My reloads are patterning too tight with my Browning Citori - any advice?
I've been reloading for about 2 years on a MEC 650. My go-to load is 1 oz of #8 lead over 18.0 grains of Alliant Extra-Lite in a once-fired STS hull with a WAA12SL wad. It patterns great in my buddy's Beretta A400, but in my Browning Citori 725 with a Modified choke, it's like a laser beam - I'm dusting targets at 25 yards but missing the edge-on presentations. I've tried dropping to 7/8 oz, same issue.
1 Answer
That's a classic symptom of a load that's too efficient for your choke/gun combo. Your 1 oz load with Extra-Lite is probably producing very consistent, hard-hitting patterns that the Browning's tight bore is concentrating even more. Try switching to a more open choke first - an Improved Cylinder might be the sweet spot. If you want to stick with Modified, consider a slightly faster powder like Red Dot or Green Dot in the 17.0-17.5 grain range - they tend to produce more forgiving patterns. What's your shot size, and are you using a plastic shot cup wad?
You need to be signed in to answer this question.
Sign in to Answer