Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
The question I am most frequently asked by E mail, online and at the range goes something like "What choke should I use for ____?".
Regardless of what ____ is, my usual response is "Light Modified".
Here's why...
In the long lost days of my youth Real Men shot Full chokes on everything. A leftover from the previous century, Full was usually construed as 40 Points Of Constriction, or .040". It took that much choke to get the 90% at 40 yard patterns usually defining Full performance with the ammunition on hand .
Then, ammo R&D gave us hard, round shot, the one piece plastic wad/shotcup, progressive powders and buffering. Many older shotguns are hideously overchoked with modern ammo. Now, much less choke can give us the same percentages that 40 POC used to.
Old skeet guns from the 30s are now busting clays out around the 45 yard mark. What constituted WSII choke in 1931(12-14 POC) now generates patterns we'd call more like Modified or even Improved Modified (formerly 30 POC.)
Briley, et al, decree that 30 POC is The New 40. The only folks still wanting 40 POC are turkey hunters, card shooters and handicap trapshooters back on the 27 yard line.
Some makers may be Getting Real. Beretta's tube tables indicate that whereas Modified used to be 20 POC to get the 70% patterns at 40 yards expected, their mod tube has 16 POC. IM has 23, what we'd call Modified in days of yore. These may show what's needed to get those percentages, with good ammo.
Remington's Light Mod Remchoke tube runs 14 POC. As I stated, Beretta's Mod runs 16.
Both of these wreck clays way out dere when I hold up my end. They're my choices for most shot opps at Wobble, Trap, SC and so on.
If I do dove this year, I'll use one or the other. Same for pheasant, ground game, or waterfowl with the right non tox. Depending on load, I can get IC to IM patterns, even mimic Full performance if I hold my mouth right.
LM is my default choke, because it handles so many possibilities.
So, what are your experiences.?....
Regardless of what ____ is, my usual response is "Light Modified".
Here's why...
In the long lost days of my youth Real Men shot Full chokes on everything. A leftover from the previous century, Full was usually construed as 40 Points Of Constriction, or .040". It took that much choke to get the 90% at 40 yard patterns usually defining Full performance with the ammunition on hand .
Then, ammo R&D gave us hard, round shot, the one piece plastic wad/shotcup, progressive powders and buffering. Many older shotguns are hideously overchoked with modern ammo. Now, much less choke can give us the same percentages that 40 POC used to.
Old skeet guns from the 30s are now busting clays out around the 45 yard mark. What constituted WSII choke in 1931(12-14 POC) now generates patterns we'd call more like Modified or even Improved Modified (formerly 30 POC.)
Briley, et al, decree that 30 POC is The New 40. The only folks still wanting 40 POC are turkey hunters, card shooters and handicap trapshooters back on the 27 yard line.
Some makers may be Getting Real. Beretta's tube tables indicate that whereas Modified used to be 20 POC to get the 70% patterns at 40 yards expected, their mod tube has 16 POC. IM has 23, what we'd call Modified in days of yore. These may show what's needed to get those percentages, with good ammo.
Remington's Light Mod Remchoke tube runs 14 POC. As I stated, Beretta's Mod runs 16.
Both of these wreck clays way out dere when I hold up my end. They're my choices for most shot opps at Wobble, Trap, SC and so on.
If I do dove this year, I'll use one or the other. Same for pheasant, ground game, or waterfowl with the right non tox. Depending on load, I can get IC to IM patterns, even mimic Full performance if I hold my mouth right.
LM is my default choke, because it handles so many possibilities.
So, what are your experiences.?....
Last edited:
