New 870 Owner.. Question About Choke Tubes

[JesseTX]

Hey all, I'm the new owner of an 870 Wingmaster. I own plenty of firearms but this is my first shotgun. This forum definitely helped me in making my decision so thanks for all the info.

My question is about choke tubes. I know they taper the bore inwards at varying levels providing different patterns but am really clueless in regards as to which are which. My 870 came with three and I have no idea which one to use.

I assume while in the safe at home I should have whichever is best for home defense but I'm also hoping to learn a new addiction in skeet shooting so would want to know which to use there. Is there a handy-dandy guide somewhere that goes over the terminology or could somebody school me on it real quick?

From my googling I also saw several mentions of "Don't use this shot with this choke tube or this kind of shot with this choke tube..." warnings which has me a little paranoid. Should I be concerned with that as well?

 

[rcmodel]

http://www.choketubes.com/

Use your Imp Cyl tube for HD & skeet shooting. It will give you a wider pattern for skeet, and the best pattern using HD buckshot loads.

The Modified tube would be a good all around hunting tube for pheasent, and things like that. It will also give full choke patterns with steel shot used for waterfowl hunting.

The full choke tube would be used for trap, turkey hunting, and other longer range sports.

rcmodel

 

[Mr. 16 gauge]

From my googling I also saw several mentions of "Don't use this shot with this choke tube or this kind of shot with this choke tube..." warnings which has me a little paranoid. Should I be concerned with that as well?

Depends.....with lead shot, probably not. If you use any of the nontoxic waterfowl loads, such as steel or hevishot, maybe.
A lot has been done to increase the lethality of nontoxic shotshell loads since they first came out in the late 70's.....the latest are the tungsten mixes, which are quite hard, and the larger steel pellets. Pushing smaller steel pellets through a tight choke will cause patterns to blow and a bulge at the start of the choke. Running large steel pellets through a tight constriction will cause something to give! (from what I saw, it was the tube that split!).
As far as the different degress of choke, it usually runs skeet, cylinder, improved cylinder, modified, improved modified, full, extra full. (from most open/widest pattern to tightest/densest pattern).
While the barrel or choke may be marked "Full", or "Modified", or whatever, most people forget that choke is not only a function of constriction, but several other factors as well, including (but not limited to): velocity, shot size, shot hardness, wad type, wad material, buffer, amount of shot, ect. The only real way to tell what patterns your gun is throwing is to shoot it at a pattern board.
Hope this was helpful......here is a link to some additional information that you might find useful in the future.

http://www.shotgunworld.com/amm.html

 

[Dave McCracken]

Search the archives for "Chokes 101". It will answer your questions.

 

[JesseTX]

Thanks everybody - very informative.