Which choke for duck hunting

caddisfly · October 29, 2004, 10:06 AM

I'm shooting a 12 guage Benelli Nova, and my first Duck Season with it starts Nov. 18. I will be doing a lot of jump hunting on rivers here in Western North Carolina. What type of choke (full, imp, mod.) should I use. Feel free to suggest any brand of choke as well. Thanks!

HSMITH · October 29, 2004, 06:39 PM

You need to pattern your gun with the loads you want to use. That is the only way to tell what is going to happen.

kudu · October 29, 2004, 08:17 PM

HSMITH has got it right on the nose.

Usually if you are using steel shot you want to stay away from full choke, as mod and I/C will deliver better patterns on most guns. I have very little experience with Hevi-shot, but from what is known it is by far the best choice out there for waterfowl if you can get over the sticker shock.

Bismuth is another choice that is better than steel, but not as good as Hevi-shot. It will generaly pattern out of a full without too many scattered flyers if the shot is small, 5's and 6's for ducks. 6's and 7.5's for Hevi-shot, and 2's-5's for steel.

If you can figure out what your maximum shot will be, set up a pattern board at that distance and try each choke for best performance. Don't try to reach out too far with steel, stay inside 40 yards, closer if possible.

October 29, 2004, 10:06 AM	#1
caddisfly Junior Member Join Date: September 24, 2004 Posts: 3	Which choke for duck hunting I'm shooting a 12 guage Benelli Nova, and my first Duck Season with it starts Nov. 18. I will be doing a lot of jump hunting on rivers here in Western North Carolina. What type of choke (full, imp, mod.) should I use. Feel free to suggest any brand of choke as well. Thanks!

October 29, 2004, 08:17 PM	#3
kudu Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 273	HSMITH has got it right on the nose. Usually if you are using steel shot you want to stay away from full choke, as mod and I/C will deliver better patterns on most guns. I have very little experience with Hevi-shot, but from what is known it is by far the best choice out there for waterfowl if you can get over the sticker shock. Bismuth is another choice that is better than steel, but not as good as Hevi-shot. It will generaly pattern out of a full without too many scattered flyers if the shot is small, 5's and 6's for ducks. 6's and 7.5's for Hevi-shot, and 2's-5's for steel. If you can figure out what your maximum shot will be, set up a pattern board at that distance and try each choke for best performance. Don't try to reach out too far with steel, stay inside 40 yards, closer if possible. __________________ "a shootin' we will go"

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October 29, 2004, 06:39 PM	#2
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2002 Posts: 2,019	You need to pattern your gun with the loads you want to use. That is the only way to tell what is going to happen.