So I picked up an 18” low profile sighted barrel a few months ago. I patterned it on an old Wingmaster receiver and was had about a 7” composite group at 10-15-25 yards with 8 pellet FC. Happy with said barrel , I finally found a cheap older (1990s) Express at the LGC. Installed the barrel and new stock, etc. took it to the range and was unimpressed.
A few more trips, still not the patterns I got originally. Could an Express lower cause bigger patterns? I even posted a thread about cleaning the bore. Tried that, no effect.
Then in the #1 thread someone mentioned that Federal was holding up production due to fliers. Someone else mentioned a new red wad. I cut open a shell from a case I just received from SGA, white wad still.
So I dug around my zombie evac bag and found a sleeve from about 18 months ago. Took it to the range today, along with some from about 6 months ago. I did not try the ammo recently received.
It’s an n=1 experiment, but to me it seems the old boxes pattern tighter.
Three rounds at 15 yards, one at 10:
I think the “new” group is bigger than I noted, missed one in the wad hole...