Help me understand.

mtnman · March 24, 2013, 03:40 PM

I have several shotguns from 12 ga. to 410 bore. I have a 20 ga that I like to use for squirrel hunting it is a full choke I also own a 28 guage with a modified choke. Using a choke guage the 20 comes in at a heavy full the 28 guage hits the same mark making it a light improved cylinder. My question/problem is why I can kill squirrels farther away with the 28ga. I consistently take them at 40 yards plus but have trouble at that distance with the 20. I have paternd both and the patterns are similar to 40 yards. This makes no sense to me.

g.willikers · March 24, 2013, 04:01 PM

If both guns pattern the same, then it must come down to either ammo or accuracy.
Is the ammo for both gauges loaded about equally, in pellet size and ft/sec?
Maybe the 28 just fits you better.

mtnman · March 24, 2013, 04:07 PM

The 28 is actually a little small for me but it makes no sense to me why they pattern the same. It defies all I have come to understand about shotgun chokes.

PetahW · March 24, 2013, 04:24 PM

.

It was meant to be........... .

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hogdogs · March 24, 2013, 05:22 PM

If you are reading it correctly than the improved hit ratio with a looser choke is often due to you being off target a tiny bit from POA/POI and the outer pellets in the pattern pulling up the slack... I would probably suck with tighter chokes...

Brent

BigD_in_FL · March 24, 2013, 05:38 PM

Sounds like operator error to me

mtnman · March 24, 2013, 05:50 PM

If the guns pattern the same at 30 yards hoe does loa/ poi or operator error play into the equation. I do not understand.

mtnman · March 24, 2013, 06:03 PM

The "choke" is figured on how much the barrel is constricted down from the "cylander" measurement. You cannot just measure the muzzle of the shotgun and determine the actual "choke". Choke guages have legs on them to measure inside diameter down the barrel in front of the choke constriction. A second measurement is then taken at the muzzle and the two numbers are subtracted. The choke is determined by that derived number. No, I don't have the chart that shows which chokes are which constrictions.

I think I may have found the answer. Thanks to the one who posted this on another thread.

mtnman · March 24, 2013, 06:05 PM

Thank you Jimin Texas, now it makes sense!

Virginian · March 24, 2013, 06:41 PM

I thought you said you patterned them and they patterned the same. At that point actual constriction is superfluous, because what you are really concerned with is downrange pattern.

mtnman · March 24, 2013, 07:28 PM

It is because the 28 guage has a shorter shot string. Only the pellets that hit first count. Performance on paper is irrelevant.

BigD_in_FL · March 24, 2013, 07:57 PM

It is because the 28 fits you better, plain and simple - you are pointing it better than the 20 and it seems to be better for you than your 20

March 24, 2013, 03:40 PM	#1
mtnman Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2009 Location: WV Posts: 151	Help me understand. I have several shotguns from 12 ga. to 410 bore. I have a 20 ga that I like to use for squirrel hunting it is a full choke I also own a 28 guage with a modified choke. Using a choke guage the 20 comes in at a heavy full the 28 guage hits the same mark making it a light improved cylinder. My question/problem is why I can kill squirrels farther away with the 28ga. I consistently take them at 40 yards plus but have trouble at that distance with the 20. I have paternd both and the patterns are similar to 40 yards. This makes no sense to me.

March 24, 2013, 04:01 PM	#2
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	If both guns pattern the same, then it must come down to either ammo or accuracy. Is the ammo for both gauges loaded about equally, in pellet size and ft/sec? Maybe the 28 just fits you better. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

March 24, 2013, 06:05 PM	#9
mtnman Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2009 Location: WV Posts: 151	Thank you Jimin Texas, now it makes sense! Last edited by mtnman; March 24, 2013 at 06:05 PM. Reason: Grammer

March 24, 2013, 04:07 PM	#3
mtnman Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2009 Location: WV Posts: 151	The 28 is actually a little small for me but it makes no sense to me why they pattern the same. It defies all I have come to understand about shotgun chokes.

March 24, 2013, 04:24 PM	#4
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	. It was meant to be........... . .

March 24, 2013, 05:22 PM	#5
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	If you are reading it correctly than the improved hit ratio with a looser choke is often due to you being off target a tiny bit from POA/POI and the outer pellets in the pattern pulling up the slack... I would probably suck with tighter chokes... Brent

March 24, 2013, 05:38 PM	#6
BigD_in_FL Junior member Join Date: December 20, 2012 Location: The "Gunshine State" Posts: 1,981	Sounds like operator error to me

March 24, 2013, 05:50 PM	#7
mtnman Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2009 Location: WV Posts: 151	If the guns pattern the same at 30 yards hoe does loa/ poi or operator error play into the equation. I do not understand.

March 24, 2013, 06:03 PM	#8
mtnman Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2009 Location: WV Posts: 151	The "choke" is figured on how much the barrel is constricted down from the "cylander" measurement. You cannot just measure the muzzle of the shotgun and determine the actual "choke". Choke guages have legs on them to measure inside diameter down the barrel in front of the choke constriction. A second measurement is then taken at the muzzle and the two numbers are subtracted. The choke is determined by that derived number. No, I don't have the chart that shows which chokes are which constrictions. I think I may have found the answer. Thanks to the one who posted this on another thread.

March 24, 2013, 06:41 PM	#10
Virginian Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2012 Location: Williamsburg, Va. Posts: 1,528	I thought you said you patterned them and they patterned the same. At that point actual constriction is superfluous, because what you are really concerned with is downrange pattern.

March 24, 2013, 07:28 PM	#11
mtnman Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2009 Location: WV Posts: 151	It is because the 28 guage has a shorter shot string. Only the pellets that hit first count. Performance on paper is irrelevant.

March 24, 2013, 07:57 PM	#12
BigD_in_FL Junior member Join Date: December 20, 2012 Location: The "Gunshine State" Posts: 1,981	It is because the 28 fits you better, plain and simple - you are pointing it better than the 20 and it seems to be better for you than your 20