What distance to pattern upland gun?

[Dave3006]

I shoot a 20g 28” Montefeltro with 7 shot steel shells at 1325fps. I want to compare my IC and M chokes.

The gun will only be used for dove and quail.

What distance would you do this at?

 

[SurfNHuntSD]

40 yards

If duck hunting a refuge, 250 yards.

 

[Dave3006]

Do you guys take 40 yard shots on dove?

 

[GUNDOGLOVER49]

Do you guys take 40 yard shots on dove?

Yes, it only take a few well place hits to take a dove down. After opening day I'll change out one of my tubes to full for those high flyers.

 

[ilovesprig]

From my experience, 25-30 yds is a good distance for an upland gun...I shoot a Benelli M-2, 20 gauge mostly...Steel 7's seem to be the ideal shot size for small soft feathered birds, like dove & quail...The only choke I ever use is the Benelli factory modified (turkeys excepted) for upland or waterfowl hunting.

I think this is one of the most over thought out processes there is...2 cents.

 

[Dave3006]

I patterned at 40 yards yesterday. The modified choke shows a much better pattern. I will be using that from now on.

 

[Shadowlawnskysthelimit]

Dave3006, I have the same gun. 30 yards is what I have pattered all my guns. Shooting Steel 7’s it didn’t really show that much difference in Mod or IM. IMO shooting steel at more then 50 yards leads to too many cripples whether your shooting dove/quail loads or waterfowl loads. Not to say that those shell won’t kill outside that range, especially some of the hopped up non toxic shot that’s out there.
But for me I want them as close as I can get em, 20 yards is perfect! Sitting on the water or field at 15 is even better !!
Lol !!