continued from the front page
Choke Tubes 101Choke tubes are simple effective devices that tighten the pattern of the BB's as they leave a shotgun. The tighter the pattern is as it leaves the shotgun barrel, the better long range accuracy it will have. A high quality shotgun choke can increase a shotguns' effective range by ten or more yards, depending on the type of choke being used. Wider pattern choke tubes have a large hole while choke tubes designed for long range shooting have a very small restricted hole to constrict the BB's as they leave the gun, thus creating a tighter pattern.
Choke tubes have been around for decades, but recently they have become more specialized. When a shotgun is purchased it comes with a variety of choke tubes. The guns often come with an improved cylinder, modified, and a full choke. For the casual hunter or sporting clay enthusiast, these three choke tubes may be all you need.
Improved CylinderAn improved cylinder tube was designed to restrict the pattern ever so slightly as it leaves the gun. An improved cylinder choke tube doesn't hold a very tight pattern after the shot leaves the gun so most people who use an improved cylinder use it when hunting in thick cover for upland game like grouse. Many hunters who don't have a lot of experience use an improved cylinder choke because they aren't very accurate and want to shoot a wide pattern that is very forgiving. Many sportsmen who don't want to spend a lot of money on high dollar skeet choke tubes use an improved cylinder choke tube when shooting trap or skeet.
Modified ChokeA modified choke tube holds a denser pattern at longer ranges than an improved cylinder choke tube will. This is probably one of the best all-around choke tubes on the market for hunters who are a decent shot with a gun that want somewhat of a forgiving pattern. The modified choke is very popular with waterfowl hunters and upland hunters. Many hunters simply use a modified choke regardless of what they are hunting and can be quite successful when doing so.
Full ChokeA full choke greatly restricts the BB's as they leave the gun and creates a very tight pattern. Waterfowl hunters who want to reach out and touch high-flying ducks and geese often use a full choke. Until the invention of choke tubes was designed especially for turkey hunting, many turkey hunters hunted with a full choke. In most cases, a full choke can be extremely accurate out to forty yards and beyond.
Many hunters may believe those three chokes that come right from the factory are all that they need to be accurate with a shotgun, but unfortunately, many choke tubes that come directly from the factory aren't always as good as aftermarket choke tubes. Many inexpensive shotguns come with inexpensive choke tubes that may be made with low cost steel or have rough edges and burrs on the inside of the tube that can rob the gun of accuracy. Plastic and debris can get hung up on the tube, ruining the effectiveness of the pattern as it leaves the gun. Aftermarket choke tubes may cost more money but it is often worth the extra expense.
Aftermarket Specialty Choke TubesMost aftermarket tubes are longer than factory choke tubes. In many cases, the parallel section of the aftermarket tube is so long that it sticks out beyond the tip of the barrel. Longer choke tubes create a tighter pattern. Aftermarket tubes essentially customize a gun. After taking a quick stroll down a choke tube aisle in any sporting goods store, you will notice hundreds of choke tubes available for several applications. Many of these choke tubes are great at performing for one specific style of shooting. A high-dollar extra-full turkey choke is built especially for turkey hunting and delivering an extremely tight pattern at long ranges - in the forty to fifty yard range. By unscrewing a full choke and screwing in an extra-full turkey choke it is possible to take longer shots and often the number of BB's hitting the head and neck region of the turkey will be a dozen or more verses a small handful.
There are a wide variety of choke tubes on the market. There is one for every style of hunting and shooting.
Specialty choke tubes are built for a certain type of shot. For example, steel shot (which is required when hunting waterfowl) is harder on shotguns than lead shot and patterns differently than lead. Waterfowl choke tubes are made stronger than traditional choke tubes that are only for lead shot. They are built so that steel shot, which doesn't pattern as well as led shot, will hold a tight pattern.
A new shot was developed in the last few years especially for waterfowl and turkey hunters. It is even heavier and denser than steel or copper-plated lead and flies better than steel, making it very popular among waterfowl hunters. The new materials used to build this shot are even harder on choke tubes, so now there are choke tubes designed especially for the new shot.
With the increased popularity of predator hunting, several choke tube companies started producing choke tubes for types of large shot; like buck shot that is used on predators like coyotes. Some companies claim that their predator choke tubes will consistently hold a tight pattern out to seventy yards.
Skeet and trap shooting enthusiasts always have high-end choke tubes protruding from their shotgun barrels because they know a quality choke tube can increase the effective range of the gun. A strong, well-built choke tube also protects the gun barrel and in some cases helps reduce gun barrel stress caused by heat. When a tournament is on the line, skeet and trap shooters want every edge they can get. A good choke tube helps give them that edge.
Waterfowl hunting requires a choke tube designed especially for steel shot.Some may ask why they even need a choke tube. In the old days, many shotguns came with a fixed choke barrel so chokes weren't needed. Now even if you want an extremely wide pattern, some type of choke tube must be used. If it's not, the choke tube threading on the inside of the barrel could get damaged. Having at least an improved cylinder choke tube in a gun at all times is a must.
The sure fire way of choosing the right choke tube is to test a few of them. Place a paper target at 30 or 40 yards at a gun range or in a safe place where no one can get hurt and can test a couple choke tubes. The difference between one choke tube and the next can be substantial. I have discovered that quality turkey chokes really do reach out and touch turkeys well beyond what a factory full choke or an extra full choke can do.
The beauty of using a variety of choke tubes is they turn one gun into several specialized guns, depending on the choke tube that is in the barrel. If the hunter is turkey hunting, he can screw in the extra-full choke. If he is waterfowl hunting, he can put in a modified choke designed especially for steel. With every style of shotgun shooting, there is a choke tube that fits that style. With the right choke tube, a novice shotgun enthusiast can greatly increase their effectiveness by using the right shotgun choke.
When pheasant hunting, most hunters prefer a modified or improved cylinder choke tube that has a wide pattern that can bring down quick flying birds.
Choke Tube & Shot Size Guide For Waterfowl Hunting
SMALL DUCKS (SHORT AND MEDIUM RANGE: UP TO 45 YDS.)
STEEL SHOT LOAD STEEL SHOT
SIZE SUGGESTED
CHOKE TUBES
20 Gauge, 2 inch, 3/4 ounce 6, 4 Improved Cylinder, Modified
20 Gauge, 3 inch, 1 ounce 6, 4 Improved Cylinder, Modified
16 Gauge, 2 3/4 inch, 15/16 ounce 4 Improved Cylinder, Modified
12 Gauge, 2 3/4 inch, 1 ounce 6, 4 Improved Cylinder, Modified
12 Gauge, 2 3/4 inch, 1 1/8 ounce 6, 4 Improved Cylinder, Modified
SMALL DUCKS (LONG RANGE: BEYOND 45 YDS.)
STEEL SHOT LOAD STEEL SHOT
SIZE SUGGESTED
CHOKE TUBES
20 Gauge, 3 inch, 1 ounce 4, 3 Modified, Full
16 Gauge, 2 3/4 inch, 15/16 ounce 4 Modified, Full
12 Gauge, 2 3/4 inch, 1 ounce 6, 4, 3 Modified, Full
12 Gauge, 2 3/4 inch, 1 1/8 ounce 6, 4, 3 Modified, Full
MEDIUM & LARGE DUCKS (SHORT AND MEDIUM RANGE: UP TO 45 YDS.)
STEEL SHOT LOAD STEEL SHOT
SIZE SUGGESTED
CHOKE TUBES
20 Gauge, 2 3/4 inch, 3/4 ounce 6, 4 Improved Cylinder, Modified
20 Gauge, 3 inch, 1 ounce 4, 3, 2 Improved Cylinder, Modified
16 Gauge, 2 3/4 inch, 15/16 ounce 4, 2 Improved Cylinder, Modified
12 Gauge, 2 3/4 inch, 1 ounce 6, 4, 3, 2 Improved Cylinder, Modified
12 Gauge, 2 3/4 inch, 1 1/8 ounce 6, 4, 3, 2 Improved Cylinder, Modified
12 Gauge, 2 3/4 inch, 1 1/4 ounce 4, 3, 2 Improved Cylinder, Modified
12 Gauge, 3 inch, 1 1/4 ounce 4, 3, 2 Improved Cylinder, Modified
MEDIUM & LARGE DUCKS (LONG RANGE: BEYOND 45 YDS.)
STEEL SHOT LOAD STEEL SHOT
SIZE SUGGESTED
CHOKE TUBES
12 Gauge, 2 3/4 inch, 1 1/8 ounce 3, 2, 1 Full
12 Gauge, 2 3/4 inch, 1 1/4 ounce 3, 2, 1 Full
12 Gauge, 3 inch, 1 1/4 ounce 3, 2, 1 Full
12 Gauge, 3 inch, 1 3/8 ounce 3, 2, 1 Modified, Full
12 Gauge, 3 inch, 1 9/16 ounce 2, BB Modified, Full
10 Gauge, 3 inch, 1 3/4 ounce 2, BB Improved Modified
borrowed from the guys over at
www.choketubes.com
