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Skeettx will love this ! In a conversation with a certain hillbilly recently , while talking trap , the topic of altitude came up . Certain loads at lower elevation that hit targets hard , cream targets at higher elevations . At some pt , the thinner air doesn't open the pattern as fast . So some of these threads about chokes and patterns have an added variation to think about . High mtn hunting sez you don't need as much choke . Makes me lean toward a double choke combo of .005 and .020 - a little something for everybody/ every thing ! changeable chokes can be a very useful thing , but how often do / does one pattern at the place they'll hunt !! (UDF and WYO - may help with those long shots that still seem to reach out and touch someone / something !? )

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1841 Location: Central ND

16gaDavis,

Nah!! That is 6" between the ears stuff. Sure there is some difference,but not enough to go changing chokes.........unless you are hunting on Mount Everest.

Joined: 09 Mar 2016 Posts: 754 Location: Mn.

Shooting trap higher scores are posted at places like Spanish Fork, UT due to higher elevation. And background. But most don't change chokes full and fuller are best for Trap if you want to shoot your best scores and are experienced. Higher elevation helps with fuller being even fuller and that is a good thing. For trap.

Hunting at least for me Full and Fuller are the exception and not the norm. Ranges feathers are shot at vary. So for me I stick with what works across averages.

Neil Winston did a lot of pattern testing including effects of altitude, air temp, humidity and pressure variations. Altitude does have the largest impact of all factors and makes a difference. Especially in trap.

Even though Neil has passed on his work is still archived and available at clay target testing. Here is the link on the effects of altitude on patterns he did, it is a good read if you are into the technical aspects. And real world testing.

http://www.claytargettesting.com/Temp&Altitude/Temperature&Altitude.pdf

Have read a few articles about altitude affecting pattern density. After reading them I started paying attention to the breaks I was getting shooting at different altitudes. I live and do most of my shooting at 7000 ft. and occasionally shoot at Ben Avery in Phoenix which is less than 2000 ft. and I will tell you there is a difference.

I have never had the opportunity to shoot any patterns on paper at low altitude but all the patterns I have ever shot here in Flagstaff all have higher densities than the choke they are being shot through. This is with a bunch of different guns. I usually shoot one choke tighter when shooting in Phoenix than I do up here at 7000 ft.

Maybe the patterns are are tighter up here with all this clean air versus all the smog in Phoenix Question

Joined: 18 Feb 2018 Posts: 621 Location: va, ct, mo

air causes drag. less air, less drag.
drag causes pellets to separate.
drag causes the wad to open.
less air, less drag, less spread, less wad bloom.
the longer the shot, the more noticeable the difference.

SOOOOO

Are you saying that shooting at sea level is a drag?

he he he Smile

Made me laugh

Mike

Joined: 22 Feb 2019 Posts: 63 Location: United States

Don't make me laugh.

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1841 Location: Central ND

Bobski,

Being from VA, CT & MO that is quite the combination........

In all seriousness, if you had to make a choice of one place, which one of the three would you pick?.....

Joined: 03 Sep 2014 Posts: 398 Location: Rochester, MN

Here is an article from Shotgun Life magazine on altitude and choke, (and shot size.)

https://www.shotgunlife.com/shotguns/guns/busting-the-big-myth-about-shotgun-chokes.html

I find 005 & 015 is my favorite choke combination

Member Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 1257 Location: Nebraska

Joined: 28 Dec 2017 Posts: 87 Location: Northern Utah

I've shot everywhere from sea level to 12000 feet but I never noticed anything other than I couldn't breathe at 12000 feet. I am just a hunter though.

Do you suppose oxygen levels have an influence on powder burn?

Joined: 03 Sep 2014 Posts: 398 Location: Rochester, MN