Popular Trap chokes?

SpazzTrap · August 31, 2001, 10:42 PM

Just curious about what everyone uses for the 16 yard line...

Is there much difference between a modified and extended modified?

Thanks,

Spazz

Dave McC · September 1, 2001, 09:44 AM

Going by what I see and the talk I hear, most folks go with Full for 16 yards. It's too much choke, but there's tradition, fashion, and lots of folks shoot handicap with their singles gun.

One local legend that's fast on them out of the house uses a Light Modified choke. He had his SBT reamed out from Full for this, and it works for him.

I use Full, since I'm new to trap I wanted the choke tight, so I learn to hold closer. Two 25s in this brief interval between eye surgeries shows it works.

I may get some bbl work done soon. The bore on my TB runs .733", the choke .695". That's 38 POC, and I think 30 would be better. I'll have the cone done at the same time. The idea is to have a great pattern with ALL(or as nearly all as possible) pellets in a tight pattern 36-40 yards out.

Since choke tubes are well nigh universal these days, I'd suggest you arrive at your load of choice by testing with Mod, IM(Improved Modified) and Full. Go with whatever pattern covers 24-30" well at the distance you bust clays.

HTH....

K80Geoff · September 1, 2001, 11:13 PM

Trapshooters are notorious for screwing around with everything on their guns. They change chokes, then change the brand of chokes, then buy ported chokes, then buy a barrel with a fixed choke.

Then of course they buy an adjustable stock and constantly fiddle with it, they try different heights of ribs, and have the barrels bent upwards, then put in a relaease trigger.

Next month they willl get a different brand of gun and start all over

Always looking for that perfect combination.

I always recommend modified choke for 16 yard singles, but then I carry around a box full of chokes and constantly change them out myself

Geoff Ross

Dave McC · September 2, 2001, 06:15 AM

Right on,Geoff. Musical guns, I call it.

Once I get the bbl work done,the only changes I'm considering is further load development, and maybe not much of that.But I'm not typical....

Alex Johnson · September 2, 2001, 08:48 PM

I shoot full choke for the most part. I used to be fond of switching from full to modified when I seemed to be having problems smoking them with my initial shots, but as time went on I realized that it was just an excuse for poor shooting and I now reserve the modified for my first shot on doubles.

Dave McC · September 3, 2001, 07:38 AM

Alex, a hunch says that it's consistency that's important, more than degree of choke. IOW, a few cases of shells with a particular choke creates a mental pic of what it will do, and the shots happen successfully w/o much conscious thought.

MiniZ · September 4, 2001, 07:11 PM

I shoot full choke. Of course my trap gun is "old school" with a fixed choke, so my options for screwing around with it are minimal.

My buddy that is pretty serious likes to use IM for most of his shooting.

Zane

SpazzTrap · September 6, 2001, 12:50 AM

So today I picked up a Remington "Full Trap" choke, only to find out that it is actually a "looser" choke than the Remington "Modifieds". The specs on each of my three chokes are as follows: (choke diameter / nominal constriction)

Mod: .709/.018
Sporting Modified (extended choke): .708/.019
Full Trap (old Style): .732/.013

Even the "old school" X-Full trap measures .709, which is no more constricted than today's Modified.

Seems like I can get any of the three new trap chokes (.700, .693, .686) or...

Maybe I'll just buy a .665 Turkey choke so people don't think I'm "cheating" :-)

Dave McC · September 6, 2001, 11:06 AM

Before you spend any more of your hard earnd money, Spazz....

Try those chokes you have out and see how they do, on both paper and clays. I bet you already have a suitable choke....

SpazzTrap · September 6, 2001, 11:23 AM

...they all work fine...I'm busting an average of 19 or so with the mod, but some snobs (not here, but on the range) have alluded to the fact that I am "cheating" by using a mod instead of syringe choke of some kind.

I'm going to invent my own "nun's ass" choke that will only allow one #6 pellet of shot out at a time...that should be tight enough for the snobs.

Dave McC · September 6, 2001, 11:46 AM

Tell those snobs just what they can kiss. The ATA has no limits on chokes, you can shoot with that N/A choke or Tula Skeet if you desire.

Fulll choke got its impetus back before there were plastic hulls, wads,fold crimps, really hard and consistent shot and the other stuff that makes older ammo look like an oxcart next to the Space Shuttle.

Bet more records on the 16 yard line have been set since 1980 than in all the years of registered shooting prior to that? Save your money, they have.

I started with paper case shells that would swell on humid days, worked sometimes and threw patterns that would be charitable described as "Ragged". Sometimes I'd dissect one and see shot clumped together, shot so soft I could squeeze it further out of round with my fingers, and top wads that were GUARANTEED to bust up the pattern.

And,it's been my experience that folks that spend their time cutting down other folks and their choice of equipment usually lack mantels full of trophies, and friends....

August 31, 2001, 10:42 PM	#1
SpazzTrap Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2000 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 467	Popular Trap chokes? Just curious about what everyone uses for the 16 yard line... Is there much difference between a modified and extended modified? Thanks, Spazz __________________ "Great Spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds..." -Albert Einstein Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms...sounds like my bachelor party.

September 1, 2001, 11:13 PM	#3
K80Geoff Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 1998 Location: NE Pennsylvania Posts: 3,639	Trapshooters are notorious for screwing around with everything on their guns. They change chokes, then change the brand of chokes, then buy ported chokes, then buy a barrel with a fixed choke. Then of course they buy an adjustable stock and constantly fiddle with it, they try different heights of ribs, and have the barrels bent upwards, then put in a relaease trigger. Next month they willl get a different brand of gun and start all over Always looking for that perfect combination. I always recommend modified choke for 16 yard singles, but then I carry around a box full of chokes and constantly change them out myself Geoff Ross __________________ I am no longer a member of this forum. Bye!

September 2, 2001, 08:48 PM	#5
Alex Johnson Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2000 Location: Grand Forks, ND Posts: 812	I shoot full choke for the most part. I used to be fond of switching from full to modified when I seemed to be having problems smoking them with my initial shots, but as time went on I realized that it was just an excuse for poor shooting and I now reserve the modified for my first shot on doubles. __________________ I thoroughly disapprove of duels. I consider them unwise and I know they are dangerous. Also, sinful. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet retired spot and kill him. - Mark Twain

September 4, 2001, 07:11 PM	#7
MiniZ Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2001 Location: SLC, UT Posts: 517	I shoot full choke. Of course my trap gun is "old school" with a fixed choke, so my options for screwing around with it are minimal. My buddy that is pretty serious likes to use IM for most of his shooting. Zane __________________ Seven- Six- Two Millimeter....FULL METAL JACKET!!!

September 6, 2001, 12:50 AM	#8
SpazzTrap Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2000 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 467	As Paul Harvey would say: Here's a STRANGE... So today I picked up a Remington "Full Trap" choke, only to find out that it is actually a "looser" choke than the Remington "Modifieds". The specs on each of my three chokes are as follows: (choke diameter / nominal constriction) Mod: .709/.018 Sporting Modified (extended choke): .708/.019 Full Trap (old Style): .732/.013 Even the "old school" X-Full trap measures .709, which is no more constricted than today's Modified. Seems like I can get any of the three new trap chokes (.700, .693, .686) or... Maybe I'll just buy a .665 Turkey choke so people don't think I'm "cheating" :-) __________________ "Great Spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds..." -Albert Einstein Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms...sounds like my bachelor party.

September 1, 2001, 09:44 AM	#2
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Going by what I see and the talk I hear, most folks go with Full for 16 yards. It's too much choke, but there's tradition, fashion, and lots of folks shoot handicap with their singles gun. One local legend that's fast on them out of the house uses a Light Modified choke. He had his SBT reamed out from Full for this, and it works for him. I use Full, since I'm new to trap I wanted the choke tight, so I learn to hold closer. Two 25s in this brief interval between eye surgeries shows it works. I may get some bbl work done soon. The bore on my TB runs .733", the choke .695". That's 38 POC, and I think 30 would be better. I'll have the cone done at the same time. The idea is to have a great pattern with ALL(or as nearly all as possible) pellets in a tight pattern 36-40 yards out. Since choke tubes are well nigh universal these days, I'd suggest you arrive at your load of choice by testing with Mod, IM(Improved Modified) and Full. Go with whatever pattern covers 24-30" well at the distance you bust clays. HTH....

September 2, 2001, 06:15 AM	#4
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Right on,Geoff. Musical guns, I call it. Once I get the bbl work done,the only changes I'm considering is further load development, and maybe not much of that.But I'm not typical....

September 3, 2001, 07:38 AM	#6
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Alex, a hunch says that it's consistency that's important, more than degree of choke. IOW, a few cases of shells with a particular choke creates a mental pic of what it will do, and the shots happen successfully w/o much conscious thought.

September 6, 2001, 11:06 AM	#9
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Before you spend any more of your hard earnd money, Spazz.... Try those chokes you have out and see how they do, on both paper and clays. I bet you already have a suitable choke....

September 6, 2001, 11:23 AM	#10
SpazzTrap Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2000 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 467	Thanks Dave ...they all work fine...I'm busting an average of 19 or so with the mod, but some snobs (not here, but on the range) have alluded to the fact that I am "cheating" by using a mod instead of syringe choke of some kind. I'm going to invent my own "nun's ass" choke that will only allow one #6 pellet of shot out at a time...that should be tight enough for the snobs. __________________ "Great Spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds..." -Albert Einstein Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms...sounds like my bachelor party.

September 6, 2001, 11:46 AM	#11
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Tell those snobs just what they can kiss. The ATA has no limits on chokes, you can shoot with that N/A choke or Tula Skeet if you desire. Fulll choke got its impetus back before there were plastic hulls, wads,fold crimps, really hard and consistent shot and the other stuff that makes older ammo look like an oxcart next to the Space Shuttle. Bet more records on the 16 yard line have been set since 1980 than in all the years of registered shooting prior to that? Save your money, they have. I started with paper case shells that would swell on humid days, worked sometimes and threw patterns that would be charitable described as "Ragged". Sometimes I'd dissect one and see shot clumped together, shot so soft I could squeeze it further out of round with my fingers, and top wads that were GUARANTEED to bust up the pattern. And,it's been my experience that folks that spend their time cutting down other folks and their choice of equipment usually lack mantels full of trophies, and friends....