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19 March 2015, 04:50
The gun that fired that 95% pattern with 8 pellets in the center circle was my 20" turkey barrel using a standard 12ga Mossberg full choke tube. I was using that barrel because it has a scope and makes aiming more precise for this work.
I showed the results of those two tubes due to the general presence of full chokes and its drastic comparison to cylinder bore.
I was also shooting a Remington 870 having a 28" barrel with screw in choke tubes and did not see any difference in pattern density when compared to my 20" barrel with equal choke rating. I do not have a full set of tubes for the Remington so all the math I did was using the Mossberg, for which I have an entire set of tubes from cylinder to xtra-full.
I also shot 1/4 and 1/2 chokes and the practical difference is more dependent on weather than choke rating. Only a 5% difference in pattern count on the industry standard. On one target I got a tighter pattern with the IC choke than the 1/2 choke gave me. I shot the modified just as a puff of wind hit and got a scattered pattern.
I must say that screw in choke tubes are the best of all possible worlds. If I am not getting good performance from the choke I can cure the problem with a new $20 choke tube rather than a new gun or expensive barrel work.
After reading the material GH posted I look at the results of my test and consider the options. My #4 buck is .24 caliber and 40 grains traveling at 1275 fps. That is the same as a .22 long rifle slug and people will argue that a .22 is "adequate" all day long. Energy is the same, penetration is the same. Only one difference.
Just imagine 16 of them hitting you from head to crouch, at the same instant?
I showed the results of those two tubes due to the general presence of full chokes and its drastic comparison to cylinder bore.
I was also shooting a Remington 870 having a 28" barrel with screw in choke tubes and did not see any difference in pattern density when compared to my 20" barrel with equal choke rating. I do not have a full set of tubes for the Remington so all the math I did was using the Mossberg, for which I have an entire set of tubes from cylinder to xtra-full.
I also shot 1/4 and 1/2 chokes and the practical difference is more dependent on weather than choke rating. Only a 5% difference in pattern count on the industry standard. On one target I got a tighter pattern with the IC choke than the 1/2 choke gave me. I shot the modified just as a puff of wind hit and got a scattered pattern.
I must say that screw in choke tubes are the best of all possible worlds. If I am not getting good performance from the choke I can cure the problem with a new $20 choke tube rather than a new gun or expensive barrel work.
After reading the material GH posted I look at the results of my test and consider the options. My #4 buck is .24 caliber and 40 grains traveling at 1275 fps. That is the same as a .22 long rifle slug and people will argue that a .22 is "adequate" all day long. Energy is the same, penetration is the same. Only one difference.
Just imagine 16 of them hitting you from head to crouch, at the same instant?
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Every person should view freedom of speech as an essential right.
Without it you can not tell who the idiots are.
Every person should view freedom of speech as an essential right.
Without it you can not tell who the idiots are.