Matching Choke to Your Quarry
A choke allows you to fine-tune your shotgun for the type of game you're hunting. Built-in or attached to the muzzle end of the barrel, the choke can be constricted to create a tighter pattern of shot, thus controlling pattern density at various distances.
The tighter the constriction, the longer the cluster of shot stays together. The looser the constriction, the faster the shot pattern spreads. Recall from Chapter 2 that the most common chokes, ranging from tightest to widest, are:
Full
Modified
Improved Cylinder
Cylinder (unchoked)
For example, someone hunting small, fast birds would generally use an improved cylinder or modified choke, which creates a broad shot pattern that spreads quickly at close ranges. Conversely, someone hunting a larger, less mobile bird, such as a turkey, would select a full choke, which concentrates the shot in a tighter pattern. Pellet size also varies based on the size of the game.
The chart on the next page suggests choke and shot sizes for a variety of game. It is intended only as a guide—choice of choke and shot size may vary depending on ammunition, target distance, and hunting conditions.
As described in detail on the previous page, a choke allows you to fine-tune your shotgun for the type of game you're hunting. Built-in or attached to the muzzle end of the barrel, the choke can be constricted to create a tighter pattern of shot, thus controlling pattern density at various distances.The tighter the constriction, the longer the cluster of shot stays together. The looser the constriction, the faster the shot pattern spreads.
The chart below suggests choke and shot sizes for a variety of game. It is intended only as a guide—choice of choke and shot size may vary depending on ammunition, target distance, and hunting conditions.
Quarry Suggested Choke Suggested Shot Size
Goose Improved Cylinder or Modified Steel 2, 1, BB (over decoys)
Steel BB, BBB, T (pass shooting)
Duck Improved Cylinder or Modified Steel 6, 4, 3 (over decoys)
Steel 3, 2 (pass shooting)
Turkey Full or Extra Full Lead 4, 5, 6
Pheasant Improved Cylinder or Modified Lead 6, 71/2
(over dogs or in heavy cover)
Modified or Full Lead 4, 5, 6
(in corn fields, long range)
Grouse Improved Cylinder or Modified Lead 71/2 or 8
Woodcock, rail or snipe Improved Cylinder or Modified Lead 8 (in heavy cover)
Lead 71/2 (open areas)
Dove Improved Cylinder or Modified Lead 71/2 or 8
Steel 6 (in waterfowl areas)
Quail Improved Cylinder or Modified Lead 71/2 or 8
Rabbit Improved Cylinder or Modified Lead 5 or 6
Squirrel Modified or Full Lead 5 or 6
No two shotguns will fire identical pellet patterns. In some cases, the pattern will be off center. In other instances, there may be gaps in the pattern. In addition to the firing characteristics of the gun, the gun's choke, the brand of shotshell, the shot size, and type of shot also affect the pattern. In order to select ammunition that provides the best performance, it's necessary to "pattern" your shotgun.
Patterning can be done with commercial or homemade targets. All that is required is a sheet of paper with a 30-inch circle containing a bull's-eye.
Fire from a distance of 40 yards, which is close to the maximum range for shooting game birds. At that range, the pellets should be spread fairly evenly inside the 30-inch circle.
The pattern of pellets should be of sufficient density to ensure a clean kill.
The circle also should contain the correct amount of pellets, which ranges from 40 to 80 percent of the total number of pellets in the load, based on the choke you're using.
For instance, using a full choke, 12-gauge, 3-inch load, you should expect 70 to 80 percent of the pellets to land in the circle. A modified choke should deliver 60 to 70 percent in the circle, and an improved cylinder should deliver 40 to 50 percent.
To determine the percentage, count the number of pellet holes in the circle, and then divide that number by the number of pellets in the load
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A choke allows you to fine-tune your shotgun for the type of game you're hunting. Built-in or attached to the muzzle end of the barrel, the choke can be constricted to create a tighter pattern of shot, thus controlling pattern density at various distances.
The tighter the constriction, the longer the cluster of shot stays together. The looser the constriction, the faster the shot pattern spreads. Recall from Chapter 2 that the most common chokes, ranging from tightest to widest, are:
Full
Modified
Improved Cylinder
Cylinder (unchoked)
For example, someone hunting small, fast birds would generally use an improved cylinder or modified choke, which creates a broad shot pattern that spreads quickly at close ranges. Conversely, someone hunting a larger, less mobile bird, such as a turkey, would select a full choke, which concentrates the shot in a tighter pattern. Pellet size also varies based on the size of the game.
The chart on the next page suggests choke and shot sizes for a variety of game. It is intended only as a guide—choice of choke and shot size may vary depending on ammunition, target distance, and hunting conditions.
As described in detail on the previous page, a choke allows you to fine-tune your shotgun for the type of game you're hunting. Built-in or attached to the muzzle end of the barrel, the choke can be constricted to create a tighter pattern of shot, thus controlling pattern density at various distances.The tighter the constriction, the longer the cluster of shot stays together. The looser the constriction, the faster the shot pattern spreads.
The chart below suggests choke and shot sizes for a variety of game. It is intended only as a guide—choice of choke and shot size may vary depending on ammunition, target distance, and hunting conditions.
Quarry Suggested Choke Suggested Shot Size
Goose Improved Cylinder or Modified Steel 2, 1, BB (over decoys)
Steel BB, BBB, T (pass shooting)
Duck Improved Cylinder or Modified Steel 6, 4, 3 (over decoys)
Steel 3, 2 (pass shooting)
Turkey Full or Extra Full Lead 4, 5, 6
Pheasant Improved Cylinder or Modified Lead 6, 71/2
(over dogs or in heavy cover)
Modified or Full Lead 4, 5, 6
(in corn fields, long range)
Grouse Improved Cylinder or Modified Lead 71/2 or 8
Woodcock, rail or snipe Improved Cylinder or Modified Lead 8 (in heavy cover)
Lead 71/2 (open areas)
Dove Improved Cylinder or Modified Lead 71/2 or 8
Steel 6 (in waterfowl areas)
Quail Improved Cylinder or Modified Lead 71/2 or 8
Rabbit Improved Cylinder or Modified Lead 5 or 6
Squirrel Modified or Full Lead 5 or 6
No two shotguns will fire identical pellet patterns. In some cases, the pattern will be off center. In other instances, there may be gaps in the pattern. In addition to the firing characteristics of the gun, the gun's choke, the brand of shotshell, the shot size, and type of shot also affect the pattern. In order to select ammunition that provides the best performance, it's necessary to "pattern" your shotgun.
Patterning can be done with commercial or homemade targets. All that is required is a sheet of paper with a 30-inch circle containing a bull's-eye.
Fire from a distance of 40 yards, which is close to the maximum range for shooting game birds. At that range, the pellets should be spread fairly evenly inside the 30-inch circle.
The pattern of pellets should be of sufficient density to ensure a clean kill.
The circle also should contain the correct amount of pellets, which ranges from 40 to 80 percent of the total number of pellets in the load, based on the choke you're using.
For instance, using a full choke, 12-gauge, 3-inch load, you should expect 70 to 80 percent of the pellets to land in the circle. A modified choke should deliver 60 to 70 percent in the circle, and an improved cylinder should deliver 40 to 50 percent.
To determine the percentage, count the number of pellet holes in the circle, and then divide that number by the number of pellets in the load
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