ORIGINAL: 8mm/06
I have a Mossberg 500 that i will use this year for turkey. Anyone have a recommendation for a choke to use? I have the regular full choke for my Accu-choke barrel, but was wondering if there are some decently priced options for a tighter pattern for the heavy trukey loads.
First understand that your Mossberg Mdl 500 uses the Invector™/WinChoke™ system. Within gauge Winchester®, Mossberg, SKB®, Savage®, Browning®, H&R®, NEF®, and Weatherby®; the chokes are fully interchangeable. Secondly chokes run the gamet from $20 to well over $100. Additionally some can use Hevi•Shot® & other Hevi loads (like Remington® Wingmaster HD™ & Winchester® Extended Range™), but others are suitable only for lead. Conversely however, on the plus side; Hevi•Shot® chokes are fine with lead.
I also have a couple of Mossberg® Mdl 500 guns (a 12 & 20GA). A choke & load that works very well in my Mdl 500 may not work for you & vice versa. Conventional wisdom states that shooting Hevi•Shot® a choke has to be a little more open than you would use for lead loads. Hunter Specialties® makes the Undertaker™ chokes. For a 12GA Mdl 500 the choke diameter is .665"; the Undertaker™ Hevi•Shot® capable choke however is .675 (.572" & .582" for a 20GA). Now all this is fine except for me, in my Mossberg® guns; the tighter the choke the better the performance with Hevi•Shot®. Would that be the same in your Mdl 500? Who knows? You & I could be shooting our guns side by side, with the same chokes & ammo; and the results could be far different.
I'm going to hazard a guess or two here about your post:
• Your Mossberg® Mdl 500 is a 12GA
• By heavy turkey load you are meanning heavier than lead (vs a heavy lead payload, [1¾oz vs 2 oz])
I would hate to see you spend $75-$100 for a choke & then be disappointed. Because of that I will suggest three manufacturers that are very reasonably priced; they are: Hunter Specialties® Undertaker™ - $19.95; Cabelas - $29.95; and Hastings® - $29.95. If you buy the Undertaker™ get the Hevi•Shot choke diameter .675". For the Cabelas® & Hastings® chokes get a .665 or 660". All are Hevi•Shot® capable.
I hope the afore mentioned has been of use to you. Good Luck!