Shotgun chokes

cig1ar · December 19, 1999, 12:14 PM

Hi I'm a newbee to the world of shotguns.
Could someone explain the difference's between the different chokes

JP

Big Bunny · December 19, 1999, 03:42 PM

This is a difficult and perennial question.

First decide what you are going to shoot and with what type of gun. Fixed or tube chokes? Double oe single?

Then decide what cartridges and shot-size suits you and the application at hand, safety and game size etc.

Then pattern your chosen combination in your individual gun at 40yds and observe the pattern on butchers paper with a cardboard backstop. Aim from a rest with sights dead on as you like them.You will then know what the marked choke actually shoots!

Could the quarry's vital area sustain 3-5 hits ? If not - change the variables.

A rule of thumb is the smaller the choke size - the longer the range possible, but then the more likely to miss completely !

An even rougher guide would be FULL CHOKE(small hole) to 40m range, 3/4 to 35m, 1/2 to 30m and under that IC and Cyl(larger holes) will be more useful- normally.(Sorry - I am metric !)But it depends upon your individual gun type and construction so much.

Cheek position is vital on some instinctive shooting guns and the shottie MUST fit you well personally.

Good shooting! - individual patterning is well worthwhile, as it can rain ducks and roll bunnies ..like magic !!- but watch that shoulder soreness!

------------------
***Big Bunny***

Art Eatman · December 24, 1999, 12:47 AM

The choke is a slight taper in the last two inches or so of the barrel, to control the diameter of the shot pattern at some specified range. Commonly, this is some percentage of the total number of shot at, say, 30 yards.

The tightest choke is "full". Then, "modified", "improved cylinder" and "cylinder". This last means no constriction at all. Somewhere between improved cylinder and cylinder, if I have it right, is "skeet". Don't quote me on that, and don't ask.

The purpose has to do with the type of shooting one expects to do. For instance, on many double-barrelled shotguns ("double-gun") it is common to have modified and improved cylinder for quail hunting. One finds the quail initially at fairly close range, and shoots with the improved cylinder barrel first. The second bird is shot at, then, with the tighter-choked modified, as he is farther away.

Goose hunters usually use full-choke guns, given the longer ranges typical of that sort of hunting.

There's a start. Check out the archives...

FWIW, Art

December 19, 1999, 12:14 PM	#1
cig1ar Member Join Date: December 19, 1999 Location: Plymouth, MI USA Posts: 34	Hi I'm a newbee to the world of shotguns. Could someone explain the difference's between the different chokes JP

December 19, 1999, 03:42 PM	#2
Big Bunny Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 1999 Location: New South Wales - Australia Posts: 605	This is a difficult and perennial question. First decide what you are going to shoot and with what type of gun. Fixed or tube chokes? Double oe single? Then decide what cartridges and shot-size suits you and the application at hand, safety and game size etc. Then pattern your chosen combination in your individual gun at 40yds and observe the pattern on butchers paper with a cardboard backstop. Aim from a rest with sights dead on as you like them.You will then know what the marked choke actually shoots! Could the quarry's vital area sustain 3-5 hits ? If not - change the variables. A rule of thumb is the smaller the choke size - the longer the range possible, but then the more likely to miss completely ! An even rougher guide would be FULL CHOKE(small hole) to 40m range, 3/4 to 35m, 1/2 to 30m and under that IC and Cyl(larger holes) will be more useful- normally.(Sorry - I am metric !)But it depends upon your individual gun type and construction so much. Cheek position is vital on some instinctive shooting guns and the shottie MUST fit you well personally. Good shooting! - individual patterning is well worthwhile, as it can rain ducks and roll bunnies ..like magic !!- but watch that shoulder soreness! ------------------ *Big Bunny*

December 24, 1999, 12:47 AM	#3
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	The choke is a slight taper in the last two inches or so of the barrel, to control the diameter of the shot pattern at some specified range. Commonly, this is some percentage of the total number of shot at, say, 30 yards. The tightest choke is "full". Then, "modified", "improved cylinder" and "cylinder". This last means no constriction at all. Somewhere between improved cylinder and cylinder, if I have it right, is "skeet". Don't quote me on that, and don't ask. The purpose has to do with the type of shooting one expects to do. For instance, on many double-barrelled shotguns ("double-gun") it is common to have modified and improved cylinder for quail hunting. One finds the quail initially at fairly close range, and shoots with the improved cylinder barrel first. The second bird is shot at, then, with the tighter-choked modified, as he is farther away. Goose hunters usually use full-choke guns, given the longer ranges typical of that sort of hunting. There's a start. Check out the archives... FWIW, Art