Chokes for clays

[Robtattoo]

I've just got started shooting a few clays on what I intend to be a regular basis, weekly at least. I've shot trap & skeet before, but only very occasionally & never seriously. I'm quite frankly a terrible wing shooter & I figured that actually doing this more than once or twice a year would probably be a good idea come dove season!
I just picked up a 12ga 1187 Premier as a cheaper shooting option over my 16ga & I was wondering.....

What is the usual choke constriction for 12 ga shooting trap & skeet?

I shot today with a Mod choke installed & as expected, missed far more than I hit. I am receiving coaching & instruction, but completely forgot to ask this at today's session.

Should I maybe start with a more open choke until I get to be a better wing-shot, or are there basic 'rules' that I should stick by?

 

[esheato]

I'm quite frankly a terrible wing shooter & I figured that actually doing this more than once or twice a year would probably be a good idea come dove season!

You're on the right track...skeet specifically is hugely beneficial to learning to wing shoot.

I shot today with a Mod choke installed...

Shot what?

Skeet uses a skeet choke, trap is usually modified. Skeet is best shot with 9 shot (7.5 and 8s work also) while trap is 7.5 shot.

Take a look at the attached chart also....it breaks down various shot sizes and payload capacities.

 

[Robtattoo]

Sorry, I did a couple of trap rounds today.

Thanks for the info though, I didn't realize skeet was normall shot with smaller shot. All I've ever shot is 7½s

 

[esheato]

The cheap shells usually come in 7.5 or 8. Nine shot is usually sold by shotgun sports places or larger sporting goods store...look to Remington or Winchester target loads. Of course, it costs more, but look at the chart. In an 1 1/8 ounce shell, the difference between 7.5 and 9 is 264 pellets. It's significant and worth finding proper loads, otherwise you could be trying to fix something that is out of your control.

Also, skeet is a short range game. It's no more than 25 yards. Use an open choke (skeet) shells with proper shot size and you'll pick up some birds even when you're not perfectly on target.

Lastly, choke names are very general. The golden standard of choke measurement is the patterning board....LEARN TO LOVE IT (How to pattern). Chokes are also measured in what is called Points Of Constriction or POCs.

Check these links also:

Understanding Chokes by Briley
Chuck Hawks..not the best but it shows the constriction

 

[Robtattoo]

I appreciate your help & advice, thank you. The payload chart is quite the eye opener!

 

[esheato]

No prob...glad I could help.

 

[Hunterdad]

I shoot skeet with a skeet choke and trap with a full choke.

 

[DaleCooper51]

I normally choke when shooting clays....



As for the chokes, I shoot skeet with Cylinder, Skeet, and Improved Cylinder chokes. I don't shoot much 16 yard trap, but Light Mod, Mod, and Improved Mod all work well. Most sporting clays I shoot can be done with an Improved Cylinder or Light Mod. Every so often there is a longer target that requires a bit more constriction.

Don't get caught up on what choke you are using. Pay attention to the bird and shoot it. Be safe and have fun.

 

[kudu]

At 16 yard trap an I/C will smoke targets for me, I generally keep in Mod for trap even at 27 yards. My M12 has a fixed mod that will break targets hard even in games when we go way back, like 35 yards. Standard trap distances I use 1oz 8's or 7.5's

Skeet, I keep skeet choke or cylinder bore in a 12 ga. Smaller gauges I stick with skeet choke. I almost always run reduced loads, 7/8oz on 12ga, 3/4oz on 20ga. 28ga is still my favorite for skeet, but have shot a couple 25's at the 16 yard line at the trap field. Usually shoot 8's or my favorite, 8.5's in all my skeet shells. .410's get 9's usually for a few more pellets.

Every gun's choke is different regardless of what it says, each load from each manufacturer will shoot different patterns. The pattern board is your friend.

 

[BigJimP]

Pick a choke based on the "kill range"...


Cyclinder 15 - 20 yds
Skeet --- 20- 25 yds
IC ....25-30 yds
Mod 30 - 35 yds
Imp Mod 35 - 40 yds
Full 40+ yds

In general, Trap singles - you stand at the 17 yd line ...but bird is about 15 - 20 yds beyond house when you kill it ( around 35 yds )....so a Modified choke is common on Trap singles. For 16 yd singles...you can shoot any size shot you want ( 71/2's, 8's or 9's ).....personally I stay with 8's and 1oz shells at about 1225 fps is my 12ga shell. As you move back on singles....I keep the Mod choke from 16 - 20 yd lines....21 - 24 yd lines I go to an Imp Mod choke ----- 25 - 27 yds lines I go to Full ( and switch my load to 7 1/2's 1 oz at 1225 fps again ).

For skeet ...I shoot Skeet chokes....and I stay with the same 1oz loads of 8's with the 12ga.../ but 20ga, 28ga and .410's are also shot in skeet...in the 20ga I use 7/8 oz of 8's --- in 28ga(3/4 oz) and .410(1/2oz) I go to 9's

Every bird on a sporting clays course is differnet....most often I will start a course with an Imp Cyc / Mod ...but I will carry a pair of Skeet, pair of IC, pair of Mod, 1 Imp Mod, 1 Full choke ...to change on a station as I see fit.
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But you can shoot whatever you want ..up to size 7 1/2's for any game...

I go to a heavier and longer barrel for Trap ( 32" O/U at around 10 lbs ) ...but for skeet and sporting and for live upland birds I like a 30" O/U at around 8 1/2 lbs - a little more nimble gun...

 

[oneounceload]

Rule number 1: always use enough choke
Rule number 2: don't over think choke
Rule number 3: focus on the bird, not the choke

 

[browningguy]

I use a Skeet tube for Skeet, Modified for most Trap and Improved Cylinder for probably 95% of Sporting Clays.

 

[Gordon]

Mostly I shoot sporting Clays variants for last decade or two. I like Skeet one and skeet 2 on the brushy passing shots and switch to imp. cyl and modified on open away shots. I too use price leader #8 in 12 and 20 this last decade and switch to 9s for .410. Truth being told about keeping eye on bird and swinging thru and not thinking choke.What counts is pattern adjustment of the choke by stock adjustment and pattern board beforehand.

 

[throdgrain]

To start off with, put the skeet choke in and leave it in. You can start messing your self up worrying about chokes in 6 months or so when you begin to learn how to do it

 

[esheato]

I use a Skeet tube for Skeet, Modified for most Trap and Improved Cylinder for probably 95% of Sporting Clays.

Same here.

 

[Snarlingiron]

You generally miss by feet. Chokes give you inches.