Monty question?

[rodburner]

First off I wanted to say "Hello" to everyone. This is the first time to the site and surely not the last.
I got a Benelli Montefeltro a couple of years ago and love the gun. All I use it for is quail hunting. The first time out I was using the IC choke and the guy I was with told me I needed to change it because I was blowing limbs off the tree way up in front of us. So I changed it to the skeet choke and I don't see much difference in the pattern. My question is, is there a choke that I can buy that will open up my pattern a little? I've shot wood and water to see the pattern and it still seems real tight to me even at 40 yds. Another question I have is, can you get different shims? For me, it doesn't seem to break enough from the stock to gun. Thanks in advance for all the input and I hope to learn a lot more about my Benelli, from you guys...

[MontefeltroPro]

First off I wanted to say "Hello" to everyone. This is the first time to the site and surely not the last.
I got a Benelli Montefeltro a couple of years ago and love the gun. All I use it for is quail hunting. The first time out I was using the IC choke and the guy I was with told me I needed to change it because I was blowing limbs off the tree way up in front of us. So I changed it to the skeet choke and I don't see much difference in the pattern. My question is, is there a choke that I can buy that will open up my pattern a little? I've shot wood and water to see the pattern and it still seems real tight to me even at 40 yds. Another question I have is, can you get different shims? For me, it doesn't seem to break enough from the stock to gun. Thanks in advance for all the input and I hope to learn a lot more about my Benelli, from you guys...

Welcome to the forum. I quail hunt down here in Texas and have settled on the improved cylinder choke. It is a bit of a compromise between skeet and mod. It gives a nice wide pattern for covey breaks and close range work, but yet holds the pattern enough for longer range shots probably better than skeet.

Shims: My Montefeltro Silver 20 gauge came with the "C" shims installed but I got the shim kit with it. When I mounted the gun, I was looking AT the barrel instead of DOWN it. I installed the "D" shims, lowering the stock a bit, and that seemed to help. Read the manual and it will help you through all that if you want to try it.

Hope you enjoy your new gun... I sure like mine!

[rodburner]

Thanks Pro. I have the "D" shims in mine but I think I need another notch. I still have to shoot below the bird to hit them. I'm shooting high. Also, I've tried the IC and skeet chokes and can't tell any difference. I shot a piece of wood to check patterns and I can't tell one from the other. I thought there might be an aftermarket choke that would open it up a little. Thanks again for the help..

[MontefeltroPro]

Thanks Pro. I have the "D" shims in mine but I think I need another notch. I still have to shoot below the bird to hit them. I'm shooting high. Also, I've tried the IC and skeet chokes and can't tell any difference. I shot a piece of wood to check patterns and I can't tell one from the other. I thought there might be an aftermarket choke that would open it up a little. Thanks again for the help..

Shims: To be honest, I would wish for even more stock-drop myself... wish they made an "E" shim! Wonder what would happen if we ground off the titties on the "C" shim (which prevent installing two shims) and installed it along WITH the "D" shim??? There would be a lot of 'black' showing between the stock and receiver, but it might help us get the drop we're looking for. Some of the Forum Senior experts like Tucker, M1014, Novaking, Cleefurd, etc. might have some ideas about the feasibility of this maneuver. Hope they'll respond with some coaching on this. I am still having to mount the gun pretty high on my shoulder to be able to look down the barrel, although the 'D' shim is much better than the 'C' shim for me... just not quite enough correction.

On the choke pattern issue: If your skeet and IC chokes are patterning the same... it makes me wonder if you might be patterning too close? Back up to 30-40 yards and see if you see a difference. Takes a little time for the pellets to spread out to their full potential for a given choke. Just a thought.

[rodburner]

Shims: To be honest, I would wish for even more stock-drop myself... wish they made an "E" shim! Wonder what would happen if we ground off the titties on the "C" shim (which prevent installing two shims) and installed it along WITH the "D" shim??? There would be a lot of 'black' showing between the stock and receiver, but it might help us get the drop we're looking for. Some of the Forum Senior experts like Tucker, M1014, Novaking, Cleefurd, etc. might have some ideas about the feasibility of this maneuver. Hope they'll respond with some coaching on this. I am still having to mount the gun pretty high on my shoulder to be able to look down the barrel, although the 'D' shim is much better than the 'C' shim for me... just not quite enough correction.

On the choke pattern issue: If your skeet and IC chokes are patterning the same... it makes me wonder if you might be patterning too close? Back up to 30-40 yards and see if you see a difference. Takes a little time for the pellets to spread out to their full potential for a given choke. Just a thought.

Thats funny, my wife had the same idea about putting shims together but she suggested the "C" and "A" or any combination that worked. The only problem I see is we would have to make a new metal piece that goes in the stock. I just happen to work at a blacksmith shop and may try it. I can't find anything about an "E" shim so may have to do something.
As for the choke issue, if you'll notice in my first post I was shooting at 40 yds. I shot a duck and when the bb's hit the water it looked like a full choke. A guy on Hunting.Net suggested a cylinder choke. I had never heard of one until now and looked on Midway USA and found one. It's about $20 so I may get one and try it. Only other thing I can think to do is shorten the barrel and I would rather not do that. Another guy directed me to some shells called spreaders and I have never heard of them either.
If I can get my barrel dropped I think it will help me tremendously, but I do think I need a wider pattern. I e-mailed Benelli and waiting for a reply. May never get one but it's worth a shot. I may have to call them..
Thanks again, and I will figure out something if I have to take my Remington youth model hunting. Nothing more aggrevating than missing a bunch of birds....

[Banjo MD]

Sounds like some time at the "Pattern Board" would save you a lot of grief!

[MontefeltroPro]

Thats funny, my wife had the same idea about putting shims together but she suggested the "C" and "A" or any combination that worked. The only problem I see is we would have to make a new metal piece that goes in the stock. I just happened to work at a blacksmith shop and may try it. I can't find anything about an "E" shim so may have to do something.
As for the choke issue, if you'll notice in my first post I was shooting at 40 yds. I shot a duck and when the bb's hit the water it looked like a full choke. A guy on Hunting.Net suggested a cylinder choke. I had never heard of one until now and looked on Midway USA and found one. It's about $20 so I may get one and try it. Only other thing I can think to do is shorten the barrel and I would rather not do that. Another guy directed me to some shells called spreaders and I have never heard of them either.
If I can get my barrel dropped I think it will help me tremendously, but I do think I need a wider pattern. I e-mailed Benelli and waiting for a reply. May never get one but it's worth a shot. I may have to call them..
Thanks again, and I will figure out something if I have to take my Remington youth model hunting. Nothing more aggrevating than missing a bunch of birds....

Shortening the barrel would not be the way to go. A GOOD choke will cost more than $20. Check out this site:

http://www.briley.com/index.asp?Page...PROD&ProdID=36

I bought a set of these and just love them. Extended-ported and they pattern great and look great. I would STILL recommend the IC for quail... Or the light modified (better for more lengthy shots). Improved Skeet is between Skeet and Improved Cylinder and would be better for closer ranges. Best of luck.

[Novaking]

Thats funny, my wife had the same idea about putting shims together but she suggested the "C" and "A" or any combination that worked. The only problem I see is we would have to make a new metal piece that goes in the stock. I just happened to work at a blacksmith shop and may try it. I can't find anything about an "E" shim so may have to do something.
As for the choke issue, if you'll notice in my first post I was shooting at 40 yds. I shot a duck and when the bb's hit the water it looked like a full choke. A guy on Hunting.Net suggested a cylinder choke. I had never heard of one until now and looked on Midway USA and found one. It's about $20 so I may get one and try it. Only other thing I can think to do is shorten the barrel and I would rather not do that. Another guy directed me to some shells called spreaders and I have never heard of them either.
If I can get my barrel dropped I think it will help me tremendously, but I do think I need a wider pattern. I e-mailed Benelli and waiting for a reply. May never get one but it's worth a shot. I may have to call them..
Thanks again, and I will figure out something if I have to take my Remington youth model hunting. Nothing more aggrevating than missing a bunch of birds....

Shorting the barrel will do nothing for you. Barrel length has nothing to do with patterning of a shotgun. Your on the right track with chokes. Cylinder choke will give you the most open pattern. I think IC like PRO said will do just fine. Some one said patterning board. Excellent idea! Benelli's shoot a bit higher then american guns. This lets you see what you are shooting at better.