et1
Member
Posts: 120
Location: Ontario Canada
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Post by et1 on Jul 9, 2014 9:01:43 GMT -5
Some of you may know what I’m asking, some may not and some probably don’t care.
The best way to simply check for your pattern allocation is drawing a 3ft circle on paper target with a visible dot in the center. Then draw a horizontal line through the middle and place target say at 30yds. Now shoulder the shotgun placing the front bead on the center dot and fire. By doing separate pellet counts of upper and lower quadrant you can now calculate a percentage between the two.
In my case I prefer a 60-high and 40-low percentage so that I keep my barrel just under the target. This allows me to follow the target (always keep it in sight) and watch for directional change.
While doing this check I also do a pattern check to see if any holes appear in my pattern or uneven density.
Some probably feel this is going through a lot of trouble with a shotgun. No argument of what’s involved but when you see your proficiency on hits really improve then this pre-stage testing is not that much of a problem.
If you are happy with what you now have then don’t tamper with anything.
If you are looking for improvement then this is one of numerous directions to go.
Ed
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Post by hacker54 on Jul 9, 2014 10:28:20 GMT -5
Ed,
Thanks for sharing this method. Is there any difference in using a 36 inch circle as to a 30 inch circle as most that pattern their shotguns use a 30 inch circle at 30 to 40 yards? I can see how this would transfer to upland hunting.
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et1
Member
Posts: 120
Location: Ontario Canada
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Post by et1 on Jul 9, 2014 14:08:22 GMT -5
Hacker54
I don’t believe results will be really affected if 6” diameter is added to the test target.
I use 30” as this is what was originally suggested to me. The big thing is knowing where your pattern is concentrated and any holes existing in the pattern. After that it’s just practice getting that pattern onto your target.
Nothing to thank as I just want to pass along some helpful advice to others to better their shot-gunning. My reward is satisfaction of knowing I did pass along something useful that helped someone else.
Back in my early days there was no internet and I was fortunate when someone with experience was kind enough to help me.
Ed
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mule
Member
Retired. Sales
Posts: 96 
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Post by mule on Jul 10, 2014 15:54:17 GMT -5
The most detrimental thing I have ever done in shotgunning, is spend time at the patterning board. Knowing that there are probably holes in my patterns makes me over-think my shots. I lose my confidence.
If I'm breaking clays and harvesting game, it ain't broke. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
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poohzilla
Member
Give me a place to stand and a long-enough lever, and I will invariably break the lever.
Posts: 1,050
Location: New Hamster
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Post by poohzilla on Jul 10, 2014 17:50:29 GMT -5
Interesting thought, et. I'm missing something, however. Let's assume you want the 60/0 split you described, but your shot pattern is evenly distributed. How is that adjustment made ?
Mule, I avoid the pattern board simply because it requires counting the holes and I can't count that high !
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Post by krwada on Jul 10, 2014 18:49:38 GMT -5
They won't let me shoot 0-0 buckshot at the pattern board ... Oh well!
hmmm..... maybe this comment belongs in the humor section?
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et1
Member
Posts: 120
Location: Ontario Canada
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Post by et1 on Jul 11, 2014 7:25:19 GMT -5
Poohzilla That is a fair and good question. To start with you have to deal with the fit of the shotgun to the person. The next step would be the position orientation of where the shotgun ends up when shouldered. My O/U was the worst for sight alignment where I always had to crank my head into position. Here is a picture of my O/U with an adjustable butt plate.  Just ignore the past card registration system that no longer exists. This was just my way of record keeping. Now when I shoulder my O/U there is very little repositioning of my head and dominate eye alignment. By adjusting the butt plate I can alter the high/low allocation very easily. Yes there is some additional cost to have this done but what is quality shooting worth to you? Ed |
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Post by hacker54 on Jul 11, 2014 7:44:35 GMT -5
Ed,
I see that the adjustable is in the downward position. Does this also adjust for cast on and cast off (right to left)?
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et1
Member
Posts: 120
Location: Ontario Canada
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Post by et1 on Jul 11, 2014 7:59:15 GMT -5
Hacker54
No this setup doesn’t compensate for left or right patterns. I’ve never had to deal with this condition so I can’t say what is the best way for correction.
Ed
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poohzilla
Member
Give me a place to stand and a long-enough lever, and I will invariably break the lever.
Posts: 1,050
Location: New Hamster
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Post by poohzilla on Jul 11, 2014 9:18:40 GMT -5
Et, I am wrapping my reptilian brain around it. Thanks for the explanation. Ken, I have found that if I shoot slugs, it becomes much easier to count. The holes are also reasonably visible at low power through the scope !
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et1
Member
Posts: 120
Location: Ontario Canada
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Post by et1 on Jul 14, 2014 14:27:05 GMT -5
Hacker54 As to your question about correction to cast on-off adjustment I decided to do some research and found an interesting article where an adjustable comb is used and here that correction can be made as well as high/low allocation. speedbumpadjustablecomb.blogspot.ca/Hope you enjoy the read. Ed |
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Post by hacker54 on Jul 14, 2014 15:56:39 GMT -5
Ed, Thank you and yes I found it interesting. I did some digging of my own on the subject of cast on vs. cast off and found the following: www.africanxmag.com/DGR_3.htm |
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et1
Member
Posts: 120
Location: Ontario Canada
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Post by et1 on Jul 14, 2014 16:51:44 GMT -5
Hacker54 Thanks for the return of info. It’s so true that the human anatomy quite often varies from one person to the next. When a shotgun or rifle is properly fitted to the shooter it becomes a new ball game for hunting accuracy and consistency. Wish I knew this earlier there would have been less misses and bigger volume of dinners.  Ed |
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bob
Member
I'm too old to be nice but never too old to learn!
Posts: 1,457
Location: Northern California
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Post by bob on Jul 15, 2014 0:21:48 GMT -5
Ed: This is an interesting concept which I had never heard of 'till now. I have always patterned my scatter guns and have had the butt stocks made to fit me, nothing too drastic was required, my problem is my master eye,it changes either voluntarly or by choice so I usually have to shoot with one eye closed most of the time.
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et1
Member
Posts: 120
Location: Ontario Canada
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Post by et1 on Jul 15, 2014 17:53:16 GMT -5
Bob
Interesting about your mention of dominant eye changing causing you to shut one eye.
In my case I sometimes have to partially close my opposite eye because I have a wide peripheral that can take away focus from my dominate eye. If something new or movement appears in the sight window of my opposite eye that’s it. That also holds true when multiple targets (more than 2) appear in my line of sight and trying to quickly focus on one, it’s a struggle for me.
Ed
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My daughter came from Missouri, my son and grand son, my wife and I had a nice dinner of grilled "porter house" pork chops, corn on the cobb, my son, G'son and I share 10/5. G'son is 4 minutes early though @ 10/4.
Pooh I hope you find to right house . 
