Choke Down!
Vader always had a problem with using too much choke....
We stumbled across an article by NC writer Dick Jones that told of an experience he had, or witnessed, at the Northeast Side-by-Side Classic – where, in case it’s not obvious enough (!), people only shoot SxSs. A champion shooter named JD was having a tough day with an old gun. For the rest of the story, here are some excerpts:
> [It] was a beautiful Parker with long, 30″ barrels. “What kind of chokes does that gun have?†I asked. “It’s full and modified,†JD replied. [Dick said:] “Wouldn’t you be better off with less choke on these targets? Would you like to use some of my spreader’s on the close shots?†I was trying to be helpful. “If I shoot right, I can break these targets with a full choke every time,†JD replied and his tone indicated what I could do with my spreaders.
> A really good rifle coach once said, “Maintain a positive attitude, but don’t lose track of reality.†Thinking you can compensate for an over-choked shotgun with good shooting is losing track of reality.”
Chokes and Birds
First, a fact from the article:
> In the last 40 years, shotshells have improved so much that in effect, they’ve tightened the choke of every gun made. Modern shells pattern more uniformly and almost a full choke constriction tighter than the shells we had in 1960. Since older guns were made to pattern with those old, inefficient shells, a full choke on an old gun with modern shells is only useful for turkey hunting.
So your great grand-dad wasn’t necessarily a better shot than you, he just had worse ammo. And using open chokes shouldn’t call into question your manhood. Just use what works!
For us that usually means some combo of SK, C and IC. Jay even had his ’80s Japanese Citori 20ga reamed out to C, IC – it used to be IC, LM – because it works.
Some applicable quotes from our book Serious Grouse Hunting, Book 1, though we feel this applies to all upland bird shooting:
> Here’s our bottom line regarding chokes: Use the most-open chokes you can.
> In case you doubt you can hit a moving target at 30 or 40 yards with an open-choked 20ga (or even 28ga) – let alone a 12ga – take your gun or a friend’s gun out to a field or range, and have at it. If you’re on the bird, it’s no problem….
The bottom line is that the KISS principle works for choking and bird-shooting in general. Just remember: Once you pick your chokes, then test to find out what ammo that particular combo of gun and choke(s) likes!
Notable
> Get used to choking down if we all have to shoot “lead alternatives” like the green groups want.
Category: Chokes
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