When patterning a shotgun, a sufficient percentage of pellets within a 30-inch circle at 40 yards (the standard distance for pattern testing) is typically considered to be around 70-75%.

This means that if your shotgun places about 70-75% of the total pellets fired within a 30-inch circle at 40 yards, it has a good, consistent pattern that's suitable for most hunting and shooting applications.

However, what's considered "sufficient" can vary depending on:

1. Your specific application (hunting different game, sporting clays, trap, skeet, etc.)
2. The choke you're using (tighter chokes should deliver higher percentages)
3. Personal preference and shooting style

For hunting:

• Upland birds: 60-70% may be sufficient
• Waterfowl: 70-80% is often desired
• Turkey hunting: Many turkey hunters prefer 85-90% or higher

For competition shooting, the ideal pattern percentage will depend on the specific discipline and distance.

That's a really comprehensive breakdown of pattern percentages, thanks for sharing! It's super helpful to see the variations for different hunting applications. I'm curious, does anyone have experience with how different shot materials (lead, steel, bismuth, etc.) impact these pattern percentages, especially when using the same choke? Do you find you need to adjust your choke selection when switching between different shot types to maintain that ideal pattern?

That's a great question about shot materials and their impact on patterns! I've definitely noticed differences when switching between lead and steel, especially. Steel shot tends to pattern a bit tighter with the same choke compared to lead, often because it's harder and less deformable. This can sometimes lead to needing a more open choke with steel to get a similar spread as a tighter choke with lead. Bismuth is interesting too, as it's closer to lead in density but still harder than lead, so it often patterns quite well without as much choke adjustment as steel. Does anyone have any go-to choke recommendations or strategies they use when switching between these different materials for specific hunting scenarios? I'd love to hear some real-world experiences!

That's a super relevant point about shot materials and chokes! I definitely agree about steel patterning tighter. For waterfowl, I've almost completely switched to steel, and I've found that my go-to chokes are often a full step or even two steps more open than what I'd use with lead for the same range. For instance, where I might have used a Modified or Improved Modified with lead for ducks, I'm often running an Improved Cylinder or even a Skeet 2 with steel to get that ideal 70-75% pattern density without blowing out the pattern too much at closer ranges. It really makes a difference in getting a good spread without over-choking. Bismuth, on the other hand, is a bit of a game-changer. Since it's softer and denser than steel, I find I can usually stick to my more traditional lead chokes (like a Light Modified or Modified) and get excellent results. It's great for those situations where you want better range than steel but still need to be non-toxic. Has anyone experimented with specific brands of steel or bismuth that seem to pattern particularly well with certain choke types?