The different chokes

[nathan]

From what I understand the ff do best in each chokes. Just correct when you can.

Cylinder Bore- Great for slugs, buckshots and birdshots. Slugs and buckshots makes tighter groups at 15 yds or less. Birdshots makes for wider spread.

Improved Cylinder- Same above. slugs and buckshot's best choke. Birdshots makes wide spread.

Modified Choke- Slugs and buckshots ok. Buckshots reaches farther and more tighter group. Birdshots makes tighter spread. A compromise of all three .

Full Choke- Slug cannot be used. Buckshots are still okey. Birdshot's best choke.

 

[MCgunner]

Who says you can'st shoot a slug through a full choke? Not so. Won't hurt anything. You'll get better accuracy out of an open choke most likely, but it won't hurt the gun.

And, for hunting, you need to sit down an PATTERN any shotgun. Steel shot and hevi shot, in particular, do not act like lead. A more open chocke will normally, but not always, throw a tighter pattern than full.

Choke will depend on application, too. A turkey hunter wants the absolute tightest choke possible, usually likewise the goose hunter. The duck hunter hunting over decoys and the dove hunter will usually choose a modified pattern if forced. A quail hunter hunting over dogs will want an IC. If shooting a double, he might opt for IC/mod or cyl/IC or some combination of Imod or some such.

More to choke selection that what you typed, all I'm sayin'. I like to err on the open side of things when choosing choke. RARELY do I ever use a full choke tube anymore. Waterfowl demand steel (by law) or hevi shot and it patterns better out of my gun with a modified tube. I don't hunt turkey or I might be more into tight restrictions with lead shot.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Nathan, there's a thread in the Archives named Chokes 101 that may help you.