Why (and How) Hunters Pattern Shotguns

You wouldn’t go afield without zeroing your rifle, so don’t neglect those shotguns, either. The offseason is an ideal time to go back to basics, tuning up shotguns for upcoming hunts, days on the clay course, and all-around success. In the past, we covered the basics of shotgun chokes. The next progression to getting the most from your shotgun lies with one simple, albeit oft-overlooked, range task—patterning. Here’s a breakdown of the what’s, why’s, and how’s of shotgun patterning.