Looking for a good shotgun choke
 

Hi all, i've been looking around for chokes since i bought a 12 gauge mossberg 500 shotgun. I bought the gun in an add and the guy gave me an extra full choke with it. Now i've been asking on yahoo answers, a bunch of experienced friends, and a couple people on here, and a lot of them have different answers for the type of choke i should get. I wanted to get an ajustable choke but a friend said that since i already have a full choke then i would only need a modified since he said i probably won't be shooting impoved cylinder any. People on Yahoo answers say's that the ajustable choke is crap and a couple guys on here say for me to get an ajustable, and/or improved cylinder. I wanna here it from the forum and average out all the answers to see which one is favored. So help me out guys: What kind of choke should i get??? Oh, i guess i should also set you on the right track and say that i'm very interested in hunting grouse, doves, turkey, geese and ducks. But the turkey geese and ducks are already covered since i have an extra full choke. But, i don't know what the furture holds and i will probably(maybe even definetaly)get into other types of birdgame hunting. I"ve always wanted to hunt pheasant and rabbits. :) Thanks, Jonathan

I think modified would work well for what you are wanting to hunt. Does Mossburg recommed a extra full full choke for steel shot? Most mfg will say to use modified.

Anyone else?

Jonathan;

# 1 Get "extended" chokes

# 2 You will need at less three (3) different ones to hunt all the game you mentioned.
Wide pattern = cylinder, improved cylinder or skeet
Average pattern = light modified, modified or improved modified
Tight pattern = light full, full or extra full (turkey)

# 3 You need different ammo for each type of game (ie: high # like 8 for small birds and lower # like 2 or 4 for large birds)

Note: steel shot is required for most waterfowl and you normally move to the next wider choke with steel shot (NEVER use full chokes with steel shot !!!).

That's the basics..................................

Its all about personal preference. Here is what I would choose:

Ducks - full with #2 or #4 steel shot, with lead #4 modifed or full. Bismuth or Tungsten, check with manufacturer. Alot of this is going to depend upon how you hunt, the weather and the distance you normally shoot.

Turkey - full but I haven't done much turkey

Doves - full flight, #6 or #7 1/2 or #8 lead, modified. Alot depends if windy or you are expecting to jump them.

Grouse - Imp cylinder #6 or #7 1/2 lead if you have fast reactions or hunting behind a pointing dog. Modified #6 lead if you like to make sure shots, ie. line up barrel.

So it looks like i'm going to need a certain amount of chokes...............

So should i get the ajustable one???? I plan to hunt doves while they're flying. A friend said i should hunt grouse with modified, but i don't know.


Should i just buy a modified or an ajustable one.

Jonathan,

There are "old" shotguns with a adustable choke called a "polychoke".

Modern shotguns do NOT have adjustable chokes !

They do have chokes that are threaded so that you can screw them in and out.

So, do yourself a favor and get "extended" chokes so you can change them (screw them in & out) without needing a tool.

Second, get three (3) different "sizes" to start; Improved Cylinder (or Skeet, better yet, as it is good to practice with also), Modified and Full.

Third; Please read a little bit about chokes. See link below (Briley is one of many manufactures of shotgun chokes).


http://www.briley.com/understandings...nbybriley.aspx

Hope this helps............and good luck !!!

I know!! I have an extended choke. And i was on Cabalas and they have ajustable chokes that are extended.

I have been reading, i just am wanting you guys opinion. :rolleye0011:

Jonathan,

Please forgive me...............I'm sorry !!!

Never in a million years, did I expect to see this;

Truglo® Titan Adjustable Choke Tubes !?!?

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...box.jsp.form23


Some people even gave it good reviews too !!!


I guess I don't know a damm thing anymore..............nuff said from me !!!!!!!!

Aww it's alright man. :) I forgive you. sorry if i sounded snippy. But yeah that's the exact choke i was looking at a couple days ago. Do you think i should get that??? Or anyone for that matter. :) Thanks

Thank for letting off the hook so easily !

No I wouldn't buy one of those, kinda a gimick.............certainly with what is available today.

A couple to look at (keep in mind you can spend a lot or a little);


I have brought from George Trulock and I recommend his chokes.

http://www.trulockchokes.com/cgi-bin/eShop/index.cgi


Major Manufactures;

Expensive- some say the best (I use some on my "range" gun)
http://www.briley.com/briley-shotguns.aspx

A lot of people like Carlson's
http://www.choketube.com/contents.html

Some hunter's swear by Comp-N-Choke
http://www.comp-n-choke.com/


Lastly,

Each gun manufacture will sometimes makes there own chokes, but always know that whatever brand you buy, it must be made to fit your gun.

That's why a just like working with George Trulock (call him at 1-800-293-9402)

Alright i guess i won't buy the ajustable kind. A friend said the same thing. How do i know the measurement of my barrel??? Like .730 or .705 you get the picture. Yeah so i guess i'll look into the trulock chokes. :)

What does it mean when it say's "ported" next to the choke?

Did you see the chokes with the holes (ports) in them.

http://www.cabelas.com/link-12/pod/0012773.shtml


I don't care for them, no matter how many benifits they "claim" to have.

I don't like the idea of getting twiggs in there, when I need to walk through dense brush.

You need to pick three chokes;(Recommend "extended": Imp Cyl, Mod & Full ) that "work/fit" in the make and model of Shotgun you own.


BTW - What do you own ? Manufacture's name, Gauge (10, 12, 16, 20, 28 or 410 bore) & Model

I have a mossberg 500, 12 gauge. I already have an extended full choke for the shotgun. Ok, yeah good thing you don't recommend ported, cuz they were 12 dollars more expensive. I'll buy a modified for starters and then if i go into other types of hunting i'll buy an improved cylinder. Thanks, Jonathan

When you get the Imp Cyl (or maybe buy a "skeet" instead); go to the range and shoot some skeet. If you get good, try your hand at "5 stand". Both will make you a better shot ! If you get really good; shoot "low gun" - and I mean LOW GUN !!!

Sorry, i have no idea as to what you just said. "low gun?" "5 stand?" I know what skeet is, it's like inbetween modified and cylinder i think. :)

It will all make sense when you get back from the range (trap, skeet, 5 stand and sporting clays). Best thing you can do for yourself in preperation for hunting - practice, practice, practice..........BTW - low gun means don't mount your gun until after you call "pull". And the "low gun" starting point is with the butt plate of your gun below your bottom rib.Great fun also !!!

Mossbergs 500s are popular guns, you should be able to go with any manufacturer. All standard chokes (ie, skeet, IC, mod, full) should follow an industry standard. It's the threading which may be in question. 12ga is around 18.5mm or .73" (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gauge_(bore_diameter) ). The restriction at the end of the barrel (bore) determines the tightness of the pattern, ie. chokes. So, a full will have the smallest diameter or tightest pattern, to modified (medium), to improv cylinder, to skeet which has the largest diameter for the largest pattern. In that order.

If you were to take two extremes, full choke and skeet, layout a sheet of paper (about 36" square) and fired both at 30' or so, you will find a definite difference between the two. The full choke effective (95% of the bb) will form a circular pattern of say 12" diameter. The skeet will form a circular pattern of say 24" dia. These are guessimates ofcourse.

Trap, Skeet, 5 stand, etc. are all different shotgunning games. Trap is good for ducks or high flying birds as the trap house shoots away from you. Skeet is good for grouse as there are two houses, high and low, and clay birds come at you or fly by at differring angles. 5 stand is a quick shooting game where you are not told where the clay bird is comming from, including those that bounce along the ground. If/when you get to play some of these games, find an old timer to teach you how, ie. stance, lead, etc. But becareful, these can be very addicting.

jonathan I just looked at the adjustable choke ( i to did not know of such a thing ) but it did not say that there was one made for a 500. I agree that you need to have at least three different chkes if you are going to use one gun for everything!

Well they say to use the Winchester(i think might have to look at it again) for mossberg 500's

But i don't get it, a lot of people say for me to just use the full choke and modified and you guys are saying to use 3 different types of chokes, which makes me believe that i should get an ajustable choke. I guess i'm just really confused.:s9::nonono2::bash::mad::eek2:

Jonathan,

You didn't call George Trulock did you ?

http://www.chuckhawks.com/george_trulock.htm

Call him; he will explain everything you want to know.

http://www.trulockchokes.com/cgi-bin/eShop/index.cgi


Do it !!!