thebag Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 (edited) As someone who has recently started clay shooting, I know it can be hard to get to grips with chokes, which to use, how do they differ, etc, etc. I found this website with a video explanation that may help. http://www.myoutdoortv.com/pdk/web/showroo...X_2FMFzeNUG7pll TheBag. Edited February 3, 2009 by thebag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon2008 Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 thanks; im new to this caper too so hope it helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayman Posted February 4, 2009 Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 (edited) The use of chokes is really very simple. Cylinder, ie no choke throws a pattern about 30" across at 20yds or so. This is ideal pellet density to guarantee a kill on game or target. If this pattern keeps going out to greater range, the spread gets greater and greater, and the pattern starts to gets holes in it and ceases to have a density to guarantee a kill. You can shower the target but fail to break/kill it. So, by narrowing the exit at the end of the barrel in you can narrow the pattern, thereby increasing the range at which it is 30" across. Loosely: Cy upto-30yds 1/4 30-35 yds 1/2 35-40 yds 3/4 40-45 yds full 45yds ++ So, simply choke down for increased range. A tight choke is fine on a closer target, the pellet density is increased and a kill is certain provided you are accurate in the shot cloud placement. Say 3/4 choke at 25yds might be only 18" across, but if the targets in it you will smoke it. Generally, 1/4 and 1/2 is the ideal medium, and suitable for 90% of what you come across. Specialist disciplines like O/T and Skeet are optimised with tight or open chokes ( trap targets are edge on going away so you want close density, while skeet are all 15- 30yds and open chokes are best). As you increase choking also increase pellet diameter, so the pellets have sufficient inertia to carry them the distance. So in clays; Cy use 9s; 1/4 and 1/2 use 8s or 7.5s, 3/4 and full 7s. For game these would be one or two shot sizes down. By far the best way to get a grip on what chokes do is to go out and pattern your gun on a whitewash pattern plate, or use paper / cardboard plates. The former is cheapest, but the record is lost after each repainting. On the card you can draw the circle and see what the pellet count is like. This exersize also helps identify gun fit and eye dominance problems, so its well worth doing. And remember, if you are missing - unless your choke setting is massively too open for the target type, its unlikely to be the chokes. The centre of the pattern from any choke will work at any range, its only the outer density that is held together by the choke, so if the score is poor, its more likely to be your mount, stance, technique than the chokes. Edited February 4, 2009 by clayman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted February 4, 2009 Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 Clayman, The only thing I would like to point out from your post is tighter chokes do not increase range of a shotgun. They make the pattern denser at a longer range but the effective range does not increase. The effective range of a shotgun is still around 40 yards, irrespective of choke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayman Posted February 4, 2009 Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 True, Effective range is determined by shot size rather than choke, although a heavy shot size will still break / work out to as much as 70yds with an appropriately tight choke, indeed, there is a marvelous video of George Digweed breaking clays at over 100yds. Many FITASC targets and most 2nd barrel trap are more than 40yds out, and using 3/4 or full with 7s will knock 'em down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the last engineer Posted February 5, 2009 Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 Clayman, The only thing I would like to point out from your post is tighter chokes do not increase range of a shotgun. They make the pattern denser at a longer range but the effective range does not increase. The effective range of a shotgun is still around 40 yards, irrespective of choke. glad someone pointed that out martin. Clayman knowing what Martin was saying about effective range, we all know that shot will fly way past the 40 yd mark, people like Big George, and many others, will knock down targets out to 70 yds with denser chokes, hell even i've done it, the point being pattern density, i have shot with guys who have, skillfully or luckily, knocked down targets at 60 plus yards with skeet chokes,,,, skill or luck, i wont call that, i didnt pull the trigger they did. there has been many disscusions on shot draughting and i am certain it hols some truth as to increasing range, i wonder if you may have been thinking along those lines. just a thought. Martin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest topshot_2k Posted February 6, 2009 Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 dont get too caught up in changing chokes too much, 1/4 and half is a good all round Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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