[TRAPnSKEET]

I have a Mossberg 500 and i am wondering what choke tube is the best to use for shooting trap and skeet. I have been shooting with the modified choke tube. Would it be better to use the improved or full choke tube?

Thanks

[BozemanMT]

Different games, different chokes.
Usually for skeet, you want a skeet choke (funny how that works) or if you dont' have one, a cylinder choke. But tighter than that is going to be much tougher.
Trap, most people shoot 16 yard trap with IC or Mod and going back to Full by the 27 yard.
Now, really good trap shooters shoot the 16 yard with a full choke, but it's a lot harder that way (although good practice)

<dave voice> Oh, but those are just guesses, you need to go pattern your gun first with your chokes and your loads.<dave voice off>

shot size, choke size, etc, all makes a difference.

Generally, #9 shot on skeet, wide open chokes
on trap, IC to full, (depending on your handicap line) usually #7.5, although lots of people shoot #8 from the 16 yard line.

Again, see dave voice admonishment.
HTH

[riverdog]

Improved Modified at Trap 16 yd line to Full at 27 yds.

Skeet or Improved Cylinder for Skeet. Skeet is just a bit more open.

http://www.briley.com/

[SShooterZ]

Improved Modified at Trap 16 yd line to Full at 27 yds.

Skeet or Improved Cylinder for Skeet. Skeet is just a bit more open.

http://www.briley.com/


What he said! :)

[farscott]

One big issue: The choke tube itself is only part of the resulting pattern. The shot load itself in a given size, specifically its hardness, plays a huge role in the resulting pattern. Very soft shot results in wider patterns, and harder shot tends to create tighter patterns. This is due to the ease of the softer shot deforming and flying out of the main shot string.

I can shoot full patterns with modified chokes with some loads. I can also open the pattern to improved cylinder with a different load with the same choke. To prove this to yourself, pattern your shotgun with two loads with the same size shot: a promotional load and a trap load. The trap load should result in a smaller pattern.

As mentioned, the shot size itself also plays a huge role in how a gun patterns with a particular load and choke tube. To make it more complicated, the diameter of the barrel itself is important as choke is related to how much constriction there is from bore to choke. Not all twelve-gauge barrels are 0.729", some are more and some are less.

[riverdog]

Good point. With my Rem 870 30" I shoot IM at 16 yd trap. Stayed with IM when I got my Browning 525 but am wondering if Mod might be a better choice for the backbored barrel. I just might try a round with Mod and see. BT-99 (also back-bored) came with Mod only so that may be a clue as to what Browning thinks. . .

[riverdog]

I found the chart below on the Briley site:

http://www.briley.com/chokeselection/chokechart.jpg


You might also want to read the Briley Articles in the link on the left of the page. There's one titled What chokes are you using? which is a good read.