870 patterns

[Hoosier06]

870 3.5 with carlson .680 flush tube. Been using 2.5 oz federal tss 8x10s. Great patterns but I want to go to 7.5s or 8s to get pass-through on longer shots. The 10s and some 8s when launched at 1000 fps per the fed box are always hung up somewhere inside the turkeys.

Does anyone have any 40 yard numbers with .680 chokes and 2.5 oz of larger tss shot?

[yelpy]

10's are for looks. They will fill out any pattern. I dont get why they even load em in the 12 or 20. I can understand if your loading a very light low recoil load for a youth and want the #'s up.

I never shot tss in a 2.5oz load. #8's or 7's in a 2oz load is more than enough to get the job done with plenty coverage for wiggle room.

[Dtrkyman]

8s at 1100?

That is a lot of shot! I would shoot 1 5/8th oz but that is me. If you really want the extra penetration and stick with that heavy load I would probably go straight 7.5?

I find very few 9s in the birds I shoot, occasionally in the wing base mostly.

[Hoosier06]

10's are for looks. They will fill out any pattern. I dont get why they even load em in the 12 or 20. I can understand if your loading a very light low recoil load for a youth and want the #'s up.

I never shot tss in a 2.5oz load. #8's or 7's in a 2oz load is more than enough to get the job done with plenty coverage for wiggle room.

I have no idea why they did but when I bought ammo that's what they had available. I used 2.5 oz straight 10s and some 8x10s. 3 birds with 8x10s from 15-60 yards no issues. 10s, 1 at 20 yards and 1 at 40. The 10s had some weird fliers that hit legs even on close shots.

I found a pile of 1.75 oz 9s on clearance for cheaper than hand loading. Hopefully I can get a good pattern out to 60 because I bought a 10 year supply.

[Dtrkyman]

1.75 oz nine will do extremely well, may have to try a couple chokes but guys get 60 yd patterns from 1.5 and 1.625 oz loads.