Turkey choke for a Mossberg 500?
 

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.

RE: Turkey choke for a Mossberg 500?
 

Others will tell you what works for them, but you can't be sure until you have tried it on your gun...all chokes and barrels are often different....even if you are coping what works for someone else.... the shell shot size and load can make a difference also. Will need to pattern whatever combination you chose to get the best performance....

RE: Turkey choke for a Mossberg 500?
 

I am using kicks gobblin thunder .665 and win extended range 3in 5 shot
and i would take a 60 yard shot at a bird i believe it is a good combo for the 500

RE: Turkey choke for a Mossberg 500?
 

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!

RE: Turkey choke for a Mossberg 500?
 

Thanks all for the feedback.... I do appreciate this greatly as I am not going to spend big bucks when I'm just starting out. I am a newbie and your advice is helpful. $20-$40 is affordable to me right now and your info is quite helpful. Thanks!

RE: Turkey choke for a Mossberg 500?
 

I hunt with a Mossberg500 and I use the xx-ful choke from Mossberg. Its made for the gun. My Mossberg shoots great and I wouldnt change for anything. There will be many who say use this use that. I shoot Federals 3in 5 and 6 shot and like I said it shoots great...

RE: Turkey choke for a Mossberg 500?
 

Let's take this a step further. Say you have decided you want to use #5 or #6 shot. You don't want to buy a lot of chokes so you decide to buy a Cabelas® Extra Full (.665") or a Super Full (.660"). OK you get your ONE CHOKE. Now you start getting some ammo, 12GA - 3" Magnums: Federal®, Winchester® Supreme™, Remington®, Nitros®, Remington® Duplex®, & maybe some Hevi•Shot™. I think it's better to try many different kinds of ammo IN ONE CHOKE, than one kind of ammo in MANY CHOKES. The ammo that doesn't work so well can be used to shoot other things.

Now if it were me I would pattern as many different loads of #5 shot (lead) through the gun that I could afford. Because Hevi•SHOT® hits harder & with more wallop than lead I'd try #6 shot for my one, heavier than lead, load. Through all of this testing you'll find a load of #5 lead that is better than all others. Additionally you'll determine how well Hevi•Shot performs.

I posted to another newsgroup about my testingof 20GA loads & chokes a couple of years ago; maybe it will be of use to you: http://thehunterslife.com/forums/showthread.php?p=40552#post40552Let me know what you think.

RE: Turkey choke for a Mossberg 500?
 

Thanks again for the info. I will start with the Carlson's Turkey Super Full and begin with the ammo testing.

RE: Turkey choke for a Mossberg 500?
 

Excellent choice, & only $24.95! Their website lists:

EXTENDED TURKEY CHOKES - 12 GA ONLY
# 19894 .640

# 19892 .660

# 19893 .670

12 GA - PORTED TURKEY CHOKE
#70000 .660

By "Super Full" I'm guessing you're getting the one in red?

RE: Turkey choke for a Mossberg 500?
 

I think the one I was looking at through cabela's was a .660 bore, but I will check again on the carlson webstie to see if a .640 is available for the Mossberg 500

RE: Turkey choke for a Mossberg 500?
 

Yeah it is.:)

RE: Turkey choke for a Mossberg 500?
 

So it is! I hadn't scrolled down far enough!

RE: Turkey choke for a Mossberg 500?
 

I ordered it and with shipping and tax it was only 31.45, quite a bargain compared to what I've seen some tubes going for. Now i just hope it gives acceptable results for this year with at least one ammo selection. And if I get the bug I'll probably be looking into a new shotgun anyway!
Just what I needed, one more reason to collect all the paraphernalia necessary to fill my truck!

RE: Turkey choke for a Mossberg 500?
 

TRUGLOW GOBBLER STOPPER EXTREME

RE: Turkey choke for a Mossberg 500?
 

The guy from Carlson called me today to say that my internet order was going to take till May 1st ....b/c of an ordering problem the .640 choke was out of stock till then.
He explained that he thought that the .660 that they DID have in stock would probably be abetter set-up for me anyway ... he wont on to say the the .640 was really for card shooters (whatever that means) and the pattern was great for a certain range and then it opened up too much for turkey hunting ... at least that's what he told me.......
Anyway, after talking to a couple of my buddies that know way more than me about this turkey hunting stuff they told me he wasn't leading me wring....
I went ahead with the switch on the order, same cost but the .660 tube instead.

RE: Turkey choke for a Mossberg 500?
 

I think you will be very pleased, keep us posted.

RE: Turkey choke for a Mossberg 500?
 

Hello again,
I appreciate all the input I've received so far, but just one more question (for now anyway!)
My Carlson .660 choke arrived and I'll be heading to the range this coming week to pattern. Since I'm new to this I'm hoping to avoid doing anything stupid to my Mossberg 500A, 3".
I will be trying about 5 different loads but I'm only aware of 2 of the 6 right now. My 2 buddies will be bringing 2 different loads each and we plan on trying all 6 types in each of our guns for comparison. The 2 loads I'll be bringing are Remington Premier High Velocity Magnum in 3" , 1300 fps, 1 3/4 oz shot in #4, and the same thing but with #5's. Will these be safe and ok in my Mossberg?


My question is this, ... as long as I'm shooting only 3" loads is there anythingI need to steer clear of?... in other words, are there any 3" loads I should stay away from for fear of damaging my Mossberg?

Thanks in advance for any insight and advice you veterans have. I only have this one shotgunfor turkey this year and I don't want to end my season early for some bone-headed move on my part.

RE: Turkey choke for a Mossberg 500?
 

Any 12ga 3" Magnum FACTORY LOADED shell will beOK to shoot in your Mossberg® Mdl 500A.

RE: Turkey choke for a Mossberg 500?
 

IMO if you are shooting a .660 choke I think a Winchester Supreme 13/4 oz 3" #6 or #5 will shoot the best
I also have a MB 500 with a .665 choke and the Whinchester 3" super X #6 will put 39 pellets in the head & neck @ 40yds .

One thing you have to watch is if you get a choke that is to tight alot of times your pattern will self distruct after 15 or 20 yds spredding out way to fast or it will hold so tight of a pattern that it will act more like a slug at closer ranges and it will be very easy to miss at 25yds or closer.

Ron

RE: Turkey choke for a Mossberg 500?
 

Thanks again to all.
I'm relieved to know I won't hurt anything. Since I'm knew to this I didn't know if any of the harder plated loads (heavy-shot types) would beat up my barrel or choke.

I'll give the Winchesters a try as well.

RE: Turkey choke for a Mossberg 500?
 

Went to the range today. I shot Remington Premier High Velocity Magnum in 3" , 1300 fps, 1 3/4 oz shot in #4, and the same thing but with #5's.
The #4's had 13 vital hits at 25 yrds, 7 vital hits at 30 yards, and only 3 vital hits at 40 yards, but I only shot one round at each distance.
The #5's had 4 vital hits at 25 yards, 13 vital hits at 30 yards, and 7 vital hits at 40 yards.
I know that I should have tried more flavors of ammo, but with this limited shooting and the results I am posting, does anyone have a reply or observation for me.
All advice welcome.

RE: Turkey choke for a Mossberg 500?
 

Use Full orSteel full with Hevi # 5's, in 2.5" or 3". The trick is to call them in close, 19 yds or soand if you screw up, you have that second shot.
Just my $.02.
Grant

RE: Turkey choke for a Mossberg 500?
 

Sorry 2 3/4"

RE: Turkey choke for a Mossberg 500?
 

With the Hastings choke make sure it is the choke that is designed for the steel shot. Some of them are designed for specifically the lead only. With the 500 since it is chambered for the 3" shell your gun will always shoot better with a 3" than it will with a 2 3/4. That is a proven fact. Each gun holds it's own pattern as was said before but remember the weather and temperature will also effect patterns as well. If it were me I'd work on calling them in because if you get them close enough you can use a sling shot! Best of luck to ya. I have used the .640 carlson's choke tube and absolutely love it. If you're working on a budget keep an eye out for www.midsouthshooterssupply.com. Go to gun care & accessories, choke tubes, mossberg 500. Hope it helps! We all have to start learning somewhere but with the price of shotgun shells anymore we can't just go play. We have to find a way to pay for gas anymore!