Chokes

[Flynt]

Hi Guys!

I'm new to the Forum and relatively new to shotgunning. Still a little confused about chokes. I bought a Beretta 12 ga. auto (Optima), and it came with 5 chokes: cylinder, improved cylinder, modified, improved modified, and full. The owner's manual also indicated that Beretta makes a "skeet" choke, it was not included. I'm confused as to where a skeet choke fits in the ranking of chokes. I've heard it both ways -- that it's between cylinder and improved cylinder, or that it's an ultra wide pattern -- wider than cylinder.

What's the real story? And by the way, I intend to shoot a lot of skeet and possibly get into sporting clays and trap (in addition to regular old dove & quail). Thanks.

 

[45auto]

Hi,

The skeet choke is "in-between" the cylinder and improved cylinder choke.
A little tighter than cylinder(no choke) and not as tight as the improved cylinder.

Nice gun and have fun.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Skeet is kinda vague. Some makers figure it's one click tighter than Cylinder and others that it's one increment more open than Cylinder, or bore diameter.

Dunno what Beretta thinks skeet is.

Cylinder will do for skeet, try it before spending more money.

A lot of ground can be covered with an open choke like Cylinder, a Light Mod to Mod, and an Improved Mod or Full. 5 is largess....

 

[TrapperReady]

For shooting skeet, I'd bet you would be unable to detect the difference between using a tube marked "Cylinder" and one marked "Skeet". Use what you've got.

Frankly, I'm beginning to think that interchangable choke tubes are the work of the Devil. Sometimes, when I'm shooting clay games, I start to get geeked out thinking about what would be the optimal choke for a given target presentation.

However, I've shot some REALLY good scores using my hunting guns, which tend to be older models with fixed full chokes. I think part of it is that there's no decision, nothing to think about... I just have to concentrate on the target and shoot the durned thing.

One of these weekends, I want to try skeet (the one mainstream game I don't play) and use my full-choked Model 12. I'd be willing to bet that I'll do pretty well.