choke for recreational clay pigeon shooting

[akolleth]

Okay, I am kinda new to shotguns, but last weekend had a blast shooting clay pigeons from the sky at a friends house. Twice a year a bunch of guys go over to his cabin and spend 6+ hours shooting clays launched from a electric launcher (launches it down a hill). I know it is not skeet, or trap, but I need to know about getting the best results in this fun adventure we do.

I just got a Mossberg 500 and need to know what kind of choke you would recomend for this fun shooting we do?

We shoot from a line, and the clay launcher is also parralel to the line. By the time I get on the bird it is usually around 20-30 yards out, I think the max before the bird hits the ground is around 50 yards.

 

[sm]

25 -30 yards.

Improved Cylinder.

Now on the first shot being closer (you get onto the bird faster) and say you get off a shot at 20 yards, try a load of dove and quail load, which has soft/chilled shot, which will open up the pattern more.
Have this load in the chamber.

Second shot use a Target load, ( which has harder shot) in #8 or #7.5 shot, this will have a more uniform and tight pattern longer distances to assist with clays on out to 30-35 yards.

Distance are hard to judge at times.

Modified Choke is often best for a new trap shooter.
So if these distances are further out, pattern with a Modified, again using soft/chilled shot to see your pattern at closer ( you get on the clay faster) at 20 yards, and again use a target load with the harder shot for the second bird further out.

Most folks use too tight of a choke.
Pattern the gun with chokes and loads.
Shot does not all arrive at the same time ( shot string).

I mention this as some were really surprised a 28 gauge will break a clay at 40 yards with a IC fixed choked barrel.
Load, just a target load of #8, hard shot plus short shot string was the key.