Choke Tube questions?

B

Bill Gass

Active member
I've been reading online about choke tubes and the lead versus steel debate. One story said that steel shot out of a skeet choke would pattern similar to lead in a modified tube. The gun I'm getting comes with a modified choke tube. I'm thinking of getting another two tubes as well. The outfit that I am purchasing my shotgun from sells;
Skeet, Improved Skeet, Improved cylinder, Modified and Full.

Where do the Skeet and improved skeet choke tubes fit when compared to cylinder and improved cylinder? Is skeet the same as cylinder? It's all new to me my old shotgun had a fixed full choke. What is everyones recomendations for mainly hunting over decoys. (I know that the best is to pattern your shotgun, and I intend on doing it, however I have to buy the choke tubes prior to doing this) What about barrel length? I'm thinking that I'm going to go with the 28 inch barrel? But what about the 26 inch barrel? Are there any advantages or disadvantages of getting the shorter barrel.

Thanks for any assistance that anyone can provide

Bill Gass
Oromocto, NB
 
Bill,
Don't know what gun you'll be buying but here's my observations using an 870 and 11-87. I generally use 3 inch shells with #3-2 size shot at a velocity of 1450-1550 fps. So over decoys I've used a skeet choke and was happy with performance out to 25 yards or so. However it seemed a big jump in performance was obtrained with IC. 40yard shots are acceptable with this combo. I generally have used IC more than any other chokes combined. But then I greatly prefer over decoy shooting and rarely ever take passing shots.
This past season I have used a 16 guage 1100 as well as my 11/87 and used modified {fixed in the 16 g.}. Why the change? Almost all of my hunting was for divers this year and those big redheads and cans can sometimes take a beating and don't always give you ;feet down over the spread shots.
But now if we had had enough mallards for puddle hunts I deffinately would have had the IC in the 11/87.
Yes, I've read and seen to a degree that steel performs like a choke tighter, say full pattern out of modified tube, and mostly that seems to be the case. Still, you'll need to pattern. That said, I'd recommend buying either skeet/IC tubes and throw in a modified. Should cover most any situation you come across.
Good luck.
 
Bill basically stated what I have experienced with my favorite 870-in fact he basically took the words right out of my mouth. I use my IC tube 90% of the time now. Depending on which load I'm using, my IC patterns better than a MOD tube even out to 50 yards. The other thing you could do is buy a non-constriction tube like a Wad Wizard. The new Swat tube is a lot like IC because it had very acceptable patterns over a longer range. Outside of 35yards or so they recommend a different tube. The difference between this tube and a conventional choke is that there is no constriction...the tube pulls the wad away from the load as it exits the barrel giving you a much more consistent pattern. They have a great website with a wealth of information.

www.wadwizard.com
 
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Bill,

Remington also makes some extended choke tubes for their Sporting Clays models. Have not seen it for sale lately, but I have a 4 choke set that includes skeet, IC, Light Mod, and Mod. Believe they still offer them individually on the Remington web site. The tubes have lines milled in the extended part so you know what is in the gun, and you can tighten/remove them by hand. As others have said, IC is great for ducks, and Mod works, too. For teal season I use IC, and for regular season I prefer the Light Mod.

-Bill
 


Bill,the chokes go Cly,Sk1,IC,Sk2,LM,M,IM,F,XF,so improved skeet is merely skeet 2.Briley will furnish chokes any dimention in thousands you want and many skeet shoters specify the chocks.Some years ago I had briley install a set of 20ga tubes in my Perazzi Mirage,also screw-in chocks.I wanted .003,003,004,006 in the tubes and the 12 was two 1/4,1/2,7/8.Since then a .030 for first barrel on pigeons.You still need to pattern every load you intend to use and if you reload also conograph each.
I believe the barrel length question has gotten out of hand of late.The highth of the shooter is a good place to start.Years ago you never saw more than a 26" barrel on any skeet gun,now you will see 5'8"
shooters with 32"barrels.In a long action gun such as an Auto or Pump I believe a 28" will suit everybody between 5'8" and 6'2".Weight forward and balance of the gun are more important.There is no end to the discussion.
Fair Winds
 
870 #2's patternmaster. Aftermarket choke. Patterns real tight in my gun. Don't shoot birds under 15yrds with it though.
 
I may as well throw my hat into the ring. If you're going to use this gun for everything I'd be more inclined to get it with a 26 inch barrel...especially if you're going to lug it around for grouse. I prefer the 28 inch for most applications. Also, just my honest opinion....go with the 3 inch gun instead of the super magnum.
 
Conventional wisdom be hanged. Get yourself some paper and start patterning your tubes at 25 and 40 yds. That way you will get an idea of what your gun is doing with which tube and which size and brand of shot (brand does make a difference). I like a skeet tube in my gun if the birds are mostly decoying. if they are just teasing and we are getting a preponderance of passing shots I like an IC or even a Skeet 2. Skeet 2 is a tight IC or a light modified and tends to give very even patterns through my guns. Modified is usually just too tight for folks of my limited ability. I know shooting steel or Hevi at paper is expensive, but it is well worth the expense.

Shoot'em in the face,
Harry
 
I grew up with 30" mod choked shotguns, until I started duck hunting. I'd still be shooting my old 870 if it was a 3"..My first "duck" gun was a Ruger Red label with 28" barrels..couldn't hit squat with it..then I got a Browning A-5 mag stalker with 28" barrel..couldn't hit squat with it either. A buddy of mine that loves A-5's wanted it so I told him I would trade him if he got a Browning Gold Stalker with 28" barrel..and he shows up with one in two days. I shot 3 1/2 through it for a season and could shoot it really well cause it fit me like an 870 or 1100 and switched to 3" shells after that. I traded a buddy a Bennelli Nova for an 11-87 with 26" barrel and can barely hit anything with it. My SKB O/U has 26" barrels and I am pretty deadly with it but it is the only gun with barrels shorter than 28" that shoots well for me. I like the longer sighting pane of the longer barrels and even though it is only 2" longer..I can really see the difference. I shoot I/C and 3's or 4's in the fastest steel I can find in my duck guns cause I only shoot when they are close and it doesn't ruin the bird for the table. I can't figure out why anyone would want a choke that blows the snot out of a bird meant to eat.
 
Disclaimer: I'm not a fan of the 3.5 inch 12. I just don't see the need for it 98% of the time. I know, guys that have them love them but my judgement and opinion are based many observations and personal accounts. I'll leave it at that.

More importantly, if I was going to purchase a 3.5 inch twelve the 870 would not be my choice. I just don't like the way they are designed. There are lots of guys here that like them and shoot them but of all the 3.5 inch guns, I'm just not fond of the 870 bolt design. For lack of a better term...it's "cheesy". But, as I stated...there are many here that like them.
 
Thanks Jay for an honest opinion and your probably right that I wouldn't use 3.5 inch shells 98% of the time. But my old gun jammed on 3 inch shells occasionally so I figured that since the price difference is neglible that I'd go 3.5 inch gun and surely it wouldn't jam on 3inch shells. When you were speaking about the 870 bolt design were you refering to just the 3.5 inch model or all the 870's. Anythings bound to be an upgrade from the 0ld Maverick 88. I guess one of the main reasons that I selected the Rem 870 was because of their reputation and all the positive reviews that people have given them. However I realize that they aren't the newest technology in shotgun design but their price certainly makes them attractive. I'm shooting for a middle of the road compromise. One that I can afford anyway.

Bill Gass
 
Bill...I'm sitting by my 24/7 waiting for her to go into labor so I stare at the computer and anxiously await something to take my attention off Fox News! Thanks!

The standard and 3 inch 870 bolts are flawless. There is nothing better in my opinion. I was referring to the 3.5 inch bolt. I just don't like the "cover"(for lack of a better term)they put on the rearward portion of the bolt. The bolt similar to the regular 870's except it has this weird shield dealy that slides foward up along the outer face of the bolt when the action is opened. The bolt itself has that rearward half milled down to accomodate the "cover". When the bolt is closed the spring loaded cover drops to the rear of the bolt and essentially covers the rearward portion of the breech. I've seen two of them get jammed with gunk or ice chunk on the face of the bolts and one actually tore off and jammed into the action. We managed to open it up and I took my Leatherman and pulled it off(it was my buddies gun and he wanted to quit hunting because the gun was fairly new). That gun functioned fine without it for a year BUT the fact is the breech was open to the elements and other debris. As I said, I just don't like it. Remington will send you one for free to replace it if it falls off-at least they have in the cases I'm familiar with.

As a rule, 870's don't jam. If it does you're either short shucking or the action is not fucntioning properly. The only problems I've ever had with them is that after about 25 or 30 thousand rounds the ejector may wear out. I've had to replace two of them mostly due to shooting them really dirty and NOT taking care of them. And shooting them a lot.
 
Bill, have you held a Bennelli Nova? I would choose that over a 870 "Express" and it's in the same $$ range. I say this after owning an 870 "Wingmaster" for 35 years. I am not impressed with the "Express". The Nova was MADE with the 3 1/2" in mind so it was engineered from day one.
 
Lee, I would tend to agree that the Nova is a better option as far as a 3.5 inch is concerned. I'm not sure what to think about the newer Express. I have an old one...probably one of the first runs and it is bomb proof. I have noticed a few of the newer ones seem a little rough to say the least.

The Nova photos are from a guy in Newfoundland that he posted on Flocknockers. He had his blow up with a 3.5 inch shell. Not sure why but I wasn't too impressed with what appears to be another vector for shrapnel...albeit plastic shrapnel. Of course, for all I know a steel reciever would've exploded also. One thing is for sure, Nova shooters are as in love with their gun as most 870 shooters.

novasideview.jpg

novabottomview.jpg


I have a Wingmaster that's in perfect condition. This is my old Express...my go to machine for most waterfowling. I've posted this photo before and used it as an avatar as well. But, this was taken in '97 and other than being shinier and having a composite stock, nothing has changed.

870band.jpg

 
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Like I said, if my old 870 would have been 3", I wouldn't have or had at least 5 other shotguns..also, when I started duck hunting...the steel shot was pretty bad and out at the shooting club I was shown a few barrels that were ringed at the muzzle from shooting "just a couple" steel shells through them..mines a 30" mod. and I didn't want that to happen. The express you have looks like it was blued, most I have held were like a paint and had rust on top of that..they felt like they had sand in the action when working it and I saw all kinds of mis fires and hang ups with them..mine is slicker than clear snot and I could empty that baby almost as fast as my buddy could with his Mod 97 Winchester..where he could hold the trigger and "slamfire" it. Personally, if I was in the market for an 870, I would hold out for a "Wingmaster"..of course..Bob Furia's kids can shoot the hell out of a 20ga. youth model 870 express camo...
 
I don't like the extra weight of the 3.5 receiver for duck or goose hunting. I swing the gun differently with the extra weight. I feel that the barrel doesn't come around as fast and throws my timing off.

If you can shoot the gun or a gun like it before you buy it.
 
OK Boys, your making me a little gun shy (excuse the pun) about the Rem 870 3.5 inch. After extensive googling I have turned up appreciably more negative comments / experiences about the 3.5 inch than the 3.0 inch. The two main reasons why I was going with Remington was price and reliability. And from what I've read thus far the Rem 870 Express seems to be more reliable than the Rem 870 Express Super Magnum. Thanks again for everyones advice.

Bill
 
ditto,
If you need a 3.5 you should be shooting Hevi or impact in a 3" or even a 2.75. I carry in 3 chokes. Skeet in the gun and then IC and Skeet 2 if ranges get a little long.

Very few 3.5's pattern very well and with all that length they are more likely to jam the action. I had a Browning Gold and a Rem 11-87 in 3.5 and didn't have luck with either gun. From now on it's 3's for me. I like the Fed 3" #2 1 1/4 oz and the Fasteel 3" #2 1 1/8 oz. for everyday duck shooting. For Geese I like Kent Impact #3 1 5/8 oz or Hevi 1 1/4 #4.

Everyone has his or her own opinion but that's what works best for me.

Shoot a lot of paper to see what your gun and chokes are doing with the loads you will hunt with.

Best,
Harry
 
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