3 Inch 20 Gauge Patterns

Falconflyer said:
I've read about the patternmaster choke tubes and the design that they say gives them tighter and shorter shot columns is basically the same design that other choke tube manufacturers use to spread shot out quickly. Some people call them spreader chokes and the concept is to slow the wad momentarily at the muzzle to allow the shot column to spread quickly but in the case of the patternmaster, they claim it spreads more slowly and works for longer ranges. Hmmmmm.... not compressing the shot column in order to keep it from spreading out. In a way that makes sense to me but by using that same logic the only thing that is different than a cylinder bore choke tube is the lack of a means to retard the wad. I used to have some spreader chokes from angle port which are basically a non-compressing choke with a couple of internal rings to retard the wad and they worked fairly well to spread the pattern quickly but obviously there must be some differences in the patternmaster design. Spreader chokes are to be used at close range so stringing isn't even a consideration. Funny how a similar design can achieve opposite results!

As I read the literature on the patternmaster website I notice they say "the tube stops the wad for a millisecond " to this I take exception because I don't think it would be possible to stop it for a millisecond and then restart the forward movement. I believe they're slowing it by impeding it with the so called stud ring instead. This and other claims such as "achieve mind-blowing accuracy" give me cause me to think they might be using more drama and less science to sell the product. And they would lend more credibility to the claims if they got rid of the cartoon of the shorter shot strings and used high speed photography to show the difference instead. If the product is as good as they claim them I think they need a better marketing program, then again a lot of folks these days tend to like cartoons and drama!

I've never had any patternmaster choke tubes so I'm not saying that they don't work as advertised but I do have questions.
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I can tell you after using one for a season you better know exactly how to lead a bird cause you got no backup string to pick up the slack. You miss by a inch, you miss by a mile. You hit at 50 yards you SMOKED EM. You center punch em at 15-20, you got absolute hamburger. I waterfowl hunt from early goose till freeze up (minus a week for deer season) used allot of different chokes and can confirm that pattermaster is no joke. You want em folded absolutely dead mid air, pattermaster.
 
Falconflyer said:
Since they claim to use a non-compressing choke tube, why do they have different tubes for different ranges? Is the stud ring the only thing that changes?
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The longer the ranger the more tube sticks out the end of your barrel. Short range tube is half inch outside your barrel, so when the base of the was hits the studs half of it is already outside the choke. Pattern opens up pretty quick. Mid range or code black duck tube is 1" outside your barrel so was is roughly 1/4 way out when it gets slipped. Tightens it up, considerably mind you there's no happy medium. Code black goose tube is 1 1/4" outside your barrel, entire wad is still inside the choke when it gets slipped. In my personal experience you might as well be firing a slug for the first 25 yards with the goose choke. The chokes aren't overbore they do hug the wad so that it doesn't open at all on its way through.
 
I shoot a lot of 3” 20 ga at roosters and have patterned most of the major brands. The Winchester pheasant loads win hands down. Problem right now, can’t find any at any local gun shops so when my stock runs out, it’ll be 12 ga time. Would rather carry my svelte 20’s any day, which imho, they are worth the longer shot string.
Eye on the ####, head on the stock, doesn’t matter much what u use.
 
Falconflyer said:
Interesting info trapoholic, thanks!
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No problem my friend. If you want to pass shoot with very large shot like BBB at previously thought unreasonable ranges while maintaining a very tight pattern, give a code black goose a try. Big shot penetration with fine shot patterns waaaay out there. Up close though you better hit em in the head or neck if you wanna eat it.
 
This conversation has created more questions in my mind now ,I use a patternmaster on my 20 Browning and it worked great on the 3" kent fasteel.Now switched to the fasteel 2.0 and cannot hit sh**t ,hmm wad changed or speed ?
 
trapoholic said:
No problem my friend. If you want to pass shoot with very large shot like BBB at previously thought unreasonable ranges while maintaining a very tight pattern, give a code black goose a try. Big shot penetration with fine shot patterns waaaay out there. Up close though you better hit em in the head or neck if you wanna eat it.
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Sounds like the choke tube that a guy needs for the up coming turkey shoots when you get waaaay back to the parking lot! :)
 
reddog said:
This conversation has created more questions in my mind now ,I use a patternmaster on my 20 Browning and it worked great on the 3" kent fasteel.Now switched to the fasteel 2.0 and cannot hit sh**t ,hmm wad changed or speed ?
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I can't speak for the 20 gauge wad but the 12 gauge wad has a short piston like deal attached to it now instead of just a plain old shot cup. They also zinc coated the pellets but I don't think that would have any affect.

Falconflyer said:
Sounds like the choke tube that a guy needs for the up coming turkey shoots when you get waaaay back to the parking lot! :)
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I'm a little perplexed by this. Do explain.
 
I used to go to small clubs around the countryside (still do sometimes) to all the turkey shoots held in the fall. The shoots consist of various elimination games such as Annie Oakley's where the last man standing wins what was traditionally a turkey for xmas but is more often than not a cash prize or ball caps, sweat shirts, etc these days. A couple of the games start out at something like the 30 yard line on the trap range and move back further and further as each shooter gets eliminated. My comment about shooting back at the parking lot is in reference to a few shoots I've been to where the line gets moved back to where the cars are parked.... meaning a very long shot requiring a tight choke! It also helps to use #6 plated shot (don't ask me how I know :)) but most clubs are frowning on that these days.
 
Falconflyer said:
I used to go to small clubs around the countryside (still do sometimes) to all the turkey shoots held in the fall. The shoots consist of various elimination games such as Annie Oakley's where the last man standing wins what was traditionally a turkey for xmas but is more often than not a cash prize or ball caps, sweat shirts, etc these days. A couple of the games start out at something like the 30 yard line on the trap range and move back further and further as each shooter gets eliminated. My comment about shooting back at the parking lot is in reference to a few shoots I've been to where the line gets moved back to where the cars are parked.... meaning a very long shot requiring a tight choke! It also helps to use #6 plated shot (don't ask me how I know :)) but most clubs are frowning on that these days.
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Ahhh, gotcha. Ya that pattermaster goose tube would work well for that
 
trapoholic said:
I can't speak for the 20 gauge wad but the 12 gauge wad has a short piston like deal attached to it now instead of just a plain old shot cup. They also zinc coated the pellets but I don't think that would have any affect.


I'm a little perplexed by this. Do explain.
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Think I've figured it out the 1 once loads are slower 1350 than the 7/8 once loads 1550.That for me is a difference maker .Not the choke at all
 
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