870 Turkey Choke

[kovach63]

I have a 870 Express Super Magnum which I plan to use for the spring turkey hunt. I am already planning on using 3.5" shells with shot 5. My 870 has a modified choke which I know will work but is not desireable for turkey. I've tried doing a search on this forum for a choke using 3.5" shells and haven't found one hence the following questions.

1. What type of choke should I get? Full or Super Full.
2. What brand? Remington or is there a better manufacturer or chokes?

I need to do some patterning but I wanted to get an idea about what type and manufacturer of choke to get before I start patterning. Any help is appreciated.

 

[frankt]

I first tried the remington Extra Full Turkey choke in my 870 and it was OK but on a friends advice I tried the Kick's Gobbling Thunder choke and it was much better. Tighter pattern for sure.

They have a chart to help you match your choke to your shotgun,shell and shot.

http://www.kicks-ind.com/ASP/gobblin.asp
Good luck!

 

[redneck2]

I got a Tru-Lock. They custom make them one at a time. If you have any questions, they will help you out. They're really nice guys and will give you advice on what works best

http://www.trulockchokes.com

FWIW...ask them about Hevi-shot. Hits like the hammer of Thor and good to maybe 50+ yards. I wouldn't get set on a particular shot type or size until you pattern it

One of the things I didn't know but found out...most chokes are made out of steel tubing. Tubing is made by bending a flat sheet that is heat welded. Trouble is, the steel at the weld performs differently from the part that was flat, and that's the reason some chokes throw funny patterns. Tru-Locks are machined from one solid chunk of steel.

 

[BigV]

Another thing to consider is how close will the turkey be when you make your shot?
Using and extended X-Full choke you will hold a pretty tight pattern out to say 35 to 45 yards. But, if your bird comes in close, say 10 to 15 yards, you could be in trouble using that X-Full choke. A lot will depend on your skill at calling and the experience and age of the turkey. I have found that early in the season I can get a tom in real close, within 15 yards most times. Usually they will actually run to the call. I like to use IC or Mod chokes in the early season. My experience has been that during the latter part of the season turkey can become call shy and have a tendency to hang up at around 45 to 50 yards out. I change to an X-Full choke during the last week of the season. Keep in mind that at 10 to 15 yards your pattern with an X-Full tube will be about the size of a $.50 piece. It’s easy to miss a head or neck shot at close range with a tight choke holding that tight of a pattern. Good luck!

 

[gbell]

In my 870 super express magnum I have tried both Remington Extra Full and Super Full. also tried an undertaker and a loghman (sp?). It's whatever works best with in your gun with the load you are using. Once you pick a good combination make sure you check it at close ranges (10-15 yds) out to a least 50yds and get a fell for it. Personally, my 870 likes the loghman super full and 3.5" number 5 HeviShot.

 

[Viking88]

I switched from a Mod. choke in my 870 to a super full called the "ventilator" which extends out about 3". It has been great, holds a nice tight pattern all the ways out to about 40 yards. Good luck!

 

[kovach63]

Thanks for all the answers so far. I think I'm going to start with a super full choke and go from there. I'll thinking about starting with a Remington Ventilator. I've thought about that before but hadn't heard much about it. This is my first time turkey hunting so I don't want to invest a ton of money on chokes in case I don't care for it, but I seriously doubt that I won't love it. What exactly is HeviShot? I'm sure that there's a simple answer I've just never head of it until I got onto this forum. Thanks.

 

[Marshall]

Check out the WingmasterHD Shotshells, Hevi-Shot. Scroll down the site and check out the Wingmaster HD™ Magnum Turkey Loads.

This tells you all.

"http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/shotshell/wingmaster_HD.asp"

The company that redefined lethal shotgun range with Premier® Hevi-Shot® is proud to unveil the next generation of heavy-density devastation. New Wingmaster HD.™

This hard-hitter stretches the kill zone with an ultra-tuned combination of density, shape and energy. At 12.0 grams/cc, it’s 10% denser than lead and the scientifically proven optimum density for pellet count and pattern density. Plus, its smooth, round shape delivers awesome aerodynamics and sustained payload energy. It all adds up to the most devastating patterns possible.

Wingmaster HD is also 16% softer than Premier Hevi-Shot, which makes it easier on your barrel. And it’s more responsive to chokes, allowing you to open up the pattern for close-range hunting or stretch shotgun range to its farthest reaches.

Absolutely no shotshell on the market can touch Wingmaster HD at long range. All of its revolutionary characteristics – optimized density, ultra-round shape and consistent size – come together on game with an unmatched level of deadly force. Fact is, it penetrates 40% deeper than Premier Hevi-Shot at long range and will put 60% of its pellets in a 30” circle at 60 yards. Waterfowl, turkey and varmints who think they know harm’s reach have another thing coming. New Wingmaster HD.

• HD = Heavy Density (12.0 g/cc)
• Proprietary composite of Tungsten-Bronze-Iron
• Round, consistent pellets:
– Travel straighter and longer
– Improve long-range lethality
– Tighter patterns
– More even pellet distribution
• Uniform pellet density
• 12.0 g/cc density for optimal combination of density and pellet count
• Softer pellets are easier on your barrel and more responsive to chokes
• Better patterns at long and short ranges
• Approved for waterfowl hunting by the USF&W and Canada
• Responds to chokes; more lethal than lead

Wingmaster HD's (Heavy Density) smooth, round pellets are extremely aerodynamic. They are uniform in weight and true to listed shot size.

Other non-toxic shot pellets are inconsistent in shape, size and weight, and simply can’t match up to Wingmaster HD.