When patterning a shotgun, what percent of pellets within a 30-inch circle is considered sufficient?

• A. 50% of the load, with even distribution
• B. 55% of the load, with even distribution
• C. 60% of the load, with even distribution
• D. 65% of the load, with even distribution

Answer: (B)

Patterning a shotgun load is about checking how the pellets spread at a standard distance to predict how many will hit a target. The 30-inch circle at the testing distance (typically around 40 yards) represents the area you want most of your pellets to cover. A pattern that places about half to a little more of the pellets inside that circle is considered a solid, reliable baseline. Specifically, about 55% of the pellets inside the circle, with an even distribution across the target, is viewed as sufficient. This tells you the load is providing a consistent, workable pattern without being too sparse or overly concentrated in one spot. If the pattern drops below that threshold, you’d likely see poorer hit probabilities and might need to adjust the choke, the shell, or the setup. Higher percentages like 60% or 65% indicate an even denser pattern, but 55% is the commonly accepted minimum for a reliable pattern.