When I speak of performance, I am not talking about using a pattern plate. As Anthony mentions, performance equates to how the combination hits clays and/or birds. I am even more skeptical of the plate than he is; I’ve never seen anyone who could “not aim” at the plate. I do agree that it is useful for checking that the barrels are regulated and very roughly a sense of how tight or loose the pattern is, but that’s it.
As to drop - 50/50, 60/40, 80/20 - the set up again should be in relation to where the gun shoots against a flying target, as people see the target/gun relationship (a mostly subconscious thing) differently. For example, a number of the pros on the sporting clays circuit have guns set up at 100/0, and crush targets with that arrangement.
Same idea with respect to choke and load - proof in the pudding (performance on target/bird), not on the plate.
Last edited by GF1; 05/03/20.
