Patterns can vary with ammo changes, two different loads usually = two different patterns with the same choke in my limited experience. The rating of the choke means little, the actual pattern w/ the selected load means the most. I've been instructed to select the load ya wanna use and a pick a couple chokes then test to obtain the desired pattern.

I like a little tighter pattern for upland. I'd rather tag 'em hard once or twice and make a quick kill w/ less chance of a cippled runner in thick cover, or just miss cleanly.
I use a 7.5lb 20ga pump with #8 for upland. Quail flush pretty far here most of the time, 20y head starts at times and I won't engage 'em if they pop out farther than that. I aint fast and have mediocre eye sight so the window of shooting I limit myself to is pretty small. The quail here are sprinters once they hit the ground and I dont gotta dog so I hunt a little more open stuff and the heavy 20ga. has zero recoil so follow up's are easy.

And who uses #6 for quail? Have fun finding anything to eat afterwards.

One of my club mate's has the same exact Baikal I do. Several thousand rounds at least, not a hint of rattle at the lug/pin.
Either or, it's a 190$ gun, it's got a warranty.
Remington saved on the labor, finish work, hand made details (read none) and little bits. There is economy in this Russian made/design (not Turkish). It costs didly to make one. It's kinda like a Tula SKS, aint pretty but it's bomb-proof, stupid simple and works well. Time 'll tell. I aint never heard of one breaking, not that there's a ton of them around nor am I an expert on this.

I also just shoot trap, not really interested in SC or skeet at this time and trap best duplicates the type of stuff I see in the field here. I got this Russian made shooter for same and to break up the routine a little so I aint using my field gun all the time and can now shoot both at the same outing and double my fun.

I concur with Ed and stovey's opinions on choke and load selection!!!
When I was shooting sporting clays I learned real quick the value of IC and a Skeet choke with #8’s going through them, rarely did I use anything else. I did however carry some specialty loads for particular presentations and set ups.

hmmmm....so ya don't like any of my thoughts none, Chambered?

Quote::

Patterns can vary with ammo changes, two different loads usually = two different patterns with the same choke in my limited experience. The rating of the choke means little, the actual pattern w/ the selected load means the most. I've been instructed to select the load ya wanna use and a pick a couple chokes then test to obtain the desired pattern.

Weeeell.....sometimes things don't go exactly as planned.

Shot 6 rounds with her and....
The fit conflicts with my face/syle. Comb was high enough that when I mounted it comfortably there was a mile long gap between the beads.
The barrel was at a wild up-angle and I could catch the straightaways no sweat but it was impossible for me to swing it like this and judge leads.
Got an 8, 8, 9...etc for my first several rounds.
I sucked my face down hard and got the "popper" "8" bead stack and started whackin' 'em hard. Still having issues swinging it though.
Got a 20 going on my last round and stopped on my 5th pin as my cheek was cut. The comb on this thing was super high in relation to the rib (for me anyways) and pretty thinly bladed.
I don't blame the gun in the least. My face is kinda weird shaped and I like field or straighter stocks and, pointng more in line with the bore better. (my cheekbones are way wider than my eye sockets) I probably coulda made it work with some stock mods but...

Another lad there I shoot with noticed it and took it for a spin...he liked it. So he made me an offer. SOLD. Also sold one of my dirtbikes saturday.

And ya know what that means:

GUN SHOPPING! Helllooo Davidson's.

I'm gonna use the 'cheap shot' H&R .20ga pump for a clays mule, it actually rips on the range, is super comfy, soft shooting at 7.5lbs/ empty and, since I've been whining about it's weight in the field I'm gonna shop for a nice(r), lighter 20g. Semi-auto field gun me thinks.

Win-win.

I love it when a plan comes together.

Most trap guns shoot a 60/40 or 80/20 pattern, unless your working with an adjustable rib that's how the beads will look !!!

What beads? I didnt see no beads, just rib at a 45* angle I've mounted other trap guns....

That thing didn't fit me fer beans. Got 150$ for it so I lost very little, that goes in the kitty....and I'm done with the 12ga scene anyways. Too much boom. Plus I'm gonna start shooting with a low-mount, if they'll let me at my home trap range.

SwampFox wrote:

Oh, on your low priced import guns they must leave something off in the process to save money and many times one thing left out is heat treatment of the internal parts. The Turkish guns are bad about this and I suspect that the "Russian" / "Remington" stuff made in Turkey is just the same. Probably why Remington has pulled them, the warranty issue. Best, Ed

Ed, I wanted you to know you got me thinking about this and it got me to do some real eye opening research on a topic I was oblivious too. It took a while for it to sink in but it did and I'm way more informed now. (see my 'turkish' thread). Things have really changed over the years and disclosure is really lacking while marketing runs amok.

Thanks, bud, very much

-kevin.

Like I said...no more 'cheapos'...

Got my unltralight upland hunter on the way.

Tried one two weeks ago during quail opener and it was love at first mile (of carrying) and I hated to give it back. It took some diggin' but I found one at Cabela's, used, and the service was great- as usual. Told 'em if it aint 'excellent' as rated (still got the ID sticker on the stock), it's going back. They said no worries. I said ship it. ...oh, and I got it for $1100.00, not the $1299.00.

Once I have the proof mark I'll know it's age. Got Gun of the Year in 2008 too. This is gonna be one nice marching gun and it'll save a ton of wear on my bod and it's gonna get here just in time for dove, pheasant and the rest of quail. (availability satuts gets updated tomorrow) 1 more off the wish list, one more to go (a Browning O/U) :

www.cabelas.com/cabela...=SEARCH_gl

Well......it turned out to be a basket case.

Pulled it from the box last night and....The fore end was split at the mag cap end and while packing it someone dropped it on something sharp and took a nice giant chunk out of the pistol grip cap area. Chokes were missing too. I can't believe they shipped it like that. What a waste of a premium firearm.

Back to Cabela's it goes and back to the drawing board for me.

Lesson learned: no more used guns via the interweb.

(gota line on a couple decent NIB upland deals at Hero's...hopefully one to be exhibted on the linty Red Blanket of Fame soon....stay tuned)

Hooooboy.... going to Bolsa Gunsmithing tonight to do some barrel sniffing... they are a Beretta/Benelli factory store . About 25 miles away, never knew they were there. Been there since 1960, I need to get out more.

Hope I make it home without signing over my truck, house, shirt etc.

Anyone else re-arming/gotta wish list going? ( or is it just me... )

Stovepipe, I generally have a mental list going, with things changing position on the list constantly. And sometimes I think "enough is enough, I don't need any more..." but that doesn't last long! Right now my list includes (in no particular order): Ruger LCP, another .280 in an all-weather version, Encore pistol (probably in 7mm-08), Ruger 77 in .416 Ruger, another AR ... Dreaming is half the fun!

*drooool* good stuff.... Pumpers

Anything shiny!!!!!!!!!