The overwhelming majority of hunting rifles now have interchangeable chokes, these tips that are screwed to the end of the barrel. Generally, the guns are delivered with 3 or 5 chokes: smooth, quarter, half, three-quarter, and full. What is the role of a choke? What are the differences between each model? How to choose the right choke for your hunting mode? We will answer all your questions.
Table of Contents
A Little History
Before learning a little more about how chokes work, we need to set the context and discover the origin of shotgun chokes. No one knows the creator of these ingenious tips. The idea of reducing the diameter of the barrel at its end to improve the spray would have reached Fred Kimble, an American hunter from the state of Illinois around 1866.
It will then have been necessary to wait nearly 100 years, until in 1959 more precisely, to see the first manufacturer of hunting rifles to offer a weapon with interchangeable chokes. It is in this case of Winchester and it is Model 59. The success was not immediate, it was still necessary to wait a few decades before the use of interchangeable chokes was appreciated by hunters and exploited by manufacturers.
What Is The Role Of A Choke?
The choke plays a fundamental role in the grouping of a spray. Attached to the end of the barrel, this tip makes it possible to reduce the internal diameter of the latter. This allows the spray to be concentrated more. Shotguns are generally delivered with five models of chokes:
- Smooth;
- Quarter;
- Half;
- Three-quarter;
- Full.
Each of them will have a different role and impact on the spray. A smooth choke will provide a very open pattern while a full choke will produce a very tight pattern.
The choke, therefore, allows you to adapt your weapon to your hunting style without changing the barrel, as was mandatory at the time. In addition to these chokes, which we will call “original” since the manufacturer of the weapon supplies them directly, you can find on the market many other models, manufactured by specialized companies.
In summary, the role of the choke is to offer an ideal sheaf grouping quality at a given distance. Depending on the hunting mode practiced, changing the choke allows you to adapt your weapon optimally, without forgetting to opt for appropriate ammunition as well.
What Are The Differences Between Chokes?
Each model of choke offers a different diameter. This data will influence the grouping of the sheaf. Manufacturers respect a standard in the manufacture of chokes. The impact of choke on the sheaf is different depending on whether it is lead, steel, or other substitutes.
You will understand, each choke is different. These differences of a few tenths of a millimeter will however play a fundamental role in the formation of the shower of projectiles. Each choke can be useful in a specific situation. The majority of hunters opt for the full house hoping to be able to shoot the most distant birds, at the risk of missing the vast majority of the game that they will have “in their boots”. The tighter the choke, the greater the demand on the shooter. In other words, the full choke offers a tighter spray than the 1/4 choke, you will necessarily have to be more precise.
How to Choose the Right Choke?
It is a question of finding the best combination between the grouping of sheaves and average shooting distance. A cartridge is expected to perform well at a given distance. If in many hunters, the choke is stuck to the barrel and the pockets are overflowing with different cartridges. It is good that they prefer to adapt more to the ammunition rather than the choke.
For best results, the right cartridge should match the right choke. The sprays vary so much from one choke to another, from one cartridge to another, or even from one rifle to another that the capacities of the chokes provided must be exploited to the maximum. The best way to find the choke that will best suit your hunting situation and your cartridge is to target your rifle. If you find these trials tedious, you can take advantage of the established standards and opt for a particular choke depending, quite simply, on the distance of your shots:
| Choke | Optimal shooting distance |
| Smooth | <65ft |
| A quarter | ± 78f |
| Half | ± 92ft |
| Three quarters | ± 121ft |
| Full | ± 154ft |
These distances are given as an indication. The results are different according to each cartridge, rifle, and choke. Therefore, you should carry out test shots on targets to find which choke/cartridge combination suits you. You can simply try out only your favorite cartridge model at a distance of 115ft with your usual choke as well as with the lower and upper models. Here are the common types of chokes:
- extra-full;
- full;
- modified;
- skeet shotgun;
- cylinder;
- improved cylinder.
Influence of the Shot Feed
The cartridges can be of different weight even if the same caliber. It is due to the feed inside of them. If you want to achieve a large spread surface, then you need to have a cartridge with more shot inside which results in a higher template. You should also take into consideration shot size. When a cartridge contains more shots than usual, you receive a smaller spread.
Which Shot Size Should Be Used For Which Game?
There are different types of games and you can have different techniques to hunt them. To get to know what shot size you should use, there are some recommendations for you to consider. They are made due to different game species.
Shot Size for Wood Pigeons
If you remember all the pigeons that you have seen, they are quite small birds. It makes hitting them more complicated and you need proper shots. If you want to protect your garden from these birds during summer, you should not use large shots. It helps prevent damage that you may cause in the grain or on vegetable fields. The cartridges for shotguns can be with 2.5mm shots with a template of 30-32g. It will make your hunting less stressful to your shoulder. Moreover, it allows you to cover large distances.
In case you hunt in winter, you can find pigeons that stroke over poplars. They are often hunted on the prow or the sleeping trees. In these conditions, you should consider using cartridges with 2.75mm. They offer better chances of hitting on long distances without obstacles like tree leaves.
Shot Size for Crows
While dealing with these black birds you may want to use a 2.75mm shot size. As they are large you will like it in a combination with a 32g shot feed. It is quite common equipment to hunt crows. It makes shooting much more comfortable than heavy cartridges. Nevertheless, it still has enough cover for these little blackbirds.
In hot periods like summer, you may consider using smaller 2.5mm shots. That is due to the fact that the average shooting distance is shorter. That happens because of young crows. You can also encounter adult crows during hunting.
Shot Size for Geese
During hunting on geese, it is important to make the right decision. The cartridge and shot size greatly influence the hunting tactics and shooting distances. Moreover, you can encounter different types of geese which makes the hunting more exciting and complicated. The size of birds also makes a considerable difference.
While hunting in winter, the average shooting distance increases. That is why you may want to prepare shells of 3.2mm. They are suitable for large geese including Canadian and gray ones.
If a lead-free meal has to be used, bismuth or tungsten alloys are more suitable in hunting for geese. However, it is not very suitable for those who do not want to spend too much money. As an alternative, magnum cartridges are an option for a soft iron shot. This type offers you more power. However, it goes with a higher recoil which also results in an unclean shooting. If you prefer to use soft iron you can use several sizes of coarser shots.
Nevertheless, you should not worry about buying all the carriages to match all game species. After all, hunting is an exciting way to spend time. You can find your own type of shots that you are comfortable with. It can be done by shooting targets to ensure the coverage possible from your shotgun. That will help you to select the most suitable cartridges and shots. You can also consider having different cartridges depending on the shooting distance. That will allow you to be always prepared for hunting.
Shot Size for Duck
A distinction must be made when you want to shoot ducks. Since lead shots are not permitted in certain federal states you should always check what kind of shots you can actually use. The rules apply to lead shot when you want to hunt any game near or above water. Lead can easily contaminate such places.
When you hunt mallards, you should consider 2.7mm shots in combination with a medium feed. It is a nice option for lead shots to use 32-34g. By choosing them you can be sure of being properly equipped for hunting. The shooting distances are often rather short. It means that you can consider scattering cartridges. It is a nice option, especially for shotguns with a narrow bore.
When you deal with headed ducks you can expect to shoot at long distances. The same goes for those at the end of the hunting season on flowing waters. This is where your upper maxing has to be 3mm shots. Moreover, you should not be the coarser type.
Shotgun Choke and the Intermediate Agent
The selected choke hole also plays an important role in the shooting. It influences the coverage and selection of the shotshell. With the tighter the choke you have tighter the sheaf. It means tighter coverage. You should also take into consideration the influence of the intermediate agent. Due to the barrel and choke hole of the shotgun, you receive spreading that crosses and ensures more or less strong turbulence in the sheaf. Therefore, you get less coverage.
In case you plan to have close-range shots there are scatter cartridges. As a rule, intermediate felt means to ensure that the sheaf opens earlier than shot cups. This is not always the case, however, and is of rather subordinate importance. There are other influencing factors, but they play a minor role in practice and can be disregarded.
If you now know the importance of cover, you could well get the idea of using the finest possible shot, as this guarantees the best cover. Nevertheless, the physical aspect that pellets with a lower mass lose speed faster than those with a larger mass do.
In general, it is important to test cartridges on paper beforehand. For this purpose, a target is shot at to check coverage and, above all, its evenness. Not every cartridge harmonizes with every shotgun and the choke is sometimes very different.
Two Shotgun Chokes to Choose
While trying to hunt small and fast-flying birds, they can appear quite close to you. This is where you will need to be more accurate than before. In such a situation, improved cylinders and modified chokes are better. They have a broad pattern, which covers a larger area. It reduces the time you need to aim to make an accurate shot. Moreover, the bullet travels faster at close ranges which makes it important for a small and fast game.
To Sum Up
After learning all the helpful information, your hunting will become more efficient with proper preparation. Then, when you have done all necessary preparations, it is advised to test shotgun chokes before going on a real hunt.