Advise On Chokes

[Carlowhunter 27]

Hi all , after 15 years I have traded in my lanber o/u for a new silver pigeon 1. It has 5 chokes marked 1 to 5 . What chokes would you use for general rough shooting and what chokes would you use for fox shooting using BB's ? Any advise please ?

[walshie 2,804]

First thing to mention is don't get too hung up on chokes. For general rough shooting I'd use 1/4 and 1/2. That's what I use for absolutely everything in my O/U, foxes included.

[Rowan 308]

Yes totally agree quarter and half covers everything put them in don't change them and they will serve you well . If you start to change chokes for different situations you will blame the wrong choke if you miss!!!!

[Rimfireboy! 1,463]

I use half choke in my semi autos in 12 & 20 bore, never change them nowadays. My sxs is fixed half and full, might be a bit tight but it works and I don't even think about it. I cut the choke off my fourten and it throws a better pattern now than it did before at around twenty to twenty five yards that I use it at.

[Chid 6,376]

I prefer 3/4 and full ...

[andyf 144]

1/2 & 1/4 is what I use, but whatever.

On the Fox thing I have found that tight chokes are not good on big shot, my testing on homeloads

found tight chokes actually scattered the already 'crap' pattern, true cylinder was the best by miles.

I tested them 'properly' over 10 rounds each, and on two different guns, so it wasn't a fluke.

That said I am talking BIG shot AAA & SSG, maybe BB will behave itself?

AF

[Alsone 789]

I use 1/4 and 1/2 for pigeon, 3/4 and full for dedicated fox. If you're mixed shooting, it will probably end up 1/4 and 1/2 for everything. One thing with an over and under though is on most guns you can always switch barrel order to give you 1/2 on the 1st shot.

 

For fox I use No3 to BB shot depending on what's available and I always choose a heavy load. My preference is 1's or BB's. There's too few shot in the really big sized rounds and it can lead to wounding as it's number of strikes as well as size that lead to a kill with a shotgun. Big shot are fine very close in if you walk one up, but at slightly longer ranges 20-30+ yds, personally I'd recommend something a bit smaller with more strikes. You should always remember with a shotgun the energy is divided between all the shot so if you use eg SSG and through a hole in the pattern get only 1 or 2 shot on target, the total energy transferred may not be enough for a clean shocking effect and kill. Hit the same fox with say 15 No 1's, and although each shot is only carrying a fraction of the energy, the total energy transferrance is much higher and so a clean kill is much more likely.

 

Personally, I don't consider it humane to use a shotgun against fox at distances over 30 yds or so. The risk of wounding increases much more with range. If you want long range foxing, buy a rifle!

Edited August 22, 2015 by Alsone

[SportingShooter 0]

On your Beretta, in case the manual doesn't explain the numbers or notches mean the following in old money.

 

1 - Full

2 - 3/4

3 - 1/2

4 - 1/4

5 - Cylinder/Skeet

[Carlowhunter 27]

Thanks Sporting Shooter ! Thats what I needed to know ! Thanks everybody for the replies !

[Rimfireboy! 1,463]

 

1/2 & 1/4 is what I use, but whatever.On the Fox thing I have found that tight chokes are not good on big shot, my testing on homeloadsfound tight chokes actually scattered the already 'crap' pattern, true cylinder was the best by miles.I tested them 'properly' over 10 rounds each, and on two different guns, so it wasn't a fluke.That said I am talking BIG shot AAA & SSG, maybe BB will behave itself?AF

Totally agree andy, that's exactly what I've found. Just shows that it's worth the effort to do some pattern testing with different chokes and shot sizes.

[Born Hunter 17,622]

On your Beretta, in case the manual doesn't explain the numbers or notches mean the following in old money.

 

1 - Full

2 - 3/4

3 - 1/2

4 - 1/4

5 - Cylinder/Skeet

 

Mine was supplied with separate skeet and cylinder chokes. Cylinder marked with 5 notches, skeet just labelled as skeet (no notches).

 

Nothing other than 1/4 and 1/2 get used. Though I'm half tempted to buy a 3/8 choke and run that with 3/4....

[goldfinger 135]

I use 3/4 in semi for cheapo 24g steel on pigeons I find it gives a suitable pattern over mid range. general use 1/4-1/2 is ideal all rounder in o/u,3/4 or full for fox or geese.

[trenchfoot 4,243]

I use 3/4 in semi for cheapo 24g steel on pigeons I find it gives a suitable pattern over mid range. general use 1/4-1/2 is ideal all rounder in o/u,3/4 or full for fox or geese.

Check its super proofed for steel. Its normally not recommended to use steel in anything tighter than half choke.

[goldfinger 135]

Used light loads of steel for a couple of years now through 3/4 with no problems even checked with coke gauge and internal micrometre absolute no movement in choke spec so I'm happy carrying on with steel through this coke the gun is a Hatsan Escort, use steel because I sell onto people with hawks helps cover cost of carts.

Edited August 24, 2015 by goldfinger

[Chid 6,376]

 

 

I use 3/4 in semi for cheapo 24g steel on pigeons I find it gives a suitable pattern over mid range. general use 1/4-1/2 is ideal all rounder in o/u,3/4 or full for fox or geese.

Check its super proofed for steel. Its normally not recommended to use steel in anything tighter than half choke.

Depends on the steel shot your using ... Standard steel can be put through any choke and any gun its only high performance steel that is recommended not to go through more than half choke and the gun needs proofed for