I have two 870's both 3" guns one is a Wingmaster with a light contour barrel 28" and the other is an old Express with a 28" barrel, I have polished the barrel on the Exp. and have tried two chokes, A .665 Jelly and a .665 IC both chokes shot just about the same numbers I was getting in the 130's with 3-2-5's and in the 150's with 3-2-6 Hevi-13 at 40.
Any ideas on how to bring the numbers up a little bit I would like to make the Express my Turkey slayer if I can get the numbers up, my SBE II duck gun shoots circles around both my 870's
Thanks, Kurt
Ditch the 6's and try some 7's.
Neither of those chokes shot 7's worth a hoot in my 28" barrel 870 Express. I ended up with a .669 Indian Creek that does well with the 7's and I also have a MAD Super Max .675 that is my best shooting choke with the 7's. I also have a Ventilator .655 that does well. I haven't shot my Jelly Head .660 yet.
Kurt,
Here's the 2 chokes I have come to really like shooting the Hevi-13 #7 loads. These are 10" and 20" numbers.
Mad Super Max .675 Hevi-13 3" 2oz #7 40yds taped
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/526/DSCF00185.jpg)
Indian Creek .669 BDS same load above
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/526/DSCF00139.jpg)
Quote from: ILIKEHEVI-13 on April 05, 2011, 12:59:13 PM
Ditch the 6's and try some 7's.
This. Open up the choke and run some 7's.
The quickest way is to go to the 3" 2 oz of #7 Hevi 13 loads. You will be over 200, but not likely to 300. Also, try to take back the JH .665 if you can and get a .660. I don't know how long you have had it, but Primos told me I could take it back to where I got it and I got a refund. That will help with both the #6 and the #7 as well.
And I wouldn't rule out the Ventilator choke. It's a .655 choke but it probably will give you some good results for the money if money is tight.
CDNN still has them for $12.99 plus shipping.
http://www.cdnninvestments.com/re8712exratu.html
But I think you will probably get better overall patterns from a .670 or .675 choke.
But for $23 to your door, the Ventilator is a great deal.
With a 870 28" barrel .665 Indian Creek and Hevi13 3" 2oz #6s my friend got 200 at 40 yards.
When did you purchase the shells you are using and what is the lot number?
i would go with a .670PG. ALL i use is #6's. you should be getting better #'s than that
Quote from: Spuriosity on April 05, 2011, 01:14:22 PM
A JH .660 might up your numbers a bit. Shot one the other day in my 3" 1187 with polished 26" barrel and got the following at 62 degrees:
3-2-6 (lot #200926) 183/10"
3-2-7 (lot # 200807) 221/10"
I just patterned my 870 with the H-13 #7S. I patterned with several chokes 2 of them being the Jellyhead .665 and .660. The .660 ended up with the job over all the others. It shot better in my other 870 also last year. For the money they seem pretty hard to beat.
I had troubles with my 870 express with 28" barrel. Tried different chokes even an IC .665 with awful results with all shells tried. Polished barrel not much improvement. I found all this to mean that I needed another shotgun :z-guntootsmiley: Got a 870 supermag 26" barrel, camoed, shoots like a dream with the IC.
I have the same gun (The Express) I use a Truglo TG170X (.665) that performs well but I shoot Winchester Supreme's in the #4 shot. One of these days, I'll shoot some paper and count holes. For now, I like the way it performs in the field.
PS: I bought some Hevi 7's but haven't shot them yet.
.675 indian creek put up 250's with the 3-2-7's in my 870
.665JH did 200
.643tgssx did 190's
My 870 exspress shoots good with a truglo gobbler stopper xtreme choke and 3" magnum blends
Seems like some people are telling you to use a tighter choke and others are saying open it up if I'm reading correctly.
Quote from: jb177 on April 05, 2011, 07:16:45 PM
Seems like some people are telling you to use a tighter choke and others are saying open it up if I'm reading correctly.
Yep that's what it sounds like! I will probably stick with 6's in my 12ga guns
I shoot Fed HW 7's in my 20ga though. I would love to get my 870 into the 190's if possible, all of my Hevi-13 is all last years stock. The light contour barrel I have shoots a little better numbers than the Express barrel but neither are anywere close to numbers you guys are getting. It sounds like the Pure Gold and the .660 Jelly Head have been giving great results. it's funny both of my barrels are turds thats just my luck >:(
Kurt
Quote from: ILIKEHEVI-13 on April 05, 2011, 01:20:58 PM
And I wouldn't rule out the Ventilator choke. It's a .655 choke but it probably will give you some good results for the money if money is tight.
But for $23 to your door, the Ventilator is a great deal.
I might be wrong but isn't the Rem. Ventilator a lead only choke?
Quote from: Snoody Bastid on April 05, 2011, 08:11:29 PM
Quote from: ILIKEHEVI-13 on April 05, 2011, 01:20:58 PM
And I wouldn't rule out the Ventilator choke. It's a .655 choke but it probably will give you some good results for the money if money is tight.
But for $23 to your door, the Ventilator is a great deal.
I might be wrong but isn't the Rem. Ventilator a lead only choke?
You are correct but so is Kick's ,Comp-N-Choke, Hastings and others.