What are fixed full choke barrels good for?

1lowpayment · November 19, 2006, 06:37 PM

I ask this question honestly as I am not a hunter or trap/skeet shooter.

Thanks

1low

Dave McC · November 19, 2006, 10:22 PM

With the proper load, any shot opp over 35 yards.

Specifics would include all trap shots, some hunting shots for winged and small game, and turkey.

Remember the load's as crucial as the choke. Small, fast pure lead shot will spread more than large, slow shot alloyed with up to 6% or so of antimony, plated shot,etc. One can change the attern as much as one increment of choke just by swapping loads.

HTH....

HSMITH · November 20, 2006, 11:08 PM

A full choke barrel will do EVERYTHING a shotgun can do other than sabot slugs, and it does it all well. If I could only have one choke for the rest of my life it would be a full choke without a moments thought. I have tried a gazillion combinations and literally dozens of guns, full choke is by far the most versatile.

Dave R · November 20, 2006, 11:21 PM

Quote:

What are fixed full choke barrels good for?

Making you shoot better. I mean, the smaller pattern means you have to point more accurately to get a hit.

almtiba · November 21, 2006, 03:54 PM

It has no use for skeet

Regards,

Andre Tiba - Brazil

Pointer · November 21, 2006, 06:45 PM

Quote:

What are fixed full choke barrels good for?

Holding the shot together longer...

So you can "reach out and touch" something at ranges in excess of 30 yards...

Like Ducks and Geese...

skeeter1 · November 21, 2006, 06:53 PM

I've got two SxS doubles, one with I/C and modified chokes, and one with modified/full chokes. The latter is perfect for the trap range, the former perfect for the field. I'm not a skeet shooter, so I can't advise you there.

kudu · November 22, 2006, 06:59 PM

I rather enjoy shooting skeet with full choke guns, gives a little bit of challenge to shoot a straight, and it impresses people when there is nothing but a smudge of smoke left of the clay bird when you center it.

AZ-Quailhunter · November 23, 2006, 01:24 PM

I would say mainly waterfowl.

jeager106 · November 24, 2006, 10:33 PM

Fixed full choke and steel shot are a very, very, bad idea.
Chances are that your fixed full was NOT made for steel shot.
Steel shot generally patterns better with a modified tube and even at that the tube must be rated for steel shot.
If you shoot steel thru a fixed full you will scour your barrel badly over time.
Stay away from steel.
Lead loads can be handloaded to perfrom like mod. even i.c. with proper handloads.
And it's easy to do.

Death from Afar · November 25, 2006, 03:07 AM

A fixed full choke is not a bad thing. Weirdly, you can make it rather general purpose by using smaller shot and a spreader wad, or use quite soft shot. Any of these will make the pattern looser. If you want more range, use larger, harder shot.

My first shotgun was a single shot rossi with a very tight choke. I was shooting in close range on rabbits, and it was useless untill i changed to trap loads which did the trick.

publius · November 26, 2006, 08:53 PM

I use a Full choke for everything except quail and woodcock.

scotts_4x · November 29, 2006, 08:43 PM

fixed full chokes are good for EVERYTHING you can do with a shotgun why you ask...because you can always ream out a full choke to the desired constriction you want it to be. you can't add material, but taking it away is a pretty simple proccess for a gunsmith

-Scott

November 19, 2006, 06:37 PM	#1
1lowpayment Junior Member Join Date: August 9, 2006 Posts: 8	What are fixed full choke barrels good for? I ask this question honestly as I am not a hunter or trap/skeet shooter. Thanks 1low

November 22, 2006, 06:59 PM	#8
kudu Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 273	I rather enjoy shooting skeet with full choke guns, gives a little bit of challenge to shoot a straight, and it impresses people when there is nothing but a smudge of smoke left of the clay bird when you center it. __________________ "a shootin' we will go"

November 25, 2006, 03:07 AM	#11
Death from Afar Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2004 Location: Living the dream in Christchurch, NEW ZEALAND Posts: 1,635	A fixed full choke is not a bad thing. Weirdly, you can make it rather general purpose by using smaller shot and a spreader wad, or use quite soft shot. Any of these will make the pattern looser. If you want more range, use larger, harder shot. My first shotgun was a single shot rossi with a very tight choke. I was shooting in close range on rabbits, and it was useless untill i changed to trap loads which did the trick. __________________ "Beware of the Man with one gun...he probably isnt into guns enough to be safe with it".

November 19, 2006, 10:22 PM	#2
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	With the proper load, any shot opp over 35 yards. Specifics would include all trap shots, some hunting shots for winged and small game, and turkey. Remember the load's as crucial as the choke. Small, fast pure lead shot will spread more than large, slow shot alloyed with up to 6% or so of antimony, plated shot,etc. One can change the attern as much as one increment of choke just by swapping loads. HTH....

November 20, 2006, 11:08 PM	#3
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2002 Posts: 2,019	A full choke barrel will do EVERYTHING a shotgun can do other than sabot slugs, and it does it all well. If I could only have one choke for the rest of my life it would be a full choke without a moments thought. I have tried a gazillion combinations and literally dozens of guns, full choke is by far the most versatile.

November 21, 2006, 03:54 PM	#5
almtiba Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2004 Location: Sao Paulo / Brazil Posts: 190	It has no use for skeet Regards, Andre Tiba - Brazil

November 21, 2006, 06:53 PM	#7
skeeter1 Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2006 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 3,403	I've got two SxS doubles, one with I/C and modified chokes, and one with modified/full chokes. The latter is perfect for the trap range, the former perfect for the field. I'm not a skeet shooter, so I can't advise you there.

November 23, 2006, 01:24 PM	#9
AZ-Quailhunter Member Join Date: November 23, 2006 Location: Tempe, AZ Posts: 95	I would say mainly waterfowl.

November 24, 2006, 10:33 PM	#10
jeager106 Junior member Join Date: November 24, 2006 Location: N.E. Oh. Posts: 527	Fixed full choke and steel shot are a very, very, bad idea. Chances are that your fixed full was NOT made for steel shot. Steel shot generally patterns better with a modified tube and even at that the tube must be rated for steel shot. If you shoot steel thru a fixed full you will scour your barrel badly over time. Stay away from steel. Lead loads can be handloaded to perfrom like mod. even i.c. with proper handloads. And it's easy to do.

November 26, 2006, 08:53 PM	#12
publius Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2005 Location: Mississippi/Texas Posts: 2,505	I use a Full choke for everything except quail and woodcock.

November 29, 2006, 08:43 PM	#13
scotts_4x Member Join Date: January 29, 2005 Posts: 71	fixed full chokes are good for EVERYTHING you can do with a shotgun why you ask...because you can always ream out a full choke to the desired constriction you want it to be. you can't add material, but taking it away is a pretty simple proccess for a gunsmith -Scott