At OpticsPlanet, we are thrilled to offer an incredible selection of Carlson's Choke Tubes, Trulock Choke Tubes, Jebs Choke Tubes Choke Tubes, and more from top brands in the industry, so you can outfit your shotgun with the best gear available. Professional and novice shooters alike can benefit from shotgun chokes, as these components help you finetune the spread of your firearm for a variety of situations. Many shotgun shooters and hunters would be stumped if asked to explain the function of choke tubes. So, to begin, what are choke tubes? A choke tube restricts the end of the shotgun barrel, so it is more concentrated when the shot exits the muzzle. The purpose is to have a tighter pattern at other ranges, increasing the number of pellets on target at a further distance. The shot pattern is measured in the percentage of BBs in a 30" circle at 40 yards. The more restricted the choke, the more significant share of total BBs is in that circle. This is an invaluable tool for hunting, as you can't always be as close to your target as you want to be, so you can maximize how many pellets hit. There are also extended choke tubes, which are much longer than traditional shotgun chokes, further improving your spread at range.
What Are the 5 Shotgun Chokes?
There are five basic shotgun chokes:
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Cylinder Chokes: A cylinder choke is an un-constricted barrel. The shot spreads quickly.
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Improved Cylinder Chokes: This choke has a slight constriction. It allows the shot string to spread pretty quickly. Improved Cylinder Chokes are used for hunting quail, rabbits, and other upland game at relatively close ranges.
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Modified Chokes: A modified choke has moderate constriction. This choke is often used when dove hunting and when using lead-free shot for hunting ducks or geese. The pellets are grouped together longer, making the shot string denser and more practical at longer ranges.
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Improved Modified Chokes: Like the modified choke, the improved modified choke has more constriction.
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Full Chokes: Has tight constriction. The shot holds together even longer, making this choke good for squirrels, turkeys, and other game shot at 40-yard and longer ranges. Turkey hunters sometimes use Extra Full or Turkey choke for even denser patterns at long range.
What Is the Best Choke for Turkey Hunting?
A Full Choke is the best choice for a choke tube when turkey hunting. A tighter choke will push the shot pellets into the vital areas of the bird. Since turkeys present a small target and are often at ranges of at least 20 yards, this is the best choice for maximizing your pellets on target.
What Are the Benefits of a Shotgun Choke Tube?
Shotgun choke tubes constrict at the muzzle end of the gun, which tightens the shot pattern of pellets. An average birdshot cartridge has approximately 300 pellets; a choke tube determines how wide the shot pattern or how restricted it is. The broader or smaller the shot pattern can make a difference to your hunt.
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