CHOKES make me choke

[westexasrepublic]

I feel like somedays I make a perfect change of my choke for the hunting I am doing at the time, but maybe Im not at all. So.....with everyone's help and input I would like to know what size and possibly brand/type of choke is best for a day of hunting...

Quail -
Pheasant -
Grouse -
Dove -
Geese -
Ducks -

If yall can fill in the blanks and add to the list as you please.

[Razor]

I use a light mod for everything. During the early ruff grouse season I switch to a skeet but that is the only change I ever make.

[ezzy333]

Improved and Mod. is all I ever use. It just isn't much of an issue with me as long as you stay with one of those but improved would be my choice if I only had one.

Ezzy

[Ditch__Parrot]

Quail - Mod
Pheasant - Mod
Grouse - Mod(chickens)
Dove - Mod
Geese - Improved
Ducks - Improved

Remchoke for all

[nj gsp]

I use Skeet/IC with screw in chokes, but with fixed chokes, then I'd go with IC/Lt Mod. If I want a bigger pattern I can just use spreader loads.

The exception to that is on my Remington Sportsman 48 in 16 gauge, which I had opened up to Skeet 2 so I could shoot steel with it for ducks. It works well for everything though.

[tommyboy72]

I only pheasant and quail hunt so for pheasant I use modified and improved modified and for quail I use skeet and improved cylinder. Early in the pheasant season I will use improved cylinder and modified.

[wburns]

I don't hunt quail due to we don't have them, but for everything else I use a combination of chokes. For Upland birds I shoot a side by side so my chokes are different due to I have two. I use Improved Cylinder and Modified Carlson flush mount tubes from early to late season. If I had to choose one, I would use Modified. For Ducks and Geese I use a Benelli with an extended full choke called the Under Taker by HR Strut. I have had great success with these chokes, but I would pattern your shot to see which ones work best with the loads you preffer. A lot can be told from patterning your gun. Chokes may be the least problem, you may find a stock fitting will improve your performance more. Based on your build, fitting will help in different degrees. If you are built similar to the average persons demensions your gun was built to fitting will help very little. If you have a short stocky upper body like mine a fitting will help immensly.

[Greg Jennings]

It's not so much what you're shooting at, but how far away it is that determines what choke to use.

For example, if you're shooting ducks right in your face, you need a skeet or I/C. If you're pass shooting them, you need a tighter choke. That is even complicated by the lead/steel/whatever question.

Pheasant? Are the holding over pointing dogs or are they flushing wild way out there?

Dove? Back home, we hunted summer doves with skeet or I/C, but had to go to mod or full for the winter doves that where whizzing by at 50 yards.

[tommyboy72]

I agree to a point with you Greg but I also think it matters what size shot you are using. I did shoot some pheasant this year with skeet and improved cylinder in my 12 gauge over and under using superspeed winchester #6 because the dogs were nailing them down on points. I had some poor hit birds so I went back to using modified and improved modified chokes. I could have sized up to #5 or even #4 but had already purchased enough #6 to last the season. A lot of the poor hit birds were due to a poor hatch this summer and the fact that most of the birds I shot were big healthy 2 year old birds.

[vikings269]

I use improved cylinder at all times and adjust loads, thats the key. Of course if i get drawn for turkey i'd certainly put in the x-full choke and lighten my shot size! I wouldnt recommend firing slugs through tighter chokes though. In answer to your question improved cylinder almost always!

[Tejas]

I only hunt quail, dove and pheasant. I use skeet for quail and improved cylinder for dove and pheasant.

[donnie_19]

There are several different manufacturers of chokes. They do make a difference but you have to shoot a lot of paper and loads to determine the best choke, pattern and load for your shotgun. The better chokes do pattern better with less holes in the pattern. I have Rhino choke in my turkey gun and it has an awesome pattern at 50 yds. I have Briley chokes in my 20 gauge browning and they have a much better pattern than the stock browning invectors. Less holes in the pattern.