A good pattern can make or break your day in the field. The tighter and more consistent, the better—at least that’s what the ads always say. But some shotguns just don’t live up to the hype once you step off the range and into the real world. Whether it’s poor choke design, odd bore dimensions, or just bad execution, these shotguns have earned a reputation for letting folks down when it matters most. They may shoot, sure—but their patterns don’t tell a pretty story.
Mossberg Maverick 88 (with factory choke)
The Maverick 88 is known for being affordable and tough, but the factory full choke often turns heads for the wrong reasons. Patterns can be wildly inconsistent, with plenty of holes where pellets should be. Upgrading the choke helps, but out of the box, it’s hit or miss—literally.
Remington 887 Nitro Mag
It looks like a tank and was marketed for harsh conditions, but pattern performance was never its strong suit. Many hunters reported inconsistent spreads, especially with turkey loads. It might survive a blizzard, but don’t expect it to win any awards at the patterning board.
CZ 612 Magnum Waterfowl
This pump has solid features on paper, but it’s been known to throw sloppy patterns with factory chokes. Whether shooting steel or lead, it often struggles to keep things tight beyond 30 yards. It’s not unusable—but for a gun marketed to waterfowlers, it should do better.
Stoeger P3000
The Stoeger P3000 is a bare-bones pump that looks good on a budget, but the pattern quality leaves something to be desired. It tends to blow wide and uneven, especially with lighter loads. It’ll work in a pinch, but don’t expect much precision.
Winchester SXP Black Shadow
While the action is fast and the build solid, the factory chokes on the SXP Black Shadow don’t always produce even spreads. Some users end up with heavy left or right bias in their patterns. It’s a reminder that a smooth pump isn’t everything if the pattern doesn’t land.
TriStar Raptor
This semi-auto shotgun runs light loads decently, but pattern testing often shows it throws wide and inconsistent groups. The factory choke tubes are usually the culprit, and aftermarket options help—but again, that’s an extra step many weren’t expecting to take right away.
Savage Stevens 320
Budget-friendly and easy to find, the Stevens 320 doesn’t shine when it comes to tight patterns. Factory tubes tend to scatter more than they group, especially with buckshot. It gets the job done close in, but it’s not something you’ll want to rely on at distance.
Weatherby PA-08
Weatherby’s PA-08 is smooth for the price, but its patterning leaves a lot on the table. Some shooters report blown-out center holes and uneven spread, especially with steel loads. Swapping chokes can help, but out of the box, it’s more spray than precision.
Hatfield SAS
Available at places like Walmart and priced low, the Hatfield SAS feels like a steal—until you look at the pattern. It can run shells okay, but the spread is usually wide, uneven, and weak in the middle. Fine for casual clays, not great for serious hunting.
H&R Pardner Pump
Built like an old 870, the Pardner Pump feels solid but patterns like it’s bored out. Many users complain about wide, inconsistent patterns, even with tighter chokes. It’s a budget workhorse, but don’t expect it to drop birds clean past 30 yards without some tuning.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
