Updated: Hunting Patterns Browning Gold NWTF

[10gaugemag]

Been trying to get the Gold Ready for season lately. I have tried 5 different chokes and 7 diffent loads. Starting to narrow it down, no award winning  numbers shot but I think I am getting closer to what I am looking for. Best patterns shot so far were with 3" Thug #6 and 3" Winchester XX HV #5. All patterns were shot at 41 measured yards from muzzle to target at 69 to 73 degrees. Choke with the Thug patterns was a Hastings .685 ad Win #5 were a Star Dot that measures .669. Here is a Thug pattern that counts 101 in the 10" and 149 in the 20" circle.

[10gaugemag]

Another Thug from Hastings .685.

[10gaugemag]

Winchester HV 3" #5 from Star Dot .669 86 in the 10" circle.

[jakesdad]

I'd hunt that THUG pattern all day long!! Could be better but it is a looooooong way from being bad thats for sure!

[10gaugemag]

I'd hunt that THUG pattern all day long!! Could be better but it is a looooooong way from being bad thats for sure!

I still need to run them through the Star Dot and maybe the Jellyhead Max to see if I can keep a few more in the ten and even raise my 20" numbers. Also have an SSX on my mind.

[taylorjones20]

I shot my Gold with a Rob Roberts .660 with LongBeard #5's.  It was extremely impressive to say the least.

[surehuntsalot]

the thug patterns look good to me

[10gaugemag]

May grab a box of #5 Thugs as well. The only #6 that has shot decent was the Thugs through the .685. Will try #5 and #6 Thugs through the other 2 chokes I have in the .670 range to see what I can come up with. I have never owned such a particular shotgun. Hoping to find the right combination soon, shells and chokes are getting expensive. Just got done with a deep clean so see what happens, gun does prefer a fouling shot for sure, figured that out fast as a squeaky clean bore it throws crazy patterns.

[Swampchickin234]

Winchester HV 3" #5 from Star Dot .669 86 in the 10" circle.

x2


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[darn2ten]

10gaugemag, I think you'd be happy with that SSX choke we talked about. Also, if your going to stay with 6's I'd try the Win. double X 3-2-6. I've had good luck out of the 6 Thug's, but that XX has been my favorite, most consistent 3" 6 lead load out of multiple guns.

[darn2ten]

Also, after we talked the other night I got to thinking. When I bought my IC last year I had just stocked up on quite a few boxes of LB's. Besides the 5 and 6 LB's I only tried a couple of other standard lead loads thru it. Well yesterday I went out and ran a variety thru it. Got some great results with some and not to good with a couple others. I'll try and post some pics tomorrow. Three of the loads were the best lead numbers I've ever shot with the exception of the LB's in any 3" gun I've ever owned. Best of the day was the Win. XX 3-2-6 with 153 in the 10. Best I've ever done previously was 142 with that shell with a different combo. Worst was the Win. XX 3-2-5 with 100 even, then again for some reason I have never had that load pattern well in anything I've ever tried it in.

[10gaugemag]

I did order a Truglo SSX from Clarks site. Now to find some 3/2/6 XX's. Still going to find a solid pattern with #5's. The gun is just being picky.

[10gaugemag]

I got out again tonight and patterned a few Thugs through my Star Dot. I am starting to like patterns a bit better now. Gun was deep cleaned and did have 1 fouling shot before I shot a pattern.
Only 1 more shot in the 20" than in the 10" but not much out of the 20, I am going to cut a shell open to try and obtain a true pellet count.
Browning Gold 3", Star Dot .669, Thugs 3" #6, 40 taped yards. Here is a pic of shot #1.

[10gaugemag]

Heres one that's not so bright.

[darn2ten]

Nothing wrong with that at all. That's a dead bird everytime.