Home Forums Birds & Dogs Turkey Hunting How is this for a pattern?

I'm working on getting my first shotgun ready for it's first turkey season (last season I borrowed one). Is this pattern OK or should I be trying something different?


Beretta Optima HP Extra Full Choke
Winchester Double X 3 1/2" with 2oz of #5
27 yards

Too many holes in the pattern. Try some 3" in number 5. The Win XX magnum shoots really well with number 5s in all of my shotguns.

If that doesn't work, try a couple turkey chokes. Th Indian Creek Black Diamond is hard to beat.

I'm no expert but looks pretty thin at that distance. I'd try and find a Truglo Strut stopper extreme (ssx) choke tube and give it another go. The Winchester double x or Federal Turkey Thugs from Walmart seem to be the best low cost options for ammo.

Thank you for the input.

I'm finding that the aftermarket choke selection for my gun is quite slim. I need Beretta Optima HP.

The gun came with a full choke, which measures at .691 according to my cheap calipers. I purchased Beretta's XF choke that measures at .689.

The only aftermarket one I can find is the Gobblin Thunder. According to their chart Kick's Industries, I should be using .680 with #5 3 1/2". Anyone think that is worth a try or should I go tighter at .675 or .670?

OPTIMA HP
#4 � 3" 680
#4 � 3 1/2" 680
#5 � 3" 675
#5 � 3 1/2" 680
#6 � 3" 670
#6 � 3 1/2" 675

I'd try some magnum blend before I changed anything else. Pattern looks a little light though imo.

www.oldgobbler.com


This place knows its stuff.

Already mentioned, but I wouldn't be surprised if 3in offerings did better.,

Sumtoy choke and 3" Hevi 7's or Mag Blend. The combo never dont work. Start with that combo in the beginning and you'll save time and money chasing what you're after.

Hevi shot is your friend

I did try a 3" shell with #4 but the results weren't any better. I'll upload that picture tonight.

yikes the hevi-shot is expensive. $35 for 5 shells?

i wish there was a combo pack you could buy that had 1 or 2 of various types of shells. that would help when breaking in a new gun.

Go to Old Gobbler like Bearcat suggested.
There is a lot of good information about Chokes & choke/shell combination choices, barrel polishing, deep cleaning barrels etc.
Look at the Turkey Gun Pattern pictures and compair yours to some of those. Keep in mind that some of the guys are looking for the most holes in a 10" circle at 40yds.
I would be more concerned with as even and consistant pattern at 40yds in a 20" circle. I would probably miss some turkeys with the super tight patterns they are shooting due to turkeys showing up at a different place than I expect them to at distances much closer than 40.

Did you try your full? The extra full may be to much relative to your bore diameter.

If you decide to shoot hevishot get the Hevi13 in 3.5" #6 or my favorite 3.5" #7. The #7's are serious stuff and have more than enough power for 50yds if need be. They are expensive but they are worth it. I shoot 7's from my 835 and my 870 20 gauge.


Here is a 20 gauge pattern @ 41yds - 16" circle:





I have another that I did not snap a pic of that is 229 - 16" and 147 - 10"

Yes. It is VERY expensive. I think there is still a rebate going now too though. I'd try the magnum blends or the #7's. Buy some mag blend and you'll probably be very happy. It gets less expensive once the research project is over.

Again thanks for the info. I started reading on oldgobbler.com and found that some guys with my gun have success with .660 chokes and hevi-shot #6. They also turned me on to a few more choke manufacturers and I am leaning towards on from Pure Gold.

I was planning to shoot #4 or #5 but it seems like a lot of people go with smaller pellets like #7. I'm just afraid that I'll end up with more pellets in the meat if I go with a smaller pellet.

Is that much of a concern when going from #4 to #7 shot?

Beretta Optima HP Extra Full Choke
Winchester Double X 3" with 1 3/4oz of #4
27 yards

Want less shot? Go with the Mag Blend. $30 well spent. I'll buy your left overs if it doesn't satisfy.

Pure Golds are a very good choke, I had one in my 835 for awhile.


The #7's have great penetration, I have not had any more #7's hang up in meat than #4 or #5 lead. The #6 Hevi13's are great too. I shot them for a few years and then switched to the 7's because I wanted as many pellets on target as possible.


Here is one of my 835 patterns with 3.5" 2oz #6's @ 22yds.

It put 15 OUTSIDE the 10". Personally I would like a tighter pattern than you are throwing.




41yds
Winchester XX 3" 1 7/8oz #5 - $6.47 at Wal-Mart

119 - 10"
210 - 20"




Here is my 835 + Pure Gold + Hevi13 3.5" 2.25oz #6's

Yep, I'd switch to Federal with flite control wad too...#4 shot works good....

No good as far as I'm concerned...