One in a row....

In this earlier post I showed examples of how bad the wads are in "Estate" brand shotshells, along with the assumption that such screwed up wads would not help the patterns. I now have actual pattern data to support that theory. The Estate factory loaded shells were patterned in my kids guns and compared with Winchester factory loaded target ammo. Same day, same guns, same choke tubes, same distance.....just different shells.

12 gauge
Browning Citori, 28 inch "modified" choke, actual restriction .025

Winchester AA light target 2 3/4 dram, 1 1/8 ounce, #8 shot
total pellets: 460
total pellets impacting in a 30" circle at 40 yards: 303
pattern percentage: 66%

Estate Super Sport Competition load, 2 3/4 dram, 1 1/8 ounce, #8 shot
total pellets: 460
total pellets impacting in a 30" circle at 40 yards: 147
pattern percentage: 32%

20 gauge
Remington 11-87, 26 inch "full" choke, actual restriction .028

Winchester AA target, 2 1/2 dram, 7/8 ounce, #8 shot
total pellets: 359
total pellets impacting in a 30" circle at 40 yards: 234
pattern percentage: 65%

Estate Super Sport Competition load, 2 1/2 dram, 7/8 ounce, #8 shot
total pellets: 359
total pellets impacting in a 30" circle at 40 yards: 153
pattern percentage: 42%


The 20 gauge was not as bad as the 12, but both sucked. Additionally, the 12 gauge shells had a pronounced "clumping" of shot that would move around the patterning board with each shot.....no two "clumps" were ever in the same spot.

I highly encourage anyone shooting in competition against me or my team to use Estate shells.

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