Well got out patterning today, preliminary results not too stellar. Have a bit of analysis to do and some picture taking, uploading, and a write-up.
All testing done at 40 yards with a LeadSled.
Results teaser, the Primos .685 Dead Deer combined with 3.5" Dead Coyote T lead the way in respect to the most even and dense pattern. Also an amazing difference between 3" and 3.5" Dead Coyote T out of the same choke in respect to POI, with the 3" patterning 8-12" higher (yeah seriously).
This gun is definitely driving me nuts, about to order more ammo and chokes to try some more combos, but reaching the end of my rope. I think I've put more than the gun's initial cost in ammo and chokes through it.
GC, you were right as far as the more open chokes, definitely saw an improvement in the .685 range with the 3.5" shells overall. I'm thinking of trying some .690s and .695s if I can find them to see how they are.
Maybe you guys will see something I'm not in the patterns, or perhaps my expectations are too high. Either way, I can't shim out the high shooting of this gun...the only thing I can do is hope I find a choke and shot combo that happens to pattern lower than the others. With the variance I'm seeing (even left and right), I'd equate finding these combos for T/BB and buckshot (00/000 for deer) to finding a needle in haystack. Final option is to send it back to Benelli and see what they can do. I'll likely call them tomorrow to see what their recommendations are, and what options I have with them. As I mentioned above, I've put entirely too much time and money into this to wind up with a 40 yard gun. My Remington 870 Express outperforms this gun right now (except maybe with the Rhino+Nitro combo for turkeys).
Anyway, pics to follow, hopefully tomorrow sometime.
