Patterned my shotguns

GunsnRovers · October 11, 2004, 08:04 AM

Got the chance to play a bit on Sunday and just got back my 1897 from the smith so I decided to take some sample patterns.

The guns and ammo were:

1940 Stevens 620A Riot 20" cylinder bore
1937 Winchester 1897 (full choke 30" barrel cut down to 20" and forcing cone lengthened)
1975 Ithaca DSPS 18"

Winchester Ranger LEO 9 pellet 00
Federal Tactical LEO marked 9 pellet 00

I shot 5 rounds of each through each gun at 15 yards and 25 yards twice.

The results below are the longest measurements on the target and are not an average. I know this isn't and official pattern, but I think it gives me a pretty good indication of what I am working with.

Stevens 620A
Ammo 15 Yards 25 Yards
Wincester 10" 25"
Federal 9" 22"

Winchester 1897
Ammo 15 Yards 25 Yards
Wincester 11" 23 1/2"
Federal 8 1/2" 18"

Ithaca DSPS
Ammo 15 Yards 25 Yards
Wincester 7" 28"
Federal 11" 23"

I was VERY pleasently surprised that the cut down 1897 performed as well as it did. The lengthened forcing cone also made it the most pleasent of the three to shoot in terms of recoil.

The Stevens performed flawlessly. The Winchester was a bit lazy on ejection. No bobbles or hangups, but the shells seemed to roll out more then kick out. As usual, the Ithaca practically threw the shells at my feet. Shooter beware with open toe shoes!

I really like the Federal over the Winchester. Felt recoil seemed lower. Spread at 25 yards was also better.

All in all, I am pleased to have three nice riot shotguns to choose from. All three have a POI that is POA. Sure makes things easy on me. Just do may part and they will all do the job.

I want to find some of the Hornady TAP 8 pellet 00 to see how that does.

Denny Hansen · October 11, 2004, 03:47 PM

Good job. Too few people realize how important it is to pattern their shotguns and thus know its limitations.

Denny

Dave McC · October 12, 2004, 05:31 AM

Amen to Denny. G&R, you did what more folks ought to.

One caveat, since those three have distinctive MOAs, I suggest picking one to be your goto and practicing like Heck with it.

GunsnRovers · October 12, 2004, 02:23 PM

Right now, I lean towards the '97. I'm familiar with it from a few years of CAS in the early 1990's and it's very controllable with the Federal loads. I just want to tweek the ejection. I would like it to be a bit more "positive".

Thanks.

October 11, 2004, 08:04 AM	#1
GunsnRovers Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2002 Location: Lost Angeles Posts: 781	Patterned my shotguns Got the chance to play a bit on Sunday and just got back my 1897 from the smith so I decided to take some sample patterns. The guns and ammo were: 1940 Stevens 620A Riot 20" cylinder bore 1937 Winchester 1897 (full choke 30" barrel cut down to 20" and forcing cone lengthened) 1975 Ithaca DSPS 18" Winchester Ranger LEO 9 pellet 00 Federal Tactical LEO marked 9 pellet 00 I shot 5 rounds of each through each gun at 15 yards and 25 yards twice. The results below are the longest measurements on the target and are not an average. I know this isn't and official pattern, but I think it gives me a pretty good indication of what I am working with. Stevens 620A Ammo 15 Yards 25 Yards Wincester 10" 25" Federal 9" 22" Winchester 1897 Ammo 15 Yards 25 Yards Wincester 11" 23 1/2" Federal 8 1/2" 18" Ithaca DSPS Ammo 15 Yards 25 Yards Wincester 7" 28" Federal 11" 23" I was VERY pleasently surprised that the cut down 1897 performed as well as it did. The lengthened forcing cone also made it the most pleasent of the three to shoot in terms of recoil. The Stevens performed flawlessly. The Winchester was a bit lazy on ejection. No bobbles or hangups, but the shells seemed to roll out more then kick out. As usual, the Ithaca practically threw the shells at my feet. Shooter beware with open toe shoes! I really like the Federal over the Winchester. Felt recoil seemed lower. Spread at 25 yards was also better. All in all, I am pleased to have three nice riot shotguns to choose from. All three have a POI that is POA. Sure makes things easy on me. Just do may part and they will all do the job. I want to find some of the Hornady TAP 8 pellet 00 to see how that does. __________________ Jeff The reason we're all here is that we're not all there.

October 11, 2004, 03:47 PM	#2
Denny Hansen Staff Emeritus Join Date: June 29, 2001 Location: Prescott Valley, AZ Posts: 2,422	Good job. Too few people realize how important it is to pattern their shotguns and thus know its limitations. Denny __________________ S.W.A.T. Magazine Weapons, Training and Tactics for the Real World Join us at TFL or at AR15.com or on Facebook

October 12, 2004, 02:23 PM	#4
GunsnRovers Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2002 Location: Lost Angeles Posts: 781	Right now, I lean towards the '97. I'm familiar with it from a few years of CAS in the early 1990's and it's very controllable with the Federal loads. I just want to tweek the ejection. I would like it to be a bit more "positive". Thanks. __________________ Jeff The reason we're all here is that we're not all there.

October 12, 2004, 05:31 AM	#3
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Amen to Denny. G&R, you did what more folks ought to. One caveat, since those three have distinctive MOAs, I suggest picking one to be your goto and practicing like Heck with it.