Benelli patterns

[mustfish]

Pattern tested my new Nova with buck shot. The choke tube is whatever comes on the gun new which is probably modified or maybe full. With a target at 50 yards I tested 2 3/4 and 3 1/2 shells in 00 buckshot. The 2 3/4 shells put one or two pellets more on paper than did the 3 1/2. I did not have any 3" shells to test. Wonder why the 2 3/4 would outperform or equal the bigger 3 1/2?

 

[1100 Remington Man]

With heavy lead loads on fireing they set back and deform rear pellets makeing them out of round then they don't fly straight.

 

[ishootkittens]

I have a supernova.. Please.. Please.. try the Hevi-weight #6 shot... if you can afford it. They are rather expensive.. but THEY ARE RIDICULOUS out of both my jellyhead and my tightwad chokes. Also if you have a NON ported choke tube, try the federal flight control #5's and #4's...Thats if your turkey hunting. I dont know much about duck/goose ammo, but the federal flight control wad will HIT and (in some cases) STICK in your paper out to about 45 yards. The pattern may be TOOOO tight. Just give those a try in the 3.5inch shells..

 

[1tonpower]

Are you shooting copper plated shot or straight lead.. I've found the federal copper plated 00 shoots better then winchester lead does

 

[ishootkittens]

**** my bad. I guess I could have read a bit better. I didnt see that you were using the 00 buck. I see the word pattern and automatically I think turkey.

Im still an advocate for FEDERAL! STAY AWAY FROM WINCHESTER. But if you want some nasty ****, try hevi-shot dead coyote loads..They come in #4buck 00buck and T shot. THey are all killlllller on coyotes and deer. If you search around you will see people who have used these shells are extremely impressed by the performance of these things out to 70 YARDS!

 

[jpd676]

First off, 00 Buck does not fly straight for very long and the prior post about deforming them is dead on. I think 4 Buck is the way to go as this load will pattern. I bought a patternmaster choke tube for my Benelli SBE and it tightened up my steel patterns considerably. The choke is designed for steel and buck shot and claims to give tighter patterns.

 

[Bowhunter57]

mustfish,
Welcome to LRH Forums!

Italian shotgun bores are a little tighter than American bores. A standard 12 gauge bore is .728", but Benelli and Beretta are .720". This means that a tighter bore doesn't need as much restriction in a choke tube.

Also, larger pellet sizes can be more difficult to get a tight pattern, than will smaller pellet sizes. This goes double for soft and hard metals....Meaning, a large soft (lead) pellet will deform when being restricted in a choke tube, thus causing "flyers" in the pattern due to flat spots on the pellets.
Harder and smaller pellets won't deform, won't have flyers and will hold in a tighter pattern longer.

Coyote hunters are finding that BB size shot, in a Hevi-Shot or simular alloy, will patten well out to 50+ yards...with an extended choke tube of a .670" to .680" restriction.

Take the time to give Carlson's a call and talk with one of their specialists. It will be well worth the time, for the amount of advice you will get for your application.
www.choketube.com

Bowhunter57