Last spring, a buddy of mine found himself in the perfect position on a roosted gobbler. Fast forward roughly 45 minutes and he was looking down the barrel as the gobbler strutted into range at 25 yards. He squeezed the trigger. The tom walked two steps, set his wings, and sailed into the bottom untouched. Later he realized his shotgun was patterning six inches to the left. Despite all the work he put into that hunt he overlooked one thing that would have clued him in: patterning his gun.
Patterning your shotgun is one of the most important things you should do before turkey season. It tells you your shotguns point of impact vs point of aim, how dense your pattern is at a given distance, and the farthest range where you can make a clean kill. All it takes is 30 minutes and a handful of shells. Here’s how to do it right so you don’t find yourself in the same predicament as my buddy last spring.
What You Need Before You Start
- Shotgun
- Turkey choke(s).
- Small game loads and 2–3 turkey loads to evaluate.
- Targets (3′ contractors’ paper, Sharpie, and turkey target).
- Good rest or shooting bench.
- Eye and ear protection.
- Notebook or phone to record your results.
How to Pattern a Shotgun for Turkey Hunting
Step 1: Establish Your Point of Impact at 10-15 Yards
Set your initial target out 10-15 yards. We use 3′ wide brown contractors paper (found at Lowe’s or hardware stores) cut into 3′ x 3′ squares. You want a large enough target to see your entire pattern on. Put a small dot with a sharpie for your aiming point.
Once your target is set up and you have a stable rest, take a shot using one of your small game loads. Using the small game loads at this distance reduces the cost of patterning your gun and the wear and tear on your shoulder.
Examine the point of impact (POI) compared to your point of aim (POA). If your POI is off from your POA, make the necessary adjustments on your shotgun sights.
If you’re using a red dot, reflex, or adjustable fiber optic sights this is relatively straightforward. Where things can get tricky is if you’re shooting a fixed bead. If your point of impact is significantly off with your fixed bead we highly recommend investing in a set of adjustable sights for your shotgun.
After making the necessary adjustments, repeat this process until your POI and POA are the same using your small game loads.
This step is more important than you might think. With the majority of turkey choke and load combinations throwing patterns the size of a softball at 10 to 15 yards, being off just a couple of inches could result in missed birds, especially at closer distances.
Step 2: Test Your Turkey Loads at 40 Yards
Forty yards is the benchmark for which turkey shotguns are measured and is the maximum effective range for most setups. Move your target back to 40 yards with a fresh piece of 3’ x 3’ paper (with a small dot like in step one or turkey target) and test your turkey loads.
If you plan on shooting a turkey target during this step, here’s a free printable version found on the Mossy Oak website. Mossy Oak Printable Turkey Target
After each shot remove the paper and draw a 10” circle with the densest portion of your pattern at the center. Examine your pattern by counting the number of pellets inside of the circle. The general rule of thumb is a minimum of 100 hits that are even and consistent, lacking any large holes.
Repeat this process, testing different types of turkey loads, and turkey chokes if applicable, at this distance.
Step 3: Compare Results, Select Your Turkey Load, & Finalize Tuning
Place your targets side by side and evaluate pattern density and uniformity among all of your turkey load. Pick the choke and load combination that gives you a dense, even pattern, void of any large holes or gaps at 40 yards.
It’s not always the tightest pattern that’s the best for turkey hunting. I’ve found a pattern that is slightly more open to be more forgiving while turkey hunting. The key is finding a balance in pattern density and forgiveness.
Write down your winning combo and your effective range. That’s your hard-stop distance. If that gobbler hangs up at 50 yards and your gun only patterns to 40 yards, you wait.
Troubleshooting Common Patterning Problems
Large, consistent gaps in your pattern usually mean you need a tighter choke constriction. Random, inconsistent holes often come from too much constriction. You’ll see this play out when shooting different load types, especially copper-plated lead vs. TSS (tungsten super shot). Chokes that pattern well with lead are often too tight for TSS, which typically performs better with a slightly more open choke tube.
Use a steady rest when patterning your shotgun, but don’t clamp it into a lead sled or fixed shooting rest. Clamping restricts the natural barrel jump of the shotgun and can cause it to shoot differently at the range than it would in a hunting situation. A sandbag rest or front bag with your hand supporting the butt of the shotgun gives you the stability you need while still letting the gun recoil naturally.
Tips for Improved Patterning Sessions
- Keep notes on each shot. What choke was used? What brand and load of shells? Shot size? Distance? Pellet count? What was your impression of the pattern? It will help you remember later when you’re reviewing results.
- Let your barrel cool between shots. A hot barrel can shift POI and give you inconsistent results. Two or three minutes between rounds is enough.
- Run a bore snake through the barrel of your shotgun every couple of shots. This will aid in eliminating any inconsistencies that could arise due to a dirty barrel.
- Don’t assume last year’s setup still patterns the same. Sights get bumped. Loads can change from one season to the next. A couple rounds on paper once a year is cheap insurance.
Hit the Range Before You Hit the Woods
Remember that gobbler my buddy missed at 25 yards? He patterned his gun the next weekend and found his gun was shooting 6 inches left. He made the necessary adjustments to his Burris Fastfire and killed a bird the next morning.
The difference between a clean kill and a miss often comes down to 30 minutes at the range before the season opens. Patterning your turkey gun isn’t complicated. Grab your gun, a few boxes of shells, and some targets. Test the system. Find what works. Know your range. Then go hunt with confidence.