Choke choice

[Davyo]

Whats your choke choice for decoying pigeons? (32g no6).Bearing in mind pigeons are committing and comming into the pattern at 25mtrs.

[aga man]

Quarter in first barrel half in second.

[lakeside1000]

If they are that close then open or 1/4 is ample, but if you commit to open chokes the high or longer distance birds will be much harder to bring down due to the shot pattern being far more open, I shoot 1/2 and 3/4 all the time through my Baretta 686E, I only use 29 grm kent velocity, 6's. I drop pigeons at 10 yards or out to 50 yards with very few pricked birds escaping.

Chokes are a matter of personal choice and will depend on your accuracy with the shotgun,

Edited March 29, 2014 by lakeside1000

[ditchman]

anything from cylinder to 1/2.............32g is a lot of catridge for that distance....definate overkill

[ayano3]

I used cylinder in my 30" auto 2 weeks ago using hull super speed 29g 6 shot. Worked perfect. The following week I used my 26" aya no4 that's bored just under quarter both barrels and was just as effective. My shooting friend was in the same field and was using half choke and didn't do as well. Maybe all on the day but I never use anything above quarter, that includes on the marsh. I much rather think about putting the shot in the right place, using what you think you get on with in the breech end of the barrel than what's stuck in the other end.

[ayano3]

 

anything from cylinder to 1/2.............32g is a lot of catridge for that distance....definate overkill

I have not used 32g for pigeons for years. It's usually 28g 7.5 if solely over decoys.

[kent]

25 metres is skeet range, I suggest lighter shells and a choke appropriate to what you might shoot skeet at if that's the range you take the shot with a 1 oz / 28 grm load 7s will kill pheasant at that range and used to kill Mallard also pre-ban but still no. 4 steel works on same through open chokes, though I don't shoot pigeon here I cant see them as needing more at said range than these other birds

[carpentermark]

25-40yrds choked quarter and half, 32g 6s fine mate.

I used to use gamebore clear pigeon 32g 6s all the time, brilliant cart for the money but now i can get 28g 6s nsi carts for £45 a case so i use them.

[The Essex Hunter]

Cyl & 1/4 with a 28 gm 7.5 at those distance's....plenty of shot in those rounds.

 

TEH

[Catweazle]

Any choke will kill them at that range, but if you're like me you'll hit more with cyl or 1/4 . Just because they're close doesn't mean they're easy.

[Longchalk]

I've recently changed from 1/4 & 3/4, which matched what I was used to in my old side-by-sides, down to Skeet & 1/2, and it's definitely helped my hit rate when they are dropping into the pattern.

Also seem to get cleaner kills and few wing shots too. Using Clear Pigeon 32g 6's, or Rio Game 30g 6's.

 

Incidentally I've been pleased with the Rio carts. Got them when my local guy had run out of CP, and was suspicious at first as they were quite cheap. Have only shot about 100 so far, but they appear to be pretty good.

[Actionpigeons]

Quarter in first barrel half in second.

+1

[wymberley]

At that range TC by Imp is ideal. 1oz of No 61/2 has plenty of energy without excessive meat damage because of a high pellet strike.

[motty]

I've recently changed from 1/4 & 3/4, which matched what I was used to in my old side-by-sides, down to Skeet & 1/2, and it's definitely helped my hit rate when they are dropping into the pattern.

Also seem to get cleaner kills and few wing shots too. Using Clear Pigeon 32g 6's, or Rio Game 30g 6's.

 

Incidentally I've been pleased with the Rio carts. Got them when my local guy had run out of CP, and was suspicious at first as they were quite cheap. Have only shot about 100 so far, but they appear to be pretty good.

The cheapest of cartridges are plenty good enough for pigeons. Funnily enough, I used Rio 30gm 6 all the time until they went up in price a few years back.

[welshwarrior]

Skeet and quarter.

[la bala]

Skeet in my semi

[strangford wildfowler]

I have half and full in tye o u and it works pretty well when im shootin straight

[mick miller]

Half and half as I could never remember which was in which, my mate shoots full and full.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Whats your choke choice for decoying pigeons? (32g no6).Bearing in mind pigeons are committing and comming into the pattern at 25mtrs.

 

 

Improved Cylinder and 28 grammes of 6 or 7 shot.

[chrispti]

I just leave 3/4 & full in and shoot everything, clays, decoying, roost shooting, walked up, driven days etc.... Don't bother messing about chopping and changing chokes.

[Guest stevo]

_{I tend to do most of my shooting at ranges of 30 - 50 yrds , I use 32 grm # 6 ( RC sipe ) with are an English # 5.5 . and always use a 1/2 or 3/4 in my semi's}

 

_stevo

[Nomispw]

At those ranges you do not need much choke cylinder and quarter would be ample. Also smaller shot size has enough energy to give good penetration so 7.5 would be good enough and 28 grams of 7.5 would give a denser pattern than 32 grams of 6's. However 7.5's do not in my opinion have enough energy once you get much over 40 yards. You also need to be aware that chokes vary quite a bit and are not necessarily accurate. The only true way to know what your gun is doing with the particular choke cartridge combination is to patten test it.

[Longbower]

1/2 and 3/4 in my SxS .410 Baikal , Eley (Fibre wad) Magnum 18g OF No 6, does quite well over the decoys.and running bunnies.

Minimum meat damage as well.

 

[goober]

I enjoy a day out with my yildiz sbs .410,I find fiochi 3" 6's good but they have plastic wads.

As you say you have minimum damage.

I shoot one field with a small oak in the middle,I set up rotary 20 yards out and the pigeons head straight for the tree where the .410 is light enough to take them close in.

[berettadevon]

Through my Beretta Ultralight i use 1/4 and 1/2 feeding on Express Power Blues, which for those who arent sure what these cartridges are im using are of course 28g of 7.5s!!!! I even used these on a pheasent shoot last season with fantastic results!!! I personally cant see the point in using a heavier gram and larger shot cartridge when the smaller and lighter loads give clean kills out over the decoy pattern.