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4/19/2005 10:37:16 PM EDT
This was my first time patterning this 870.  Range is 25 yards, 18" cylender bore.

The raw data:

Hornady TAP Blue 2 ¾” 00 8 pellet Buckshot
13”

Federal Tactical 2 ¾” LE 133 00 8 pellet Buckshot
16”+ (1 flyer*)
18 ¾”
12 ½”+ (4 flyers)
16 ½”+ (1 flyer)

Federal Tactical 2 ¾” H 132 00 9 pellet Buckshot
19 ½”

Federal Tactical 2 ¾” LE 132 8 pellet 000 buckshot
19 ½”

Federal Classic 2 ¾” F 127 00 9 pellet Buckshot
17 ¾”
11 ¼”
17”

* Flyers were stray pellets that completly missed the 20 x 36 target

As you can see, this 870 brl patterns like shit.  I typically get much tighter patterns with Fed H132 00 than 19.5".  However Fed F127 00 did better than expected in this Brl (which I bought as cheap plinking ammo for my M1 Super 90).  Hornady TAP will be my carry ammo in this SGN.


4/19/2005 10:46:44 PM EDT
[#1]
Did Wilson do any backboring, polishing, anything like that?
4/20/2005 5:41:55 AM EDT
[#2]
Some Wilson SGn's have a permanent Modified choke installed in them and this definitely would cause the patterns you've listed. Buckshot can't be squeezed at the muzzle or blown patterns such as yours will be the result.  Try some standard velocity loads too and see if this changes anything. If it doesn't then send it back to Wilson immediately and request a new barrel.  Keep us posted and Good luck.
4/20/2005 8:00:06 AM EDT
[#3]
Modified choke should not "blow" the pattern. I have patterned dozens of shotguns and have found modifed choke patterns most buckshot very well.  Remington uses modifed choke on their 14" barrels.  Full choke can be too tight in some guns. MIKE.
4/20/2005 9:48:13 AM EDT
[#4]

Quoted:
Modified choke should not "blow" the pattern. I have patterned dozens of shotguns and have found modifed choke patterns most buckshot very well.



I have to agree with this.  In the late 80's one of the NRA publications did some extensive patterning tests with buckshot and they cogot the tightest patterns with a Modified choke in fact.
4/20/2005 9:51:06 AM EDT
[#5]

Quoted:
Try some standard velocity loads too and see if this changes anything.



This one is a standard velocity load.  All the others were "low recoil" or "tactical" loads.

Federal Classic 2 ¾” F 127 00 9 pellet Buckshot
17 ¾”
11 ¼”
17”


No flyers, but that 11 1/4" pattern was a fluke for sure.


ETA: I have Emailed Wilson Combat and asked if these are typical patterns for their 870's.
4/20/2005 11:43:46 AM EDT
[#6]
Wilson Combat's response:

"we do not have an official "typical pattern".  


Xxxxx Xxxxx
Customer Satisfaction Representative
Wilson Combat"

Damn!

4/20/2005 12:16:48 PM EDT
[#7]
Both my sons have Mossberg 500's in 20 gauge. Using the same Mossberg X-full turkey choke in both guns result in totaly different patterns using the same turkey loads. EVERY SHOTGUN SHOOTS DIFFERENT. MIKE.
4/20/2005 1:35:59 PM EDT
[#8]

Quoted:
EVERY SHOTGUN SHOOTS DIFFERENT. MIKE.



For sure.  There is however a typical performance range.  there is some point at which patterns are unusually large, or unusually small for a particular Brl/Choke/Load.
4/20/2005 2:24:15 PM EDT
[#9]
From the Remington web site:
 
Rem™ Chokes
Rem Chokes are a system of interchangeable choke tubes that allow you to quickly and easily change the choke of your shotgun to match specific hunting conditions.  Rem Choke tubes are made in America from the highest grade of heat-treated, seamless stainless steel - giving them the strength to handle steel or lead shot without wear or loss of constriction.

 
Chokes
The inside bore constriction at the muzzle end of a shotgun's barrel is known as the "choke." When a shotshell is fired, shot travels down the bore, exits the muzzle and begins to "spread out." Just as a nozzle on the end of a garden hose controls the spray of water, the choke controls the spread of shot — making it narrower or wider.

The three basic chokes for a shotgun are known as "full" (tight constriction; delivers a narrow, dense spread), "modified" (less constriction; delivers a medium-width spread) and "improved cylinder" (even less constriction; delivers a wide, open spread). A gun which has no choke is called a "cylinder bore" and delivers the widest spread. There are also a number of specialty chokes that provide narrower or wider spreads — some of the most popular are for skeet shooting and turkey hunting.

A shotgun's choke also determines its effective range. The tighter the constriction, the farther the effective range. For instance, a "full" choke is most effective at 40 to 50 yards. An "improved cylinder" is most effective from 20 to 35 yards. Shotgun barrels come with either "fixed" (non-removable) chokes or today's more popular "interchangeable" screw-in choke tubes (like the Rem Choke system) that allow hunters to quickly and easily change chokes to match changing shooting conditions.

Most commonly used chokes:
Super-Full and Extra-Full Chokes: "The gobbler getters." Specialized chokes with extra-tight constrictions and the densest patterns — ideally suited for the head shots necessary in turkey hunting.

Full Choke: Tight constriction for dense pattern (approximately 70% of a shell's total pellets in a 30" circle at 40 yards). Best for trap shooting, pass shooting waterfowl, turkey hunting and shooting buckshot loads.

Modified Choke: Less constriction than full choke (approximately 60% of a shell's total pellets in a 30" circle at 40 yards). Excellent for all-around hunting of waterfowl, long-range flushing upland birds (such as late-season pheasant and sharptail grouse) as well as other small game. Also used for trap shooting.

Improved Cylinder Choke: Even less constriction than modified (approximately 50% of a shell's total pellets in a 30" circle at 40 yards). Ideal for close-in small game shooting, upland bird hunting (such as quail, grouse and pheasant) as well as hunting waterfowl close over decoys. Rifled slugs also perform very well from this choke.

Cylinder Bore: No constriction (approximately 40% of a shell's total pellets in a 30" circle at 40 yards). Most often used by law enforcement for service shotguns.

Skeet Choke: a specialty choke (approximately 50% of a shell's total pellets in a 30" circle at 25 yards) designed to deliver optimum patterns for close-range skeet shooting.

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Another answer from the Remington web site:

 What choke tubes are suggested for buckshot?

 Answer
 We recommend patterning your shotgun to determine which choke constriction provides the best patterns in your shotgun. Typically, most shotguns will produce better patterns with a more open choke constriction; improved cylinder or modified. The more open choke tubes result in less pellet deformity as the shot charge passes through the choke with the larger buckshot pellets and will typically pattern better than a full choke.  

As you see these two answers contradict each other. The first answer states full choke for buckshot and the other states IC or mod. You have to shoot your own gun and find what it likes. MIKE.  
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