Dove chokes?

jaughtman · February 7, 2011, 10:17 PM

Just curious what eveyone uses to shoot doves with when you have chokes available - in my O/U, I usually put one modified, and one full choke....your thoughts on chokes for doves?

J

Jeremiah/Az · February 7, 2011, 11:20 PM

I use IC in both my 12's & 28's. Unless you are taking very long shots, the tighter chokes tear the birds up. It only takes a couple of BB's to kill a dove. I use #8 shot.

zippy13 · February 8, 2011, 01:41 AM

A skeet gun with fixed chokes.

Dave McC · February 8, 2011, 08:31 AM

Setup determines what choke and load work best, or worst. I like target loads rather than cheapos, and that means I can ease up on chokes.

The choke I use most is LM. Usually paired with either Mod or IC, depending on setup.

The last shoot I did was more of a hunt, and I used a 20 ga O/U with Mod/Full.

Shots were more or less crossers with a few quartering in. Longest hit was about 35 yards.

I'd urge you to take along a few tubes, if your gun is set up for them, and try Mod or LM first.

HTH....

a7mmnut · February 8, 2011, 08:58 AM

In my 1100, the modified tube with Sureshot 7 1/2's generally works magic for me. In my 22" BPS, I bought a Hastings tube in Skeet II (between I.C. and Mod.) that is much better under power lines. Like the other guys said, ..."depends on your setup."

-7-

oneounceload · February 8, 2011, 10:43 AM

IC has always worked well for me.

Creek Henry · February 9, 2011, 07:53 PM

I like the IC/Mod combo in my double for Skeet II in a single barrel.

I have used a skeet/full combo a few times on windy days or for 'jump' shooting dove and it worked very well... but that was back when I could practice at the range a lot more.

jaughtman · February 9, 2011, 09:15 PM

Ya'll got me thinking of trying my IC choke now - always thought of it as just my "quail" choke. With my Mod/Full setup, I use the Mod barrel to shoot first, and when I miss (which is often), I switch to the Full barrel as they fly away (and further) from me.

J

Takeum · February 9, 2011, 10:39 PM

IC or MOd like most have already said,, DOnt want too tight a pattern on such a small bird... Wont have anything left to eat...

.300 Weatherby Mag · February 9, 2011, 11:26 PM

IC... If they are flying high I may opt for a mod choke, but thats pretty rare... I kill the heck out of them with a browning bss 20 gauge choked IC/MOD... The difficulty really goes up when you try to take them down with a .410 with a full choke..

publius · February 10, 2011, 07:26 PM

Full for me on everything except quail.

Microgunner · February 10, 2011, 07:31 PM

IC or Skeet 1 for dove.

olddrum1 · February 11, 2011, 02:08 AM

I've got two places I hunt. One is a full and the other is a skeet. Just depends how close in they are.

jaughtman · February 12, 2011, 09:22 AM

Quote:

The difficulty really goes up when you try to take them down with a .410 with a full choke..

Haha - yeah, for old (REAL old) times' sake I took my boyhood .410 break-open on a hunt last year.....shot up a half box of shells....did not kill a single bird. Good times.

J

alloy · February 12, 2011, 09:53 AM

ic and modified has always brought down even those high flyers with a 20, but those are barrel chokes not replacables.

February 7, 2011, 10:17 PM	#1
jaughtman Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 868	Dove chokes? Just curious what eveyone uses to shoot doves with when you have chokes available - in my O/U, I usually put one modified, and one full choke....your thoughts on chokes for doves? J

February 10, 2011, 07:26 PM	#11
publius Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2005 Location: Mississippi/Texas Posts: 2,505	Full for me on everything except quail. __________________ "Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress, but I repeat myself." Mark Twain

February 10, 2011, 07:31 PM	#12
Microgunner Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 3,324	IC or Skeet 1 for dove. __________________ *Proud NRA Benefactor Member*

February 7, 2011, 11:20 PM	#2
Jeremiah/Az Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2009 Location: Az. Posts: 509	I use IC in both my 12's & 28's. Unless you are taking very long shots, the tighter chokes tear the birds up. It only takes a couple of BB's to kill a dove. I use #8 shot.

February 8, 2011, 01:41 AM	#3
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	A skeet gun with fixed chokes.

February 8, 2011, 08:31 AM	#4
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Setup determines what choke and load work best, or worst. I like target loads rather than cheapos, and that means I can ease up on chokes. The choke I use most is LM. Usually paired with either Mod or IC, depending on setup. The last shoot I did was more of a hunt, and I used a 20 ga O/U with Mod/Full. Shots were more or less crossers with a few quartering in. Longest hit was about 35 yards. I'd urge you to take along a few tubes, if your gun is set up for them, and try Mod or LM first. HTH....

February 8, 2011, 08:58 AM	#5
a7mmnut Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2009 Location: NC Foothills Posts: 1,150	In my 1100, the modified tube with Sureshot 7 1/2's generally works magic for me. In my 22" BPS, I bought a Hastings tube in Skeet II (between I.C. and Mod.) that is much better under power lines. Like the other guys said, ..."depends on your setup." -7-

February 8, 2011, 10:43 AM	#6
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	IC has always worked well for me.

February 9, 2011, 07:53 PM	#7
Creek Henry Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2009 Location: Dallas Posts: 514	I like the IC/Mod combo in my double for Skeet II in a single barrel. I have used a skeet/full combo a few times on windy days or for 'jump' shooting dove and it worked very well... but that was back when I could practice at the range a lot more.

February 9, 2011, 09:15 PM	#8
jaughtman Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 868	Hmmm.... Ya'll got me thinking of trying my IC choke now - always thought of it as just my "quail" choke. With my Mod/Full setup, I use the Mod barrel to shoot first, and when I miss (which is often), I switch to the Full barrel as they fly away (and further) from me. J

February 9, 2011, 10:39 PM	#9
Takeum Member Join Date: January 7, 2011 Location: Memphis, Tn. Posts: 26	IC or MOd like most have already said,, DOnt want too tight a pattern on such a small bird... Wont have anything left to eat...

February 9, 2011, 11:26 PM	#10
.300 Weatherby Mag Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2008 Posts: 1,777	IC... If they are flying high I may opt for a mod choke, but thats pretty rare... I kill the heck out of them with a browning bss 20 gauge choked IC/MOD... The difficulty really goes up when you try to take them down with a .410 with a full choke..

February 11, 2011, 02:08 AM	#13
olddrum1 Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2008 Location: Mid Missouri Posts: 807	I've got two places I hunt. One is a full and the other is a skeet. Just depends how close in they are.