Choke selection for duck hunting

[dak0ta]

Hi,

From your experience, what is a good choke for jump shooting, pass shooting in the marsh? I'm using 3'' BB shot.

I have IC, M, F chokes.

 

[JC98]

I use M for most of my duck hunting, groups hold together well out to about 45 yards. I usually carry my IC with me but have never put it in.

I shoot an SX3 with #2 or 3 blackclouds.

 

[rcmodel]

Steel shot patterns one choke tighter then lead shot.

So that rules out your Full choke.

I would try IC for jump shooting and Mod for the real long passing shots.

rc

 

[mike.h]

with steel, I used IC, for both jump shooting and for shooting over decoys.

 

[Hunterdad]

I always ran a modified.

 

[esheato]

As a general rule when switching from lead to steel shot you would use a choke with one full degree less constriction.

If you want a full pattern with steel use a modified choke.
If you want a modified pattern with steel use an improved cylinder choke.
If you want an improved cylinder pattern with steel use a cylinder or skeet choke.

My hunting was from a pit blind or ground blind...either way they were decoying and I used an IC, supposedly providing Mod patterns. Never bothered patterning though as the birds fell just fine.

As always, rcmodel is spot on: I would try IC for jump shooting and Mod for the real long passing shots.

 

[Virginian]

Until you pattern your gun, with your shells, and your chokes, you do not really know what is going on.

 

[MCgunner]

I have run I/C and Mod in the past. Prefer Mod in my Mossbergs.

 

[SHR970]

Steel shot patterns one choke tighter then lead shot.

So that rules out your Full choke.

I would try IC for jump shooting and Mod for the real long passing shots.

With the caveat that you are using an older gun or chokes that are designed /rated for constriction around lead shot.

If you are using chokes made for and choke rated for steel all bets are off. Some steel shot chokes are rated for constriction based on a shot size range; Mossberg AccuMag are like that.

That said, I use I/C for foggy and Mod. for clearer visibility. I'm stuck hunting in the California Central Valley.

 

[VAPOPO]

I use a O/U for duck and allways run I/C under Mod. We do pass shooting over decoys and I rarely go over #3 shot steel this has proven effective on everything from Teal to Mallards and even a few Canadian Geese and Snows.

 

[dak0ta]

Also, 1 1/8 @ 1550 FPS or 1 1/4 @ 1400 FPS for jump/pass shooting? Most shots will be further out so I'm thinking Mod choke, but speed or payload for a duck flying away from you?

 

[SHR970]

Speed. Steel loses velocity faster than lead.

 

[MCgunner]

Also, 1 1/8 @ 1550 FPS or 1 1/4 @ 1400 FPS for jump/pass shooting? Most shots will be further out so I'm thinking Mod choke, but speed or payload for a duck flying away from you?

In my experience, the slower stuff lacks power beyond 35 yards and the fasteel stuff, 1550 fps, can kill to 50 yards. Yes, speed kills. I used to shoot only 3" on ducks in 1 or 2 shot, but fasteel 2 3/4" in 2 or 3 shot sizes is as effective as the old steel 3" 1s I used to shoot. Fasteel is for real.

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

Modified choke always worked for me.

 

[esheato]

I'll corroborate MCgunners comments on Fasteel. Effective and cheap....what more could you ask for in non-lead waterfowl shot?

 

[jmr40]

With steel shot I kill many more birds with IC. Steel patterns pretty tight in an IC tube. If they are flying really high I might chage to Modified, but it is IC most of the time for me

 

[Sav .250]

Distance and load type dictate what choke I might use.