choke issues

[mjbgalt]

i read a book by a guy who is very knowledgeable on shotguns. he says choke matters very little, and that most of us get all excited about using the right one when, if you're on the target, you can use a more open or closed choke and hit just as well.

now i have used nothing but a modified choke in my guns, as i figured it was the best all around choke. but i started shooting 16 yard trap recently with a full choke gun and hit just as well (maybe better) than i would with the modified.

i recently bought an 870 in 12 gauge that had an improved cylinder choke in it.

i am wondering now if i even need to go with a modified or full. i have my own ideas about all this but it's interesting to me and i thought i would throw it out there to hear what you guys think.

-Matt

[Graybeard]

If your shooting is PERECT and you center the pattern on the target it does not matter.

Dunno about you but good as I am I'm NOT PERFECT all the time. I hit more and kill more game with more open chokes. I suspect all but the very best of the professional shooters will as well.

[mjbgalt]

agreed. his main point was that you didn't need to full choke your gun to hit targets farther away.

[huntswithdogs]

I've shot trap using a skeet choke with no problems. Yeah, I didn't let them get way out there, but busted them just the same. I shot a round of skeet using my turkey gun one day. XXfull choke and a 20'' barrel on my Mossberg 500. Ended up hitting 18 of 25. If you're on it, that day, you'll hit most of them. If you're off...well, ya got something to blame it on .
 I watched Tom Knapp(on TV) whack a pheasant at about 50yds and folded him. With his gun-cam you could see the lead he was using and it was way out in front of the bird. Just needed a place for both to converge and he has it down pat.
 I like quail or grouse hunting with a more open choke. With doves I tighten up some.


HWD

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  I went though the choke deal with my shotguns. Right now I have everything from skeet to extra full.  After playing with these for about 10 years, I have decided for most of my shooting, a modified is fine. I have one special field 12 ga. that I use some for heavy cover quail shooting. In that I pretty much put an I. C. in it and leave it.  I have a light mod. in my trap gun, and use the full only when we play shooting games at long range or I really want to make sure I am hitting the birds with a good hold. The only reason I have the light mod. in the trap gun is the mod. is in my field gun. When I change chokes in the field, it is to put in a turkey choke. Mod. is a fine choke, if cover is tight then an I.C. would be better. 

[sachel.45]

wouldnt be michael micintosh would it? i think you should shoot the most open choke you think you could get away with for the species that your hunting

[mjbgalt]

absolutely, michael macintosh it is. great book!