I'm shooting a Rem 870 youth with 21" barrel and using Fed HW #7. I've been using a Jellyhead (older model) for the last 2 seasons and killed 5 birds and a friend killed a bird with my gun as well. 3 of the 6 kills have been near or just past 40 yards, so I know it will do the job. I shot it on paper pretty extensively last year and was getting 110-130 pellets in a 10" circle at a measured 40 yards. I've also shot Hevishot Magblends and got similar numbers, but I will hunt with HW #7 for the next several years since I bought 5 boxes.
Based on my reading here, I don't need to be shooting a ported choke with the Fed. FC wad, though I've never had any problems or noticed blown patterns.
So here is the question. Should I switch to a Carlson, or Tru-Lock or other? I don't want a super tight pattern and I don't really want to spend $75-80 for a choke. I'd like to have 140-150 in a 10" circle. I'm more concerned with killing from 5-45 yards and don't care about killing paper or chasing big numbers.
Thoughts? Should I just leave it alone and don't fix what isn't broke?
