Patterning a Shotgun
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The following steps show hunters how to pattern their shotguns:
- Select an area that provides a safe backdrop.
- Wear a good pair of shooting glasses and hearing protection.
- Set up patterning paper at least 40 inches square and mark an aiming point near the center of the paper.
- Select the shotgun/load combination to be tested and measure the distance from the patterning paper that approximates the typical range that load will be used at while hunting.
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- Shoot at least five test patterns, each on a separate pattern sheet.
- Outline a 30-inch circle around the densest portion of the pattern.
- Check the pattern for evenness and uniformity.
- Determine if the pattern is dense enough for the game you are hunting. Remember, small game requires dense patterns with small shot and larger game needs bigger pellets with a less dense pattern.
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Shot Sizes
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F |
T |
BBB |
BB |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
7½ |
8 |
8½ |
9 |
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Pellet
Diameter |
|
|
Inches |
.22 |
.20 |
.19 |
.18 |
.16 |
.15 |
.14 |
.13 |
.12 |
.11 |
.10 |
.095 |
.09 |
.085 |
.08 |
|
mm |
5.59 |
5.08 |
4.83 |
4.57 |
4.06 |
3.81 |
3.56 |
3.30 |
3.05 |
2.79 |
2.54 |
2.41 |
2.29 |
2.16 |
2.03 | |
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|
No. 000 |
No. 00 |
No. 0 |
No. 1 |
No. 2 |
No. 3 |
No. 4 |
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Pellet
Diameter |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inches |
.36 |
.33 |
.32 |
.30 |
.27 |
.25 |
.24 |
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mm |
9.14 |
8.38 |
8.13 |
7.62 |
6.86 |
6.35 |
6.10 | | |
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Pellet Count
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Weight of Shot in Ounces (Grams)
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|
Shot Size |
3/4 (21.25) |
15/16 (26.58) |
1 (28.35) |
1-1/8 (31.89) |
1-1/4 (35.44) |
1-3/8 (38.98) |
1-1/2 (42.52) |
1-9/16 (44.30) |
1-5/8 (46.06) |
|
7 |
316 |
395 |
422 |
475 |
527 |
580 |
633 |
659 |
685 |
|
6 |
236 |
295 |
315 |
354 |
394 |
433 |
472 |
492 |
512 |
|
5 |
182 |
228 |
243 |
273 |
304 |
334 |
364 |
380 |
395 |
|
4 |
144 |
180 |
192 |
216 |
240 |
264 |
288 |
300 |
312 |
|
3 |
118 |
143 |
158 |
178 |
197 |
217 |
237 |
247 |
257 |
|
2 |
94 |
117 |
125 |
141 |
156 |
172 |
187 |
195 |
203 |
|
1 |
77 |
97 |
103 |
116 |
129 |
142 |
154 |
161 |
167 |
|
BB |
54 |
67 |
72 |
81 |
90 |
99 |
108 |
112 |
117 |
|
BBB |
46 |
58 |
62 |
70 |
77 |
85 |
93 |
97 |
101 |
|
T |
39 |
49 |
52 |
58 |
65 |
71 |
78 |
81 |
84 |
|
F |
30 |
37 |
40 |
45 |
50 |
55 |
60 |
62 |
65 | | |
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AVERAGE PELLET COUNT TUNGSTEN-IRON SHOT |
|
Shot Size |
7/8 (24.80) |
1-1/8 (31.89) |
1-3/8 (38.98) |
|
5 |
154 |
198 |
242 |
|
4 |
122 |
157 |
192 |
|
2 |
82 |
106 |
129 |
|
BB |
– |
60 |
74 |
|
BBB |
– |
51 |
63 | | |
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