Embarrassed to ask this but here goes

UpATree

Ten Pointer
Contributor
Why is my Remington 870 Express Magnum with SuperX 3” 1 7/8 #4 shot shooting left every time? I know the obvious answer is probably the correct answer, but how to correct it?

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Mmm. One. Are you really aimed up square? This, left pattern is a right handed persons problem. Second, 4s are big through a tight choke.. will throw the pattern.
I bet.. stock full will fix it. Or really making sure you are square. Check with one eye closed looking down the pipe, then open both eyes to see the real center. Cheers
 
Make sure you're square on the gun. Use a tripod or vise and sit down when shooting it to see if it's truly the gun. Also could just be the load and choke combo. Try switching it up. The longbeard xr's with the Carlson's longbeard choke is a great combo
 
Unless you know for certain it isn't, the barrel could be bent. If you have choke tubes, it could be a choke tube issue. Patterning shotguns opens a Pandora's box of issues.........................
 
Could be the ammo. I just went through this with a Mossberg 500. With Winchester long beard it shoots high right but with Remington Premier Turkey and Winchester super X turkey it shoots center.
 
Sometimes gun, choke, ammo combinations do that. Just need an adjustable rifle type sighting system to correct for it. My 20g was off bad out of the box but a reflex sight fixed it right up. I think QBD had an 870 that was the same way.
 
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The good news is, if you can’t shoot straight then you shoot the same crooked every time and there’s something to be said for that.
 
I had a Mossberg that liked Remington premier #6. Got some #5 of the same shell when the#6 were sold out. When i patterned them the poi had shifted low and left. Makes no sense to me 🤷‍♂️
 
I had a mossberg 500 with a 24 inch ported barrel that patterned everything left or right I can't remember now. I believe it was made to be a turkey hunting shotgun with the reciever tapped for scope base but I really didn't want optics on it. The guy I bought it from had a red dot on it and swore it was an accurate gun for rifled slugs but without the red dot it threw everything off to one side regardless of choke tube. I was afraid that being sighted in at 40-50 yards with optics would still be off at 100 yards so I gave it to my son in law for a home defense weapon. I noticed how many rounds you shot of those 1 7/8 ounce Winchester loads. I have those,I shot one and settled on 1 3/4 ounce loads to save myself. They pattern great and I have killed every turkey I ever shot at with them. But I have to add I have a new haven 600 with a modified choke that seems to pattern everything at 50 plus yards like a dream.
 
My issue was with a Remington 11-87 in 12ga. The center of the pattern was 12" off the point of aim at 40 yds with all ammo I tried. I put a set of adjustable fiber optic sights on it and got it dialed in. Killed a bunch of turkeys with it before I went lighter with a 870 dedicated turkey gun.
 
I have seen a pattern board screw over many a shooter. Skeet shooters are probably the worst. They will fuss and groan as they count little holes and when their finished they don't know any more than when they began. It's like a dog chasing their tail, funny as hell to watch but don't ever try it for yourself...
 
Thanks for all the posts, guys. Today I went through all these posts and tried most of the suggestions. Everything about this gun looks right, but I tried three different chokes, three different ammos, and it’s always left of center. And if I keep shooting and trying to get that bazooka right, I’m going to need physical therapy on that shoulder. I have a buddy coming to hunt with me on Friday and Saturday so I’ve run out of time trying to figure it out.

I think tomorrow I’m heading over to Fuquay Gun and try to find a 20ga turkey gun.
 
Thanks for all the posts, guys. Today I went through all these posts and tried most of the suggestions. Everything about this gun looks right, but I tried three different chokes, three different ammos, and it’s always left of center. And if I keep shooting and trying to get that bazooka right, I’m going to need physical therapy on that shoulder. I have a buddy coming to hunt with me on Friday and Saturday so I’ve run out of time trying to figure it out.

I think tomorrow I’m heading over to Fuquay Gun and try to find a 20ga turkey gun.
A clamp on the rib front and rear open sight will be cheaper and will work fine. Just move the rear sight to the right a little and you will be where you want to go. It will get you through the rest of the season. Good luck.
 
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I have a good shoulder if you ever want a second opinion.

Or fiddy bucks for the broken gun...
If I had more time to round up a buddy and get him out there to try it, I would. I guess if I take my new 20ga out there tomorrow and it shoots left, that’s another way to identify the problem.
 
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