Anyone else find their pattern gets too tight with a full choke on 40-yard crossing targets?
Been shooting sporting clays for years, mostly with my Browning Citori 725 with 30" barrels. I've always used a full choke for anything past 35 yards, but lately I'm noticing I'm getting more 'dust' hits than solid breaks on true crossing shots at 40 yards. Using Federal Top Gun 1-1/8 oz #8 shot at 1200 fps. Wondering if it's just me or if others have dialed back the constriction for these.
1 Answer
You're not alone - I had the same issue with my Beretta 686. A full choke can definitely over-concentrate the pattern at that distance on a crossing target, leaving a smaller effective window. I switched to an improved modified (like a Briley IM) for 35-45 yard crossing shots and saw my break percentage go up. The slightly more open pattern gives you a better margin for error on lead. What's your typical lead on a 40-yard crossing bird?
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