Patterned my goose gun, learned a lot!!

vpsalin

vpsalin

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
20   0   0
I was VERY dissatisfied with my 870 Super MAG using BlackCloud BB last season so I decided to pattern it to figure out what was going on there. I was using Patternmaster Extended range choke at the time but I've since added extended mod and extended full to my collection. Pattern results do confirm that my gun doesn't do well with Black_Cloud BB. It likes the economical no1 - no2 shot with plane jane wads!

I did all shooting from laser verified 45 yards using small waterfowel cut out as repeatable target.

The Challenger no1 did best and I'm very eager to try them this season and they're not too expense to boot!

Some people find patterning is a chore, I find it fun and you learn a lot in the process too! :d:cool::d ..Like the super expensive Patternmaster tube did best with all shot sizes used in this test compared to the lower end tubes. Also learned that no1 shot shoots just as dense a pattern as no 2 shot...so picking no1 is a no brainer !!


chart.jpg


Here's what some of the better patterns look like!
IMG-20191009-143325.jpg

IMG-20191012-161714.jpg

IMG-20191009-143432.jpg
 
Last edited:
When I patterned my Mossberg 935, I found that the Blackcloud shells patterned the worst. I did a bit of research and there was a bunch of sites indicating that the overbored barrel of the 935 allowed the wad peddles to open prematurely, and thus, affecting patterns. Sure...I can understand that....so I stayed away from Blackcloud for about 10 years.

Well that was then.....now Blackcloud updated their wads and use what they call the Flitecontrol flex wads. After trying out the new shells, I can say they are much better than their predecessors. I hunted with them last season and was very impressed with their stopping power. I also got lucky and found flats of them at Ellwood Epps for a steal of a price, so I bought them all
 
Now, to put that pattern in the sky with the right amount of lead on the bird with a 20knot tailwind ;)
Getting to know ones ammo and firearm early makes those already fun days in the marsh/field much more enjoyable.
Rob
 
This was the BlackCloud Flex shot. Im not impressed at all. I'm thinking that it might be best with improved cylcinder to let the wad do all the work (no choke).
 
vpsalin said:
This was the BlackCloud Flex shot. Im not impressed at all. I'm thinking that it might be best with improved cylcinder to let the wad do all the work (no choke).
Click to expand...

You are correct from my experience . ammo with the flight control wad or similar works best in a more open choke . even as open as skeet in my case with an extended oem browning choke in a maxus . both 2s and BB patterned well .
 
The no1 looks a bit right, the no2 a bit left. Did you only shoot one of each? I'd be curious to know if the no1s always shoot a bit right or not.
 
Trulock chokes and cheap Kent ammo...the hundreds of dead geese didn't know I wasn't using expensive ammo or a$100+ choke.
Btw, LM (SK2) is as tight as I go for chokes with shot larger than #3
 
If one lurked American shotgun forums you will often discover Patternmaster and such like extended removable chokes do not partner up well with Federal Flight Control wad.

It's believed they get stripped away too early hence the pattern opens up much too early.(this specific Federal brand)

I only discovered this trend with Prairie Storm shotshells as it's a blend of Black Cloud and Copper plated lead shot.
It also tends to hold a tighter than normal pattern as well. I found this superb with typical more open choked upland bird guns. When you break out into open fields these Storm shells laid waste to skittish sharptails in IC choke O/U. I plopped two at around 35 yards. Fixed open chokes.
 
Last edited:
a patternmaster is a wad stripping choke. works against you with black cloud. unless you have the cheaper anaconda

ive spent hours at the pattern board testing about every goose shell made. Blackcloud works in some bores and not in others. it does not work better than a good conventional load. it really is a stupid idea, a long range wad, designed to strip from the shot 15yards down range, filled with half premium round shot and half spreader shot. conventional rounds pattern as good at 40 yards as black cloud, and pattern bigger at 25 which is an advantage.
 
Still the patternmaster outperformed the rem-ext-mod choke with Black Cloud even though it has strips the wad away early!
 
Last edited:
Score or challenger shells work best for me. In the 1550 1 1/4 ounce loads in my PM. Black cloud is also very very dirty burning powder.
 
Im running a beretta a400 Xtreme plus with a pattern master code black goose, kent silver steel #2 or #1. Ive tried so many different loads and this combo patterns so well its too full at closer range.

Black cloud is a gimmick round and realized when you actually pattern it. It burns dirty as hell as well. Get some costco paper plates and staple them to plywood for easy counting of impacts. So few hunters take the time to find the winning combo, im ashamed to say i was one of them when we switched to steel. I shot a lot of black cloud and wounded some birds, chalked it up to bad shooting. Patterned a lot of rounds and was shocked. With hundreds of geese, snow geese, ducks, doves, crows now with this combo, i can comfortably say, in my opinion and experience, black cloud is garbage. I even sold a flat of it on here at a big loss just to get it out of my sight.

North
 
Last edited:
Black cloud is fine at 25 yards but so are Winchester xperts. Another great choke for close range is the cremator by carlsons. I usually shoot bb and am finding that the improved cylinder or improved modified chokes work great at both close and medium ranges.
 
I shot only a Carlson’s Light Mod choke for many year out of a String of Winchester SX series shotguns. I am just about to start my third season with my Cynergy, I still use a Light Mod, But I also use a Skeet tube and an Improved Modified tube depending on the situation. When I shoot bismuth, which is more and more recently I have found best results with Mod and Improved Mod.
 
When the ducks are at my feet and working perfect, i switch to a carlsons close range choke. Doesn’t smash the birds up as much and makes it hard to miss.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom