KINGSHOOTER Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 Can anyone suggest what chokes i should use for pigeon shooting. I have a Berreta 686E sporting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernyha Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 KS I normally use my semi-auto with 1/2 choke in it but if using my o/u I use 1/4 and 3/4. I should add that the o/u is fixed choke anyway but I find it a pretty good combination. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 I`ve an old 686essential and when I 1st started I used imp&1/4 then as I started to get better I tightened up to 1/4&3/4 using gamebore clear pigeon 30g 6`s fibre wad.Remember plas wads are tighter grouping than fibre,and if you have any doubts about your cart try patterning them[i use old paper sacks opened out].I got a shock when I tried some 10 bore loads,the shot was balling together and left interesting holes & crescents in the sacks & I won`t be using those ones! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHOTGUN DAVE Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 I am a new pigeon shooter with a Berreta o/u multichoke sporter. Can anyone advise me what the *'s on the chokes relate to in 1/4 1/2 etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger_Rabbit Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 You are in a minefield Kingshooter !!!! Type of gun, maker and bore size makes no difference. Choke size is the same irrespective. Q. 1. How good is your fieldcraft ?? 2. Is it pure pest control ?? 3. Do you eat what you shoot ?? 4. How good a shot are you ?? (could go on for ages) A. 1. If your drawing the birds into the decoys, open chokes skeet & 1/4 are more than adequate with a good pellet count at 30 yards. 2. If it's pure pest control use the same chokes your confident with on clays. 3. Less pellets in the bird (open chokes) makes for easier eating, more pellets in the bird (tight chokes) is a trip to the dentist. .... I've been there. 4. The more open the choke the bigger the shot pattern, gives you more of a margin to correct your error. Hope that's some help to you ?? also depends on numerous factors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger_Rabbit Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 SHOTGUN DAVE. Chokes should read:- CYL (cylinder), SK (skeet), **** (1/4), *** (1/2), ** (3/4), * (F). But don't rely on the manufaturer .... pattern the gun yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernyha Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 Shotgun Dave, the more stars on the choke the more open it is. Just check by putting a finger in each and see the differance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHOTGUN DAVE Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 Thanks for that. Nice to know there's someone out there willing to help us new starters. May all your bags be big ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutchman Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 My humble advise to anyone who starts shooting is to start with a certain pair of chokes and never change them. The reason is that you get used to the gun with these chokes and find out what you can and what you can not hit with the chosen combination. Which chokes to use depends on the game you expect to shoot most of the time. In Holland I mostly shoot ducks and hares. Therefor I use 3/4 -Full. This means that when I am shooting pigeons over decoys I shoot them a long way before they 'drop' into my decoys. Please correct me if I am wrong, but I also think that the change that you kill the bird instantly is bigger with the most narrow combination of chokes. Either you hit the bird right and kill it or you miss it and it won't get hurt. Another advantage in my opinion is that you learn to shoot better. I guess that the statements mentioned above will encourage some people to react.. The Dutchman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger_Rabbit Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 Dutchman, allways great to hear from shooters (sportsmen) in different countries. All contributions more than welcome .... Not a bad reaction to your advice but have you ALLWAYS used 3/4 & F ?? This choice of chokes would not be MY advice to a "new" shooter. What happens after constantly missing pigeons at 20 - 30 yards with too tight a pattern ?? blame the gun ?? blame the cart(s) ?? blame yourself ?? Result; A loss of confidence in just about everything. There's no chance of learning to shoot better if there's no confidence, the mind set doesn't allow it .... Would you consider a "new" starter to be confident at shooting pigeons at the same distance that you do ?? henry d. has in my opinion got the answer spot on .... get the confidence, get the experience THEN experiment with the chokes. I am 100% confident you don't eat your pigeon ?? are you using steel shot out of a full choke barrel ?? No problem recomending 3/4 & F for duck & hares .... they only travel in straight lines and you want clean kills. Would like to hear about which carts you use ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the last engineer Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 RR and Dutchman, good points on both sides, i do have to go with the use of more open for the newbie though, you will tighten up with experience,most of the shooters i know feel the need to close up the chokes after a while ,keeps me honest i know ,you can never get to much experience,keep shooting and have fun learning . good shooting all martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salopian Posted September 25, 2004 Report Share Posted September 25, 2004 I find 1/2 & 1/2 is perfect for me with everything.Open enough not to spoil game if shot at sensible ranges & tight enough for going away birds.Those of you that shoot clays should always remember the maxim "99 clays blown to bits does not beat 100 chips" Salopian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B_GINNER Posted September 25, 2004 Report Share Posted September 25, 2004 Hi all, I have been shooting sporting clays for about 4 months now and have just decided to change from cylinder & 1/4 to 1/4 & 1/2 choke to see if it improved my chances at long clays. It did, by a small percentage and there was probably a psychological benefit in my believing that it would help. Having said all that, i was totally mystified to find that after a good round of clays, mostly long range, i was being beaten by a shooter who had forgotten to put any chokes in their gun at all ! Apart from the possible thread damage, it sort of makes a mockery of the whole choke subject. I will be leaving mine set at 1/4 & 1/2 for a while now, as i do not think it makes that much difference any more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted September 25, 2004 Report Share Posted September 25, 2004 I think that a little research on the subject will reveal that the generally accepted consensus on chokes for pigeon shooting is !/4 & 1/2. That said, at the end of the day its what suits you. webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the last engineer Posted September 25, 2004 Report Share Posted September 25, 2004 B-ginner, i have found that in a lot of cases people tend to rely on the old "what the other guy ran " syndrome ,i as have many here im sure have whatched guys rush to the choke case after already setting say "i.c. s " and then finding out the guy ahead who ran the station was running imp mod's,therefore holding everyone up and then rushing the round ,myself i try to keep tight ,i like the way they powder :blink: wel the ones i hit :*) ,you will find as you improove you'll go for the tighter chokes, think of all the guys shooting with fixed chokes ,,,,,nothing to worry over there, you get what you get good luck ,good shooting martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wabbitbosher Posted September 28, 2004 Report Share Posted September 28, 2004 Dutchman, allways great to hear from shooters (sportsmen) in different countries. All contributions more than welcome .... Not a bad reaction to your advice but have you ALLWAYS used 3/4 & F ?? This choice of chokes would not be MY advice to a "new" shooter. What happens after constantly missing pigeons at 20 - 30 yards with too tight a pattern ?? blame the gun ?? blame the cart(s) ?? blame yourself ?? Result; A loss of confidence in just about everything. There's no chance of learning to shoot better if there's no confidence, the mind set doesn't allow it .... Would you consider a "new" starter to be confident at shooting pigeons at the same distance that you do ?? henry d. has in my opinion got the answer spot on .... get the confidence, get the experience THEN experiment with the chokes. I am 100% confident you don't eat your pigeon ?? are you using steel shot out of a full choke barrel ?? No problem recomending 3/4 & F for duck & hares .... they only travel in straight lines and you want clean kills. Would like to hear about which carts you use ?? Yup i've got an old laurona o/u 26" tru cyl on both that i use for pigeon shooting Knocks them out the sky all the time , then as i got better i switched to a s/s hammer true and 1/4 but with 32" barrels , the laurona still gets used if i take a beginer with me , it never fails !!! Happy hunting WB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkylewis Posted October 4, 2004 Report Share Posted October 4, 2004 I have a browning 425 and have shot skeet with the browning chokes for a while, I then got 2 1/4 and a 1/2 teauge extended choke. Man!!! did that make a difference . more so with the blue diamond fibres . I have never have such a good pattern on the plate no gaps in the group. Its good to see the clays dissapper into a cloud of smoke , but then again just sail on whole , makes you concentrate. I went shotting piegeons for the first time with a friend and had the good fortune to get some great hints and tips , how ever the game keeper ****** himself laughing when I shot a piegion with a half teague at 20 yards, He said **** me you must be a skeet shotter any closer and you might as well be shoting a pillow case. go on lad you better pick up all of those feathers or you wont get another bird all day !! CHris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salopian Posted October 4, 2004 Report Share Posted October 4, 2004 Choke size is a very interesting topic and probably will never be satisfactorily resolved to suit all people.There is no doubt that we all eventually settle after much experimentation, so for what it is worth here is my opinion.To effectively kill upto 35 yards 1/4 choke is sufficient, BASC research has proved the most effective choking THEORETICALLY is 1/2 choke (it's performance envelope is greater statistically) I shoot 1/2 & 1/2 and judge the close range so as not to shred the bird. But if you are on it you will kill it with true cylinder so stop dithering get out and shoot and make your own mind up.Good hunting. Salopian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Columba Livia Posted October 4, 2004 Report Share Posted October 4, 2004 Isn't he bossy! Full chokes blow 'em to bits!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mr Pieman Posted October 4, 2004 Report Share Posted October 4, 2004 B Ginner - no chokes? Someone is playing with you I think. Have you seen the damage discharging a shotgun over choke threading does? Last thing I'd be telling folk was how well I'd shot without chokes! I'd be sloping off to the gunsmith to see if he could fix my barrels :*) I agree with Livia - tightest is best LMAO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunDealsUK Posted October 4, 2004 Report Share Posted October 4, 2004 I use 1/4 & 1/2 in an O/u and either or 1/4 or 1/2 in the auto, Ive never used greater than half or less than quarter for anything (Clays, Pheasant, Pigeon & geese) ....... works 4 me Rgds Graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B_GINNER Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 B Ginner - no chokes? Someone is playing with you I think. Have you seen the damage discharging a shotgun over choke threading does? Last thing I'd be telling folk was how well I'd shot without chokes! I'd be sloping off to the gunsmith to see if he could fix my barrels :*) I agree with Livia - tightest is best LMAO Hi, Nope, no chokes :*) I haven't seen the person since then so i dont know the outcome, but it was sure killing some clays ! I'm sticking with 1/4 and 1/2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the last engineer Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 in referance to sparkylewis ,it has been said in the good book ,i refer to "how to destroy clay pigeons" volumes 1 through 2004 ,ext chokes do allow shot to relax a little under "choking" conditions ,i.e. (and i know im going to regret this ) as the shot and wad are compressed into a "taper" cone/kneck down it squashes the cup therfore pushing the shot around, in the extended tubes teauge/briley browning ext there is a true dia or parrelel path after the taper down ,which is supposed to relax the compresive tendence's and true up the shot/wad cup ,therfore allowing the shot to come out in a more reformed pattern. that being said ,i shoot ext tubes, and find that my patterning is more consitant than stock tubes ,but i also beleive that the "gun fit", "shooter" must all be taken into consideration ,and the age old saying of "IF U AINT ONIT U OWNT ITIT " good old bristolian for ya so in closing , we all use what we think is best for the day or job ,only time and experience will change that,, just keep doing what works best for you good shooting all martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkylewis Posted October 8, 2004 Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 Yep , just what I was thinking , what you said was just on the tip of my tougue. It is good to know the reason behind the result. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apbuild Posted October 8, 2004 Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 Quarter & Half is more than enough with a 28g 6 cartridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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