It is a good start Bob.
The best way pattern a gun is at 40 yards, measured for a start.
Have a piece of plain paper stretched tight, at least 4 feet both ways. Or an iron plate which is better. (it can be whitewashed between shots)
Put an aiming mark in the centre, and fire at least 6 rounds at it, of the same load.
Not at the same sheet!
Use a new paper each time.
By eye, find the centre of the shot pattern, and from that centre, draw a 30 inch circle around it.
Count the pellets in the 30 inch circle.
Deduct these from the full charge fired. This gives you the pattern percentage .
Take an average for the 6 shots (at least ) to get average pellet percentage. A cylinder bore should produce a 40 % pattern if well loaded.
See what percentage you are getting, and how even the shot pattern is.
A good bird getting pattern has few 5 inch bare patches.. best patterns may have two or three still.
A wire can be made into a loop 5 inches across, and it can be run over that pattern to see how many 5 " gaps there are. One or two show up in the best of patterns.
Wadding.
Try rolled up soft brown paper if you don't have much else, or newspaper. rub the paper to make it soft.
Roll it in a ball and ram it down.
Powder,
Try 2 1/4 drams if a 14 bore. (about 60 grains) Two drams may work fine, (54 grains) and should do so with an Ounce of shot.
Shot,
Try 1 to 1 -1/4 ounces.
For those that like big heavy charges of powder, this is the reason for blown patterns.
I have friends in the UK, who still use 2 drams in a 12 bore, and an ounce of shot for normal game shooting, and 1 1/2 ounces of shot and Three drams for geese.
The rule of thumb for gunning with black, is one dram (27 1/3 grains) to a half ounce of shot.
So,
You need 3 drams (about 80 grains), if using 1 1/2 ounces of shot.
Forget 90 grain loads of powder. You can try it later if you like!
Don't bother with any filler.
It adds weight to the charge and just makes it kick more.
Use a bit of paper, over the shot, a small ball rolled up and rammed down, or, dry grass, or whatever, or a card wad If it will hold.
With your boring, you are looking for wads that will expand. Card wads can't expand.
Felt wads can work very well.
Tow is no good over powder, unless it is twisted very tight, or comes from an old saddle. Otherwise powder blows through it.
Try this Bob, and see how it does.
