what chokes to use

King Fisher · 10-17-2003, 12:38 PM

Went out yesterday and got into some birds! However I should have gotten more with the close shots we were making. I did realize I need to go to a heavy shot, but what choke should I use. My new Browning came with 3 chokes and they all seem to be a bit different. The 3 that came with it we're improved, modified, and full. Also are there advantages to buying expensive chokes seperate at the store.

Chromaflage · 10-17-2003, 01:22 PM

KF - it helps to take your gun and pattern it at about 30 yards with each choke with the ammo that you will be hunting with. that way you can visualize the spread of the shot. The full tightens the spread and lengthens the shot string a little. Improved is a little more resetirction than a straight barrel, giving you a wider spread out of the barrel. Modified is somewhere in between. Typically, the farther the shots you take, the more restriction you want in order to maintain shot density. Likewise, if you are shooting close, you would want a wider spread, or less restriction.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

ORS

Get Bit · 10-17-2003, 03:30 PM

I would start with modified and go from there. It should give you a a decent pattern for shooting over decoys. Take ORS's advice and pattern the gun with the rounds you use. Try several brands and sizes. Also see if you can find a buddy with an after market choke tube they will let you borrow. That's how I fell in love with my Briley Light Modified. If you are shooting over dekes then you shouldn't need hevishot unless you want to spend the money or it gives you more confidence. We've never had a problem killing birds with 2's or 3's. Geese I'd go with BB's. Give the Estate or Kent cartridges a try. $8 at BiMart, on sale can't beat'em.

Gun Rod Bow · 10-17-2003, 03:50 PM

Patterning will tell you alot. Some carboard or a roll of butcher paper with 30" circles drawn on it will teach you alot.

I started shooting a Browning Gold a few years back for waterfowl, and based on my prior experience with a Remington, I didn't want to go tighter than Mod with steel shot.

While shooting cripples on the water I noticed the loose pattern.

I did the old dime in the muzzle test on the Full tube and found that a dime rattled around in the full choke. I shoot the Full tube at pretty much everything except Woodies in close cover now.

But, most common problem is the "loose nut behind the butt-stock" (that'd be you Bub)

Keep your head down, don't stop your swing, keep your eye on the bird and not on the barrel. Do these things right and it really won't matter what choke you got in. When you try to "not miss" intead of trying to hit, you'll miss.

When you pattern with different chokes, you'll see that the center mass ( real heart of the pattern) doesn't change much past 30 yds.

Fishbone · 10-17-2003, 06:18 PM

Patterning on paper/cardboard is excellent advice!

Also, it is not a good idea to shoot STEEL shot through chokes with restrictions greater than modified (MOD)...gun damage may result.

Good thread!

jokester · 10-21-2003, 09:17 AM

I have a Beretta A-390 Silver Mallard, and I've always used my improved cylinder for anything from deer hunting with slugs to upland bird hunting. As a matter of fact, I don't think that choke has ever come out of my gun but only to clean it. Someone please correct me if i'm wrong, but from what I understand, the modified is a "loose" or wider pattern, the full choke is a tighter pattern for those "reach out there" shots, and your improved cylinder is kind of the "middle of the road." I've talked to a lot of upland bird hunters back in IL and they all use their modified choke for a wider spray. From my little experience, I've found that I can't tell a difference when I have the IC or the modified in.

I think GRB hit the nail on the head though...the person behind the stock has a lot to do with the hit or miss game. Too many times i've missed because of not swinging through on my shot or trying "not" to miss. I seem to do MUCH better when I don't think about trying not to miss, or trying to hit it, and just shoot instinctively.

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jokester

Lured In · 10-21-2003, 12:51 PM

Here is a list of chokes going from most open (close in shots) to tightest (farthest shots).

Skeet
Improved Cylinder
Light Modified
Modified
Improved Modified
Full
Xtra Full (Turkey choke)

As Fishbone said, most manufacturers will tell you not to shoot steel (or most other non-toxic shot) through a full choke. That being said, some after market chokes can be purchased that are constricting the shot down to full choke levels. They avoid the usual issues by moving the choke beyond the barrell threads. As always though, check with your manufacturer.

One more piece of the puzzle that you should consider. Shot velocity can also affect patterns, especially with steel (which doesn't choke very well). I noticed this in my gun when I switched to high velocity shells a couple years ago. My factory mod choke was actually putting out better patterns with the faster load. [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]

So don't be afraid to pattern a few different rounds (velocity, manufacturer, shot size) to find one that will perform well.

1pump · 10-21-2003, 03:17 PM

I use an improved cylinder for everything, but I'm always hunting over decoys and don't shoot more than 30 yards very often.

Flatfish · 10-21-2003, 08:35 PM

Improved for the days when the birds are working the blocks. Modified every other time.

I shoot skeet 3 times a month. 3-4 rounds per day. last year I shot 4-5 rounds 2 days a week. I am a mildly decent shot.

I am not capable of full choke work. I have hunted with 2 men who were. One has to be seen to be believed. I simply am amazed at the stone dead ducks falling at distances I would never shoot at. He drops them 40-50% of the time. Truly amazing work with steel shot.

Yeah, his gun shoots extrodinarily tight patterns. But he can direct it. Something I have never seen before or since.

Why do I tell you this? Because Improved on short days and modified on the rest of them( pattern the gun. I do not care what the choke says. I mean improved patterns and modified patterns.) will kill most of the ducks any of us are capable of killing.

Those who attend live rock dove shoots understand tight chokes. Some trap shooters( usually in the fun shoots) can break birds most of the time at 55 yards. To consistently kill ducks at this range is truly expert work. If you balk at 15 foot leads( thats what I have seen to minds eye on the very few 60 yarders I have dropped) then modified will kill them plenty dead.

A great tip for the gear gurus out there- When the birds are decoying well, shoot improved or skeet....And steel Ts or BBs. At this short range there are enough pellets in the pattern to kill a mallard. And a couple Ts in a Greenhead is one stone dead duck. It is a great time to use those goose shells you replaced with hevishot.

My Mossberg clunker shoots fairly tight improved patterns with the Ts. But at 30 yards, it mashes mallards into the mud. And the dog likes that.

For the rest of the year I shoot 2s,3s, or 4s. depends on the choke/load combo.

OK, off the old soapbox now.

Mark and the out of shape please shoot them close so I don't have to swim too far dog.

jokester · 10-22-2003, 06:54 AM

OOPS, I got the IC and Modified confused [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img] my bad! WOW! Breaking birds consistently at 55 yards...that's one heck of a shot :shocked: I hope I can do that one of these days. I love to sit and watch guys that are that good! I try to pick up pointers from what they're doing and improve on the things that i'm not...seems to work a lot of the times.

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jokester