Trap Choke Suggestions?

[buckhorn_cortez]

I've been shooting some trap with my FN SLP with an 18-inch barrel and full choke. While fun, it's a bit difficult to sight the clay with the ghost ring and front ramp style sights.

I'm going to order a 28-inch barrel for the gun that has a ramp and gold bead. I'm thinking of getting either a modified or improved modified choke for the new barrel - any thoughts on which may be better?

I understand the "full choke for nothing but smoke" meme - but, breaks score the same as black puffs...this isn't competition...I have no illusions about going to the next Olympics...or even winning the regional trap competition - this is strictly for a day at the range with something in addition to pistol and rifles.

Please, no comments on the need to pattern chokes - I understand the need to do that, and how to do it - and also realize it only shows the shot in two dimensions, while in reality you're creating a shot string.

I'd like opinions on the best compromise in a choke for a single barrel shotgun where I have to use the same choke for singles, doubles, and follow up shots (I currently do a lot of those with the ghost ring + ramp...)

 

[Dave McCracken]

I can, with good ammo, smoke them from the 16 yard line with IC or LM. Try Modified for starters.....

 

[Armored farmer]

From the sound of things...I doubt you'll know the difference between full and cyl.
I say modified.

 

[buckhorn_cortez]

Thank you very much. At this point, I'll order the modified. Unless someone can give me more on the improved modified.

 

[buckhorn_cortez]

From the sound of things...I doubt you'll know the difference between full and cyl.
I say modified.

Well, thanks for the vote of confidence. We were shooting "rabbits" and changed the gun from the full choke to the Briley .005 and I hit about 75% as opposed to 0% with the full choke. So, I think I can shoot the difference in chokes...

BWT - I'm not in the class of my friend who shoots trap plus sporting clays at least 2x per week and the first time he shot the SLP with the 18-inch + ghost rings shot 23 / 25 - I could only hope....

 

[Harley Quinn]

Very surprised you can hit much with the 18" barrel to be honest...Most prefer/dedicated trap shooters, are into a much longer barrel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x52tQFXBBCo

30" plus in the video...

Here is some good info...

with the birds exiting the house at about 47 miles per hour and traveling about 50 yards before hitting the ground.

http://www.vistech.net/users/rsturge/trap.html

Skeet different situation...
http://hunting.about.com/od/shotgun/l/aastshotgunfaqa.htm
Regards

 

[oneounceload]

The issue with a short barrel is the swing dynamics when trying to keep a steady smooth movement.

From the 16 yard line, IC, LM will do fine. My best from 16 was with my 28 gauge and a Skeet choke - if you are on the bird, you are on the bird

25 chips beats 24 smokeballs every time - there are no degrees of dead when it comes to clay targets

 

[Steve C]

If all you are shooting singles and are quick from the 16yd line or shooting hand thrown then an improved cyl is fine and is a common choke for the close in Skeet shooting. Trap guns are mostly full choked and a few shoot improved modified. When you shoot handicap or doubles the targets can get well beyond 60 yds and if you shoot fun-n-games your shots will be further than that. A cylinder or improved Cylinder choke is too open for such range and you can't be competitive.

 

[PJR]

I shoot modified choke for 16 yards, improved modified for handicap.

 

[buckhorn_cortez]

Very surprised you can hit much with the 18" barrel to be honest...Most prefer/dedicated trap shooters, are into a much longer barrel

So was my friend, the dedicated trap shooter, with 4 Brownings, including a 30-inch and a Sporting Clays. I bought the SLP for a home defense, camper gun, and thought - "Hey what the heck - let's see if this thing can shoot trap."

We patterned the gun with the full choke, and he said, "This thing will work." And, just for fun we tried it, and it does work, but the sights get in the way. After shooting it, he said, "You've completely changed my opinion on what can be done with an 18-inch barrel."

I have to be careful of recoil as I take blood thinners. The FN is about as low recoil as I've been able to find as it's gas operated and I had a Sure Cycle recoil system installed, and put a Kickeez recoil pad on it. I can shoot one round and not end up with bruises...but, the doctors are concerned with brain blood clots..I figure, a little brain damage - no one could tell...

But, that's why I want to get the 28-inch barrel for the SLP as I'm not a dedicated trap shooter and don't care to spend the dollars for the new Beretta O/U with the recoil reduction system. Also, the gun club where I shoot doesn't have a real trap range, just 3manual throwers (no house) that you operate yourself.

Just trying to get an idea on a choke for the 28-inch barrel, and I'd like to thank all that gave their opinions.

 

[32 Magnum]

I've got 2.5 years and about 300 25 shot "rounds" - not super experienced - I shoot 1 1/8 oz #8s - I currently average 22 - 23 hits per "round". All my experience has been at the same gun club range - we have a Wobble machine - it's set for 47mph and has 67 different, unpredictable throws. I've tried Xfull, full and modified - and found that full is best for me on calm nights and Xfull on breezy nights The best shooters in our group - average 24 - 25 hits and all use full. The guys that have tried Modified on our range have generally moved up to full or Xfull and improved their hit averages. Just my experience - but I think you would be better served with an improved modified or full - or try booth tubes. If you look at the "dedicated" trap guns made over the past 80 years with fixed choke constrictions - they will be marked as FULL and have constriction diameters of .70 to .69".

 

[oneounceload]

Older guns with their Full choked barrels were often shot with paper hulls loads and felt wads that produced more like today's Modified choke. From the 16 yard line, IC, LM, M will all do the trick easily while allowing a little more margin for error on the part of the shooter. When you get back to the 27 yard line, IM or F will help out somewhat better. It still comes down to how well YOUR chokes pattern YOUR AMMO in YOUR gun.

 

[Al LaVodka]

IM is the choke designed to have the most apporpriate spread where most birds are broken -- 36 Yards.
Al