Quoted:  Will #4 Buck penetrate deeply enough?


On unobstructed shots at close range, yes.

It’s not what I would want for shooting through windshields or car doors though.


It'll go 12" in calibrated organic ballistic gel?
3/5/2026 2:10:52 PM EDT
[#28]
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Quoted:


It'll go 12" in calibrated organic ballistic gel?
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View All Quotes
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:  Will #4 Buck penetrate deeply enough?


On unobstructed shots at close range, yes.

It’s not what I would want for shooting through windshields or car doors though.


It'll go 12" in calibrated organic ballistic gel?


With hardened or plated shot and good buffering 10-15” penetration is typical with about 60% of the pellets penetrating more than 12”

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