I’ve read, know & understand all about pattern density & getting to most pellets in the head & neck area. All I hear about is full / extra full & long range shots, but I never hear about using a more open choke. I find myself set up on birds in areas of very thick cover & the max range of less than 30 yards, more like 20 or lessyards at times.
So witha scenario of 10 to 20 yard shots would changing to a Mod choke be a good idea?
My thinking is to make a larger pattern making it easier to hit the head/neck & should still have good density at close range for a clean kill. I’m using Hevi-13 2 oz #6. The reason for the question is because this year I missed one at 10 yards & killed two others at under 15 yards & on those the pattern was not dead on. Meaning my aim was a little off & a Mod choke might have been better. ???

with a 10 to 20 yard shot you are shooting a rifle. i completely understand what ya mean though.

At 10 yards with a .660 choke (pretty tight) you should be shooting a pattern about twice the size of a half dollar, with a modified choke it might be an inch bigger. Once you get out to twenty you should have a nice 10"-15" pattern.....far from a rifle, the modified will be even more open.
There is nothing wrong with shooting a modified choke provided it gives you acceptable patterns at whatever ranges you think you will be shooting. No sense in getting a very tight choke tube if you are not going to need it in the area you hunt.
Whatever you decide I suggest getting your gun to shoot to point of aim, and then make sure you have the pattern you will need at the maximum range you will shoot.

Pattern it to see what it does at that yardage. That will tell you and as others said shodl be no problem.

I know what you mean about full tight pattern at close range. Put a hole clean thru the head at 8 paces close to 8 yards.

JW

If your shooting is to be done at close range, a modified ( or even IC) tubeis an excellent idea... At close ranges, a super tight choke is a definite handicap, especially when the adrenaline factor kicks in...Of course, as others have said, you should pattern your gun... Also, you could save yourself some $$ and perhaps open your pattern somewhat by using less expensive lead loads rather than the Hevishot...I see no advantage with the Hevishot at such close ranges..At 30 yards or less, lead # 6 shot will work just fine...

Some years back I used a Browning Citori as a turkey gun...I put the ICtube in the under barrel and the fulltube in the over barrel...With heavy loads of # 6 or 7 1/2 lead shot, the IC tube was absolutely devastating out to 25 yards or so, and the pattern was big enough so that it was hard to miss with..

I have been down this same path myself.

At 10 yards.... you could be using a diffusion choke tube... and your pattern still isn't going to be much bigger than a CD. You might have some flyers.... might. But as it has been said... no matter what choke you are using... at 10 yards you are shooting a rifle.

Now, if you are having trouble hitting them at 20-25... where your pattern is say the size of a dinner plate.... thats where the Mod or Light Mod choke tube will really shine. You'll turn that dinner plate into a man hole cover and at 30 yards into a hula-hoop. And you might even be able to take an ethical shot out to 35 or 40. But thats where it gets sketchy.

Personally, as someone who used to like the idea of carrying an extra choke tube.... I found it was just one more thing to carry that I seldom if ever used. Also one more $45 item to potentially lose (I use extended Brileys for everything except super full turkey chokes). So while it can infact get the job done, I don't think it is going to be as big a difference as you are hoping for, and you are also giving up more than you are gaining in my opinion too.