i got ok patterns with the 10g cups.. remember that my idea of a decent pattern is if it kills birds... i never did actually put it on paper in the magic circle more then 30 yards. if its within 30 yards and I am on target, its dead birds.. i also do not shot out at 40 yards either.. i spot and stalk. where is hunt birds is very different then the way most hunters shoot waterfowl. i hunt the ocean.. the ducks live in salt water, even the Canadian geese, mallards and so forth. i hike to my hunting area, glass for birds working the shoreline and the grass flats, and put the sneak on them from the tree line.. i never get a lot of birds in a single outing. i typically get 2 or 3 birds on an outing. once I shoot, i usually get 2 shots out before the entire mile wide marshy area explodes and all the birds leave. so i get first shot I try to align 2 birds and sneak to within 30 yards. i get the first shot hopefully with birds on the water, and the second while they jump and fly, then it is over for the hunt and the 5 mile hike home begins... so i am pretty up close and personal. a good pattern to me is a dead bird... not very scientific... almost never go after a single bird. i sneak up on groups of 10 or more and let the singles pass unless that is all there is. because my hunting is all or nothing on limited numbers of birds, i am very targeted. also, I have a older gun, and do not like shooting steel shot without a shot cup. if I am shooting lead, there is no shot cup and I am ok with it, but rarely do it unless I am using 410 brass shells. the thought of waterfowling with 12g and no shotcup is kinda against my religion.
