Real difference between Modified and Improved Modified?

osallent · March 18, 2011, 10:36 PM

As most of you know from my previous thread, I became a shotgun owner last week when a friend sold me his almost-new Remington 870 Express. I took it skeet shooting with another friend today and when he saw the shotgun he said "That's a modified choke on your shotgun. You need an improved modified choke if you are going to shoot skeet." Throughout the entire time we were there shooting he made me feel like I brought the wrong tool for the sport. Is modified really inferior for skeet shooting? Do I really need an improved modified?

I should add that I did get some satisfaction from shooting more clays than him, and he's been skeet shooting for a while. But he still kept on insisting that I had the wrong choke, and it's been bothering me ever since.

zippy13 · March 19, 2011, 12:09 AM

Do I really need an improved modified?

No, you need a Skeet choke.

TheKlawMan · March 19, 2011, 01:02 AM

I am just learning, but improved modified is too tight for skeet as I believe is modified, Might he have said improved cyllinder? Most commonly you would use a "skeet" for skeet. Here is a chart about choke constrictions. http://www.shotgunworks.com/content....un_Choke_Types

Slugo · March 19, 2011, 01:09 AM

Skeet choke, period...

osallent · March 19, 2011, 03:51 AM

TheKlawMan, thank you very much for that link. It was very helpful.

oneounceload · March 19, 2011, 09:19 AM

The difference between Modified and Improved Modified is anywhere between .005 and .010

Great for FITASC and handicap trap, not skeet

http://www.hallowellco.com/choke_chart.htm

Shows the different designations

Here's one showing different chokes for different sporting clays targets (you'll come over to the dark side soon

)

http://www.briley.com/2009/sportingclays.html

BigJimP · March 19, 2011, 12:18 PM

Just to make sure ....are we really talking about "Skeet" as in two houses, a high house and a low house each throwing targets / and sometimes throwing pairs ....

or are you using the term "Skeet" meaning any game / with a clay target ??

Trap is a game - from the 16 yd line / where a Modified or an Improved Modified Choke is often used ....

Are you talking "Skeet" or maybe "Trap" ....not to insult you / but I'm wondering when your buddy said Imp Modified for skeet .... Like others I always use a Skeet choke or sometimes a Cyclinder choke for Skeet / depends on the gun and how it patterns at 21 yds or so....

olddrum1 · March 19, 2011, 01:56 PM

Osallent, you can shoot skeet with any choke you really want to. What you find is that the more open the choke, the easier it gets. I have shot skeet using a full choke as a handicap.

zippy13 · March 19, 2011, 10:39 PM

I have shot skeet using a full choke as a handicap.

My friend, I'm guessing your targets were either a clean miss or totally vaporized.

olddrum1 · March 21, 2011, 01:41 AM

Yes Z13, my friend, there was no arguing over chips.

M.O.A. · March 21, 2011, 02:39 AM

i think it would really be eazyer if we knew what you where really shooting trap,skeet or sporting clays

osallent · March 21, 2011, 03:48 AM

It's the one where a single clay is released from one spot, I believe it's called Trap Shooting. I said skeet at the beginning of this thread, but that was a mistake in my part. Keep in mind this was my first time shooting shotgun, so am still in the learning process.

Thank you for the links. I've found the information very helpful, and I think I have a better idea now about how chokes work and what kind of choke I should be using.

zippy13 · March 21, 2011, 09:23 AM

What we got here's a failure to communicate.

TheKlawMan · March 21, 2011, 01:20 PM

If it is trap, where there are 5 stations located on a line 16 yards back from where the targets are released, an "improved modified" choke makes sense even though the standard choice of many would be a "modified". I tend to shoot late because I am slow and if the wind is in my face I have been told I would do better with an improved modified.

BigJimP · March 21, 2011, 01:30 PM

Ok, so now we know we're talking about Trap Singles ...from the 16 yard line ...

Modified should be plenty of choke ....and the idea on Trap targets ...is to hit them as they're rising ( and they're predictable because they're still under power !).

You don't want to wait for a Trap target to flatten out ....or drop

...because as they drop ...the more they drop, the faster they drop ...and you have to get way under them and follow thru by driving your barrel down ...which is way more difficult. Shoot a Trap target as they are rising. If you don't have a Modified choke / then shoot an Improved Modified --- but I wouldn't go any tighter than that.

seansean1444 · March 21, 2011, 06:17 PM

if you beat him then should ya really be taking advice from him lol?

olddrum1 · March 23, 2011, 01:16 PM

I guess I need a cylinder bore choke or just shoot threads now if we've changed to trap.

rsnell · March 25, 2011, 11:20 AM

A modified chock will work for 16 yd trap. An improved modified chock is better and a full chock is best.

Bob

zippy13 · March 25, 2011, 01:21 PM

FYI: My R-1100-Trap model (with Trap rolled into the side of the receiver, and Target on the step rib barrel) came with 3 Remington screw-in chokes, labeled: Trap Full, Extra Full and Super Full.
I can never remember which is tighter Super or Extra full; but, you can see the difference in wall the thicknesses,

williamd · March 25, 2011, 01:54 PM

Use St for skeet. C or iC if you do not have Skt chokes.

Use IM or F for trap. M is okay for short yardage.

Draw (or find in a book) layouts for trap and skeet. Read the 'how to', then post the pics by your desk and practice in your head ... visualize! The old copy of Shotgun Digest edited by Robert Stack is one of my favorites. Small books by D. Lee Braun and Little (The Little Trap Book) are good. Probably have to search Amazon.

March 18, 2011, 10:36 PM	#1
osallent Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2011 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 116	Real difference between Modified and Improved Modified? As most of you know from my previous thread, I became a shotgun owner last week when a friend sold me his almost-new Remington 870 Express. I took it skeet shooting with another friend today and when he saw the shotgun he said "That's a modified choke on your shotgun. You need an improved modified choke if you are going to shoot skeet." Throughout the entire time we were there shooting he made me feel like I brought the wrong tool for the sport. Is modified really inferior for skeet shooting? Do I really need an improved modified? I should add that I did get some satisfaction from shooting more clays than him, and he's been skeet shooting for a while. But he still kept on insisting that I had the wrong choke, and it's been bothering me ever since. __________________ Thank God for Guns! Last edited by osallent; March 18, 2011 at 10:41 PM.

March 19, 2011, 03:51 AM	#5
osallent Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2011 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 116	TheKlawMan, thank you very much for that link. It was very helpful. __________________ Thank God for Guns!

March 21, 2011, 03:48 AM	#12
osallent Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2011 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 116	It's the one where a single clay is released from one spot, I believe it's called Trap Shooting. I said skeet at the beginning of this thread, but that was a mistake in my part. Keep in mind this was my first time shooting shotgun, so am still in the learning process. Thank you for the links. I've found the information very helpful, and I think I have a better idea now about how chokes work and what kind of choke I should be using. __________________ Thank God for Guns!

March 25, 2011, 01:54 PM	#20
williamd Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 801	Use St for skeet. C or iC if you do not have Skt chokes. Use IM or F for trap. M is okay for short yardage. Draw (or find in a book) layouts for trap and skeet. Read the 'how to', then post the pics by your desk and practice in your head ... visualize! The old copy of Shotgun Digest edited by Robert Stack is one of my favorites. Small books by D. Lee Braun and Little (The Little Trap Book) are good. Probably have to search Amazon. __________________ "Outlaw guns and only outlaws will have guns!" Unfortunately, we may be moving in that direction. NRA Benefactor, Conservative!, VN '64-'65. Never sell a gun or a car ... and retire rich! Last edited by williamd; March 25, 2011 at 02:01 PM.

March 19, 2011, 12:09 AM	#2
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Do I really need an improved modified? No, you need a Skeet choke.

March 19, 2011, 01:02 AM	#3
TheKlawMan Junior member Join Date: June 23, 2009 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 2,149	I am just learning, but improved modified is too tight for skeet as I believe is modified, Might he have said improved cyllinder? Most commonly you would use a "skeet" for skeet. Here is a chart about choke constrictions. http://www.shotgunworks.com/content....un_Choke_Types

March 19, 2011, 01:09 AM	#4
Slugo Junior member Join Date: September 15, 2001 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,007	Skeet choke, period...

March 19, 2011, 09:19 AM	#6
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	The difference between Modified and Improved Modified is anywhere between .005 and .010 Great for FITASC and handicap trap, not skeet http://www.hallowellco.com/choke_chart.htm Shows the different designations Here's one showing different chokes for different sporting clays targets (you'll come over to the dark side soon ) http://www.briley.com/2009/sportingclays.html

March 19, 2011, 12:18 PM	#7
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Just to make sure ....are we really talking about "Skeet" as in two houses, a high house and a low house each throwing targets / and sometimes throwing pairs .... or are you using the term "Skeet" meaning any game / with a clay target ?? Trap is a game - from the 16 yd line / where a Modified or an Improved Modified Choke is often used .... Are you talking "Skeet" or maybe "Trap" ....not to insult you / but I'm wondering when your buddy said Imp Modified for skeet .... Like others I always use a Skeet choke or sometimes a Cyclinder choke for Skeet / depends on the gun and how it patterns at 21 yds or so....

March 19, 2011, 01:56 PM	#8
olddrum1 Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2008 Location: Mid Missouri Posts: 807	Osallent, you can shoot skeet with any choke you really want to. What you find is that the more open the choke, the easier it gets. I have shot skeet using a full choke as a handicap.

March 19, 2011, 10:39 PM	#9
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	I have shot skeet using a full choke as a handicap. My friend, I'm guessing your targets were either a clean miss or totally vaporized.

March 21, 2011, 01:41 AM	#10
olddrum1 Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2008 Location: Mid Missouri Posts: 807	Yes Z13, my friend, there was no arguing over chips.

March 21, 2011, 02:39 AM	#11
M.O.A. Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2011 Location: south indiana Posts: 555	i think it would really be eazyer if we knew what you where really shooting trap,skeet or sporting clays

March 21, 2011, 09:23 AM	#13
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	What we got here's a failure to communicate.

March 21, 2011, 01:20 PM	#14
TheKlawMan Junior member Join Date: June 23, 2009 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 2,149	If it is trap, where there are 5 stations located on a line 16 yards back from where the targets are released, an "improved modified" choke makes sense even though the standard choice of many would be a "modified". I tend to shoot late because I am slow and if the wind is in my face I have been told I would do better with an improved modified.

March 21, 2011, 01:30 PM	#15
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Ok, so now we know we're talking about Trap Singles ...from the 16 yard line ... Modified should be plenty of choke ....and the idea on Trap targets ...is to hit them as they're rising ( and they're predictable because they're still under power !). You don't want to wait for a Trap target to flatten out ....or drop ...because as they drop ...the more they drop, the faster they drop ...and you have to get way under them and follow thru by driving your barrel down ...which is way more difficult. Shoot a Trap target as they are rising. If you don't have a Modified choke / then shoot an Improved Modified --- but I wouldn't go any tighter than that.

March 21, 2011, 06:17 PM	#16
seansean1444 Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2010 Location: ithaca, new york (home of the ithaca shotguns!) Posts: 395	if you beat him then should ya really be taking advice from him lol?

March 23, 2011, 01:16 PM	#17
olddrum1 Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2008 Location: Mid Missouri Posts: 807	I guess I need a cylinder bore choke or just shoot threads now if we've changed to trap.

March 25, 2011, 11:20 AM	#18
rsnell Member Join Date: January 25, 2011 Location: Cleveland, TN Posts: 74	A modified chock will work for 16 yd trap. An improved modified chock is better and a full chock is best. Bob

March 25, 2011, 01:21 PM	#19
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	FYI: My R-1100-Trap model (with Trap rolled into the side of the receiver, and Target on the step rib barrel) came with 3 Remington screw-in chokes, labeled: Trap Full, Extra Full and Super Full. I can never remember which is tighter Super or Extra full; but, you can see the difference in wall the thicknesses,