sighting in a shotgun

[Rustyinfla]

  I was wondering if anyone shoots their shotgun for pattern any more? I have stressed this to my son for years and for the first time he actually hung the paper to see where something shoots. He bought a new ( to him) .410 and I told him a lot of people say the 3" loads don't shoot as good as the 2.5" so he needed to shoot it to see. When we checked the targets they both shot equally well with no donut shape to the 3" pattern as I have read but he did find that the 3" round tended to shoot the densest part of the pattern high and to the right from his point of aim.
  Years ago I had a Mossberg that I won many a turkey shoot with because I knew from my patterns that it always had a really dense section of the pattern to the upper right of my point of aim.

[S.E.Ak]

I have always patterened my shotguns just like my rifles or handguns. The 3" .410 will show a denser patten due to charge of lead and setting target but in use most is lost in shot string on moveing game

[Rustyinfla]

  I understand the layout of the shot column, but most people don't even know where their guns shoot.

[dukkillr]

If my gun doesnt shoot where I'm aiming I sell it.  Gun fit and shooting ability are much more important in wingshooting than pattern.

[dougk]

  I was wondering if anyone shoots their shotgun for pattern any more?

That is a great question. 

Yes. I pattern my shotguns with each load I am using and at varying distances to determine the effective range.

[SHOOTALL]

Pattern is nice but in reality the swarm of shot can be up to 10 foot in length depending on distance from muzzle where mesurement is taken. If you shoot at stationary targets great but if the target moves what has a pattern board really told you ? The board makes you try and aim . If you are really interested to see where you place the shot with a gun and load then place a bed sheet or news paper taped togather to create a large target. place a 4 inch colored circle in the middle with the rest white. Step back 25-30 yards and bring the gun up and shoot at the circle. When the gun is on target and is at your shoulder fire. NO EXTRA AIMING ! Shoot like a snap shot at a quail getting up. Do this 10 or more times , until a hole in the paper develops . That's where you are putting the sweet spot of your patteren . If its where you were trying to hit great if not adjust your hold or have gun altered until they come togather.

[dukkillr]

Pattern is nice but in reality the swarm of shot can be up to 10 foot in length depending on distance from muzzle where mesurement is taken. If you shoot at stationary targets great but if the target moves what has a pattern board really told you ? The board makes you try and aim . If you are really interested to see where you place the shot with a gun and load then place a bed sheet or news paper taped togather to create a large target. place a 4 inch colored circle in the middle with the rest white. Step back 25-30 yards and bring the gun up and shoot at the circle. When the gun is on target and is at your shoulder fire. NO EXTRA AIMING ! Shoot like a snap shot at a quail getting up. Do this 10 or more times , until a hole in the paper develops . That's where you are putting the sweet spot of your patteren . If its where you were trying to hit great if not adjust your hold or have gun altered until they come togather.

Right.  Patterning is fine but it has very little actual practical benefit.  I think it's mostly a carry-over from people who like to tinker with the loads in their rifles.  My experience has been that if you are a "gear guy" who only uses hunting as an excuse to buy, collect, and play with the gear patterning is fine.  If you are out to be a killer you'll find a gun that fits you, knocks the birds out of the sky, and be happy with it.  Most hunters would be better off to spend their time at the sporting clays range than a stationary board.

[SHOOTALL]

Sporting clays YEP !  Both skeet and trap are way to easy to get in a grouve and grouves seldom exist in the field. Both are fun though .

[spikehorn]

My turkey gun is the only one I have pattered and it likes 3" shells better than 3 1/2" shells. I have enough starlings trying to invade my old farm house each spring and summer to keep me practiced up on my wing shooting.

[RMc]

Patterning a shotgun with buckshot is just as important as sighting in a rifle.  For use with conventional small buckshot (000, 00, etc.) the minimum standard I look for is 100% in a 10 inch pattern at 25 yards - yes at point of aim. 

[SHOOTALL]

thats why my buckshot guns have rifle sights  with a good sleeve or tube you can get a pattern at 40 yards no bigger than a ball cap. With correct ammo of course.