Choke tubes...Which to use when?
 

Hi there,
I just bought a Benelli Nova 12ga and I need some advice about what choke to use when...here are the situations i'll need to fulfill...I need a choke to shoot slugs out of, I need one for hunting ducks/geese over decoys, One for turkeys, and one for ducks/geese as they fly by. Which holds a tighter pattern...steel...lead...or heavi-shot? I have a full choke that came with the gun but it says full*lead on it so does that mean i shouldn't use steel out of it? I also bought a choke but i forgot what it's called its .705 (whatever that means) but the guy at cabelas said that its what he uses for ducks and geese with steel shot. Are the numbers on the side like .705 or whatever how much its being constricted? can i shoot slugs out of the barrel without a choke? I always just used my modified in my old remington 870 for everything from slugs to ducks to grouse to trap shooting...ANY information about chokes in general would be greatly appreciated!

RE: Choke tubes...Which to use when?
 

I always shoot an improved cylinder out of my Benelli's when shooting steel shot, it is a Mod with steel, and IC with lead.

RE: Choke tubes...Which to use when?
 

as with any gun try some range time to pattern different chokes with different ammo. We use skeet chokes or improved chokes over decoys, I have not used hevi shot or the likes but they sell aftermarket chokes for that type of shot. Longer range gunning for ducks we use modified chokes. For turkey a full will work but invest in an aftermarket choke designed just for turkey. I would recommend an Undertaker tube as I have had excellent results with mine. Never shoot your gun with choke removed. For slugs an improved will work fine, and there are aftermarket chokes designed just for slugs. When shooting steel remember that steel is hard and unforgiving so when you constrict it through a tight choke, the shot will actually bounce off itself, resulting in erratic patterns, so go open.

RE: Choke tubes...Which to use when?
 

I would suggest calling benelli's tech support department and tell them what gun you have and see if they have any reccomendations. Some of these guys shoot all the time and would probably know more about your specific gun than a person that shoots a winchester or browning. We can only tell you what we use, but brand, choke material, porting, rifling, and constriction of chokes plus variations in loads can be different from one gun to the next. I have about 12 chokes for my 1300 winchester. I can say make sure your choke threads are lightly lubed and tight before shooting so you dont get a seized choke. Also check your choke while shooting to make sure it hasnt shot loose.

RE: Choke tubes...Which to use when?
 

I done patterning tests with my Rem 870 and 11-87 and here is what I came up with for your applications.
For your slugs - you want an open cylinder (improved cylinder the tightest, but cylinder bore better). A rifled cylinder bore choke would be better if you can get one.
For waterfowl - I purchased full chokes designed for steel and patterned these along with improved cylinder and modified using 3 1/2" loads of BBB, BB, 1, 2, 4shot steel, Rem Heavy shot in BB and 3" 4, 2, 1 and BB steel.
Out of the 3 chokes patterned, the Remchoke modified choke gave the tightest pattern in all loads, followed by the Remington Steel full choke, and the improved cylinder Remchoke.
For pass shootingor decoying geese I'd recommend 3" BB or 3 1/2" BBB or BB steel (1 shot will be OK if not too high). Pass shooting ducks 1, 2 steel in 3". And for ducks over decoys - 3" steel in 2, 3 or 4 shot.
For big Canadas I like to keep my shooting to 50 yds max. with 3 1/2" BBB.On a clear day I won't shoot unless I can clearly see the white cheek patches. That's my indication that they are in my range.