Thought some might find this interesting so I decided to share it. Last duck hunting trip I had three cripples out of the six ducks I shot. The dog liked that but I didn't. I was shooting a 20 guage Citori choked Mod over IC and 3" Drylok, 1 OZ of #3 steel @ 1300 fps. All were over decoys at 30-40 yards. 4 of the six birds were with the IC. Patterned them yesterday. All patterns were in a 30" circle. IC at 30 yards was 65% or 102 out of 158 pellets. Mod at 40 yards was 64% or 101 pellets out of 158. I bumped it up a notch to IM over LM and patterned again with the same 3" #3 Drylok. LM @ 30 yards was 85% or 135 out of 158. IM @ 40 yards was 77% or 122 out of 158. Went back out today and 3 woodies and 3 gray ducks later, no cripples. Again between 30 and 40 yards over dekes. Not as much fun for the dog but I certainly liked it better. Last year I shot 3" estate #3's without issue. Changed to the Drylok this year without patterning. It made a big difference. I was doubting the shells. Going to a tad tighter choke tubes after patterning got the little 20 guage Citori back to balling them up.

Interesting.

I built up a patterning board stand and cut a bunch of targets but it's kinda hard to find a place here to actually pattern. Bought some new chokes and wanted to check them out. Did ok this weekend though but would like to know the limits. Good info Smokey

Factory or extended choke? Don't know about Browning, but Benelli says no steel in improved modified.
Interesting results and thanks for sharing.

Briley flush chokes.

I pattern all my guns and loads I use. Alot of times smaller steel shot will pattern alot like lead
I use mod or im unless birds are in my face. Lot less crips.

Good stuff.

I patterned my gun on cranes yesterday and today in the panhandle.
We smoked 54 of them.
12 gauge, patternmaster duck choke with 3” nr 2 heavy X tungsten

The only waterfowl load I have ever patterned is my Rio 28 gauge bismuth I am using this season. I figured at a little over $1/shell it couldn't hurt to pattern those.

Also might consider shot string. Pattern master has a few videos on it.

https://youtu.be/TxoNz-900MY

Shot string is a gimmick, the flight time from first to last pellet is insignificant, horizontally, less than the width of your hand.

What Patternmaster does is remove the wad from the equation, I had some loads that were improperly slit at the factory, I bought a patternmaster choke to be able to use them up.

The Drylok loads use a thick two piece wad and they are a little slower than most 20ga loads out there, hence they need a little more choke than a traditional load like Federal, Estate, Rio and Fiocchi.

I've patterned most of the waterfowl loads I've used. I found choke constriction to be the biggest variable. I got right of my patternmaster and went with an extended Carlson's LM. Found it works the best overall with various shot sizes to include BBs when I'm goose hunting.

I also found the Federal loads with the flite stopper wad do tend to pattern tighter but they are much 'dirtier'.

Last note- For cripples I carry Kent 3" #6 steel or the Teal Steel and found they do great for whacking cripples because of the pattern density. Works on crippled running geese as well as it does on ducks.

Heck yeah, like some have said it's amazing how the choke can make a big difference. My LM throws a much better pattern than my IM does at 30 & 40y and that is not what lead has taught us.

I've done a bunch of load/choke testing with my shotgun. One interesting thing to point out is #6's pattern awesome...but they don't carry enough energy for big ducks in my opinion. I had more cripples and I found more shot in breasts with the #6. I quit using them...even for the feet down birds over the decoys. But they are by far the best shot for smaller ducks (teal & woodies). I've also never seen a #2 pattern as well as a #3 or #1.

If most would learn to decoy ducks feet down at 10-20 yards, they would be amazed at how well their gun patterns!

Good info David. Matches up with what I found.

Agreed but the percentage play to double up is, reach back and peel one off the back at 30 yards with the first shot. Then come back to the candy bird, which is now 30-40 yards for the easy double.

I patterned some Fed 3” 1-1/8 #2 after a very frustrating morning where it seemed like I was shooting blanks!
Target showed poor pattern at 30 yds. Went back to 3” 1-1/4 and started knocking em down again.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shotgunning-bob-brister/1112894024

The late Bob Brister several years ago wrote a book titled "Shotgunning: The Art and the Science." Mr. Brister was before his death was the Outdoor Editor for the "Houston Chronicle" newspaper. He was an avid hunter and champion level clay target shooter.

To write his book he extensively tested shotgun patterns. In testing the concept of shot string he had his wife pull a trailer behind her car at various speeds containing his targets.

I suggest that any hunter or clay target shooter read his book. The book is a treasure of information. With the Holiday Season approaching I suggest to use the book as a stocking stuffer.