Hey guys. Working on getting my youth 870 with the 21" barrel setup for this upcoming season. Have seen a lot of patterns with it, however most of the ones I've seen have been with the .555 IC.
I prefer a bit more even pattern so I'm looking for something that isn't extremely tight. Just wondering if you guys had any luck with particular chokes/loads? Thanks in advance.
All 3 of.ours shoot nice patterns with primos titewad and apex 9s
mine does really well with about any choke shooting TSS #9's but with copper plated lead the only choke I'll use is the Carlson's LBXR .568 it has outperformed everything I've ever tried with non TSS loads.
I'm running the carlson XF 585 I believe it is and it will kill one at 60yds every time with apex #9 3" or rogue #9 3" 1 5/8oz. It's a more open pattern at 20 that offers a little more forgiveness if you aren't right on it unlike the IC 555.
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REM 870 21" .572 RTSF choke shooting apex gt-20
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I'm shooting a Tight Wad with handloaded #6 lead.
Based on what you said, and if you are shooting 9TSS, start with either a .570 IC or a .585 Trulock Precision Hunter. Both have shot lights out over and over and are slightly more forgiving as you said you are seeking.
If going lead, I would go with a Carlson .568 or maybe an IC .562. Lead is just a bit harder to find what you like in a 20 gauge. The smaller gauges often begin to tell on itself with lead shot.
I use Carlson's.575 in mine with #9 tss
In my experience a 575 in a short barrel shoots the same pattern with the same load with a 585 in a longer barrel. I would go 575 as a starting point with a 21" barrel.