|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 572
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 572 |
I know I should pattern them and will when I get a chance. But just wondering how will spreaders pattern out of a twelve gauge cylinder bore? I have a case of them from 10-15 years ago and thought I’d use them up on ruffed grouse.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28,753
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28,753 |
A cylinder bore will already give you all the spread you want and maybe more. By all means pattern some. You may find they put you out of the game at normal ranges. They are designed, after all to open up patterns from tight chokes.
Grouse are too few and far between here to futz around with poor patterns.
What fresh Hell is this?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 572
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 572 |
Yes, I was kind of thinking that too. I don’t want to handicap my chances at grouse. I’ll pattern them out of both twelve gauges, but probably just save them for my Merkel that is choked full and full. Thanks for the reply.
Last edited by MnFn; 09/11/21.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28,753
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28,753 |
If you have a bunch, it would still be worthwhile to pattern a couple. You just never know. Might be useful on rabbits, definitely on woodcock, if you’re quick!
What fresh Hell is this?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,999
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,999 |
I know I should pattern them and will when I get a chance. But just wondering how will spreaders pattern out of a twelve gauge cylinder bore? I have a case of them from 10-15 years ago and thought I’d use them up on ruffed grouse. From everything that I have read, spreader loads don't spread as much as the choke is opened up. I make spreader loads with X-Stream inserts from BPI and Spred-R inserts from Polywad. When I pattern tested the spreader loads, I confirmed, at least for myself, that spreader loads don't spread much in open chokes.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 572
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 572 |
That’s interesting. Thanks Carbon12.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28,753
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28,753 |
That IS interesting. You just never know until you pattern in your setup.
What fresh Hell is this?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 129
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 129 |
I've got some of the Doublewide spreader 20ga loads from Polywad. Use them in my pack 20ga folding shotgun for grouse/rabbits, etc. Typically keep in a Modified choke and then have the Doublewides and normal shells ready so I can pop in whichever shell the situation calls for. Patterned with the Mod choke and the Doublewides live up to their name and work just as described.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 643
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 643 |
cylinder in 12 ga 1 1/8 oz # 8 shot is a grouse murdering combo
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 13,650
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 13,650 |
IIRC Mule Deer has written about their use a couple times. Again, IIRC, he bought a SXS that was full/full and used the spreader loads for birds he didn't want to use a full choke on. A pm to him might not be a bad idea.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 743
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 743 |
I think if they are 1 oz or more, they will work great. I shoot a 20 ga Cyl and use #9 Skeet loads for Grouse and Woodcock. The 9 shot just helps dense up the pattern a bit. The simple fact is that if you are on the bird, you are on the bird.
Last edited by mauserfan; 09/16/21.
RAVENS & WOLVES
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 975
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 975 |
When I was a young hunter, my upland gun was an older Western Field single shot 20 gauge with barrel cut down to 22 inches. Cylinder bore. Many rabbits were downed but I missed most grouse as they flew through the hardwood thickets. I was handicapped with only one shot but I did OK overall with that gun. It may not have been repeater but it was mine and I took good care of it.
Sherwood
FIRE UP THE GRILL - is NOT catch and release!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,139
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,139 |
Hunting friend has a 97 Winchester that was originally 30" full choke. He was a fair shot with it. Barrel got banana peeled about 30 years ago, it's now about 24" cylinder bore. Deadliest sharptail and Hun gun I've seen, good out to 25 to 30 yards with modern loads of 1.25 oz of 6s. He now lets long shots go, and hits nearly every time on close birds. Taking a lesson, I use a skeet #1 for early season birds. Works well when they are flushing a few feet ahead. I switch to light modified or modified after the early season birds get wiser.
Last edited by 300_savage; 10/03/21.
|
|
|
|
584 members (12344mag, 1936M71, 160user, 17CalFan, 10gaugeman, 1234, 52 invisible),
2,457
guests, and
1,249
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,191,408
Posts18,470,229
Members73,931
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|