"Most full choke guns will keep this load in a 18" circle at 50 yards."
James Gates from the 2002 post above.
How does a full choke affect balls in a single column? I would think that it would matter very little, or do I need some edification on this?
First the original "hog cruncher" was put together with soft lead balls, just going to hard cast was a major pattern tightener. The current Tri-Ball is set up in a thick walled steel shot cup wad and surrounded with sperical buffer.
Cylinder bore patterns run 5 to 7 inches at 25 yards.
Extended full chokes with a parallel section patterns in the 4-5" range at 40 yards and under 8" at 50yards! I suspect that delaying the opening of the wad and perhaps keeping the pellets in better alignment at muzzle exit are the primary factors.
Excellent patterns have been reported in chokes from modified to xxfull. However, if you see patterns with two balls hitting together and the third several inches out, you are using too much choke for your shotgun.
Such are the mysteries of the smoothbore!
Ralph
