[Al Thompson]

7/14/02, patterned two 12 ga 870s from one to 15 yards. One 870 is a 20 inch police trade-in with a cylinder choke, second is a 28 inch Express with a modified Remchoke. Load from 1 to 5 yards was Remington's Heavy Field, 1 1/4 ozs #8s, started patterning Federal Tactical OO and Remington OO Magnum 12 pellet at five yards to 15.

Intent - wanted to see what the close range performance of my HDSG really is. Confirm or deny the old "one inch of spread per yard" shiboleth. Look at Federal Tactical OO buck for performance.

Results - range in yards, spread from the center of the furthest hole to furthest hole in inches.

................20 inch Cyl...........28 inch Mod
1 y...........1.5.......................1.25
2 y...........3.3.......................2.5
3 y............5.5......................3.5
4 y............7.........................4
5 y.............9.........................5.5
.
Buckshot
.
5 y.............3.25....................2.75...............Federal Tactical
.
10 y.............5.25..................6.25...............Federal
.
10 y.............10.....................7....................Remington
.
15 y..............9.5...................7.5..................Federal
.
15 y..............16....................10.25..............Remington

Notes - the Federal kicked less and patterned well. I have a True-Glo sight on the 20 inch and had a much faster acquisition time. No slippage, looks like a good product. Past ten yards, the modified choke really starts to perform.

Next test will start at 15 yards and stretch to 50.