Which choke tube ?

AC's & 45's · January 16, 2001, 11:26 AM

I recently got my new 870 Express. It came with a modified choke tube. I bought an upgrade kit too. It has a full and improved cylinder tubes as well as a better wrench and a bottle of oil.

For use with 00 Buck and Foster type slugs, which Choke tube will give the optimum performance?

Dave R · January 16, 2001, 11:59 AM

Generally, for buck and slugs, you'll need a more open choke (improved cylinder). However, you should try both the improved and modified and see which groups better.

In my Mossy, I get the best buckshot patterns at 25 yds with a modified choke. Your gun may have a different preference.

Never tried slugs, just repeating what I've heard from others. If you use the search feature, you should find quite a few threads on using slugs in smoothbore barrels.

mjcitra · January 16, 2001, 12:18 PM

Use the IC for slugs.

DFBonnett · January 16, 2001, 12:48 PM

Conventional wisdom says IC, but some guns and tubes vary.

Dave McC · January 17, 2001, 08:08 AM

Open chokes TEND to do better with the RIGHT slug, and only bench testing will establish which one is the right one. The good news is there's no ineffective slugs.I'd try that Modified tube,as well as IC, exceptions do happen.

If your hunting area is slug only, you may want to consider a rifled choke tube also. Going to one from an IC tube cut about an inch off my 50 yard groups. Rifled tube do poorly with shot,so if it's an either/or stay with an ungrooved tube.

Also, if you're doing both slugs and buck, after zeroing with one, see where the other load hits. 00 patterns 18" lower than slugs in my HD 870.

Intel6 · January 17, 2001, 10:08 AM

The problem you run into here is if you want to shoot both there is no ggod answer, just a compromise.

As Dave McC said, slugs generally shoot better out of a barrel with little or no choke. The problem here is that 00 Buck doesn't pattern tightly out of a barrel without much choke. The key is to decide what you want out of your SG and choke appropriately. A common compromise for SG chokes is modified. It provides a decent pattern with buck and you are still able to shoot a slug accurately. The Vang Comp barrel work you hear allot about results in basically a modified choke. It gives great patterns with buck and still shoots slugs accurately.

I had my 11-87 Police Vang Comped and found that it greatly improved my buck patterns while I am still able to make consistant hits at a 15" (across) metal gong at 150m. I found the biggest key to shooting slugs accurately was having a good pair of sights. After I installed the MMC Ghost Rings on the 11-87P my slug accuracy increased dramatically.

Since you have both an IC and a modified choke, grab some ammo and see what works better for you.

tackdrivr · January 17, 2001, 05:26 PM

Check out these guys:

http://www.patternmaster.com

January 17, 2001, 10:08 AM	#6
Intel6 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2000 Posts: 425	Which choke for Buck and Slugs? The problem you run into here is if you want to shoot both there is no ggod answer, just a compromise. As Dave McC said, slugs generally shoot better out of a barrel with little or no choke. The problem here is that 00 Buck doesn't pattern tightly out of a barrel without much choke. The key is to decide what you want out of your SG and choke appropriately. A common compromise for SG chokes is modified. It provides a decent pattern with buck and you are still able to shoot a slug accurately. The Vang Comp barrel work you hear allot about results in basically a modified choke. It gives great patterns with buck and still shoots slugs accurately. I had my 11-87 Police Vang Comped and found that it greatly improved my buck patterns while I am still able to make consistant hits at a 15" (across) metal gong at 150m. I found the biggest key to shooting slugs accurately was having a good pair of sights. After I installed the MMC Ghost Rings on the 11-87P my slug accuracy increased dramatically. Since you have both an IC and a modified choke, grab some ammo and see what works better for you.

January 16, 2001, 11:26 AM	#1
AC's & 45's Senior Member Join Date: November 8, 2000 Location: Mid, Mo Posts: 403	I recently got my new 870 Express. It came with a modified choke tube. I bought an upgrade kit too. It has a full and improved cylinder tubes as well as a better wrench and a bottle of oil. For use with 00 Buck and Foster type slugs, which Choke tube will give the optimum performance?

January 16, 2001, 11:59 AM	#2
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2000 Location: Idaho Posts: 6,073	Generally, for buck and slugs, you'll need a more open choke (improved cylinder). However, you should try both the improved and modified and see which groups better. In my Mossy, I get the best buckshot patterns at 25 yds with a modified choke. Your gun may have a different preference. Never tried slugs, just repeating what I've heard from others. If you use the search feature, you should find quite a few threads on using slugs in smoothbore barrels.

January 16, 2001, 12:18 PM	#3
mjcitra Member Join Date: December 6, 2000 Posts: 39	Use the IC for slugs.

January 16, 2001, 12:48 PM	#4
DFBonnett Junior member Join Date: November 1, 1998 Posts: 109	Conventional wisdom says IC, but some guns and tubes vary.

January 17, 2001, 08:08 AM	#5
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Open chokes TEND to do better with the RIGHT slug, and only bench testing will establish which one is the right one. The good news is there's no ineffective slugs.I'd try that Modified tube,as well as IC, exceptions do happen. If your hunting area is slug only, you may want to consider a rifled choke tube also. Going to one from an IC tube cut about an inch off my 50 yard groups. Rifled tube do poorly with shot,so if it's an either/or stay with an ungrooved tube. Also, if you're doing both slugs and buck, after zeroing with one, see where the other load hits. 00 patterns 18" lower than slugs in my HD 870.

January 17, 2001, 05:26 PM	#7
tackdrivr Member Join Date: January 14, 2001 Posts: 35	Check out these guys: http://www.patternmaster.com