In the market for trap choke

[InertiaDriven71]

And by trap choke I don't mean competitive, necessarily. I have a Benelli M2 (I realize not the ideal clays gun) that I want to make a dedicated trap gun. I have a club-grade clay thrower and will be shooting "redneck trap" (shooting 10-15 yards behind the machine throwing/wobbling away from the shooter) for many years to come.

What brand/model aftermarket choke tube have you trap shooters had success with? I realize it depends on the gun/load, but I am looking for a starting point or two for pattern testing. I am thinking Mod or IM.

Thanks for looking

 

[DaleCooper51]

I'm more of a skeet and sporting shooter than a trap shooter any more. For shots 10 to 15 yards behind the thrower, I would go with an IC or maybe a light mod. No need to over choke for a 25 to 30 yard shot. As for brand, there are plenty that will work for you (Briley, Pure Gold, Trulock, Carlsons, Colonial, etc). Just find one you like and go shoot it.

 

[maxyedor]

I would pick up a set (CL, IC, M, IM, F, EF) and see what patterns well with your gun and chosen loads. I would probably go with an Improved Modified at those distances, you may want a Mod to get a larger pattern, at 15 yards behind the thrower, you may have holes in your pattern with an IC if you hesitate on the shot and the clay gets on out there. At 10 yards the IM or F may be too tight at first, after some trigger time, you'll be fine with a full. If you only want to buy 1 choke and be done with it, buy a Mod. That said, I tend to shoot tight chokes, usually a constriction or two tighter than most.

I like Briley chokes, I shoot their Spectrum line in my Berettas and Diana or Diamond grade Browning chokes in my Citoris, made by Briley. There are a bunch of other great brands, Briley just happens to be the easiest to find, and they make chokes for everything.

I recommend extended chokes, both for ease of identification, and patterns. They allow better geometry, a more gradual taper to the constriction, and a longer constricted area, makes for nice even patterns.

 

[Steve C]

Trap is usually shot with full choke or some like a modified choke. A regulation trap clay thrower should launch the target to 60 yds. Add 10 to 15 yds behind the thrower and you have potential shots at 70 yds.

When the trap shooters and skeet shooters at the club I used to frequent would have friendly competition it was quite difficult for the trap shooters to hit Skeet with the tight choke and longer barrel of the trap gun at the close range skeet is shot. Despite that the trap shooters usually took overall score since the Skeet shooters had to use their open choke guns on the trap range and the target distance was much further.

In those days no one was using removable chokes and the rules required that you had to use the same shotgun for both ranges.

 

[oneounceload]

For your intended use, a Mod will work just fine

 

[DAP90]

I use a Vinci for trap. As you said, it’s not the ideal gun for it, but I do OK. I use a Trulock Crio-Plus extended improved modified and I’m happy with the choke. I have a few other Trulock chokes as well but that's the one I use 99% of the time.

http://www.trulockchokes.com/

I believe the M2 uses the same style of choke.

 

[InertiaDriven71]

Thanks for all the replies so far. I am looking between the Pure Gold and Briley Titanium (likely IM, as I have a STRONG thrower).

Both are extended chokes, the Briley is made (obviously) of titanium, and the Pure Gold sells itself on the longer extended portion of the choke (resulting in a more gradual change in angle).

I like the longer choke idea, but what is the advantage of titanium material for a shotgun choke?

 

[InertiaDriven71]

By the way DAP-- I have also been using a Trulock Precision Hunter (extended) IM Crio-Plus choke, just like yours, with success. However, I want to keep it in my SBEII and have a dedicated choke in the trap gun.

Trulock used to be the ticket until their prices went up to everyone else's.

 

[oneounceload]

Thanks for all the replies so far. I am looking between the Pure Gold and Briley Titanium (likely IM, as I have a STRONG thrower).

The standard regulation trap thrower launches an American trap target at 42mph. Folks shooting from the 16-20 yard line typically use a Mod for that. Bunker shooters face a target launching at 62mph. From their distance, they use IM and F.

I shoot sporting and FITASC. For practice I reload a 3/4oz 12 gauge load and use LM/IM in my O/U for targets ranging from 35 to 65 yards.

Here is a chart from Briley:explaining choke selection for different targets and distances. Figure out how far your target actually is, look at the chart for some suggestions and try them. Some feel you can't have too many chokes, others feel worrying about them is over rated. You might also want to consider Muller Chokes