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idek · August 2, 2011, 08:46 PM

I personally don't use full choke for any hunting I do, which mostly includes pheasants and grouse with occasional crows or rabbits. Modified is the tightest I use. I believe a full pattern's optimum distance is around 40 yards. Statistically, most pheasants are shot inside of 30 yards and grouse closer to 20. Not sure what's normal for quail. They don't live around here.

If you really expect long shots on pheasants, maybe one barrel choked full would make sense, and leave the other modified, light modified, or improved cylinder. Another idea might be to leave the skeet and modified chokes as is, but use a 3" shell with bigger shot in the modified barrel if you think you need to extend your range.

August 2, 2011, 08:46 PM	#5
idek Senior Member Join Date: August 20, 2009 Posts: 903	I personally don't use full choke for any hunting I do, which mostly includes pheasants and grouse with occasional crows or rabbits. Modified is the tightest I use. I believe a full pattern's optimum distance is around 40 yards. Statistically, most pheasants are shot inside of 30 yards and grouse closer to 20. Not sure what's normal for quail. They don't live around here. If you really expect long shots on pheasants, maybe one barrel choked full would make sense, and leave the other modified, light modified, or improved cylinder. Another idea might be to leave the skeet and modified chokes as is, but use a 3" shell with bigger shot in the modified barrel if you think you need to extend your range. Last edited by idek; August 2, 2011 at 08:53 PM.