What choke to use??

[uhunter]

Just getting back into duck hunting really havent done much ducks since i was a kid. Well i will be useing my 870 this year just wondering with steel which is new to me, what choke should i be useing.
Thanks..good hunting

[grizz]

I'd strat with mod. ###Always worked for me.

[Jay]

Generally speaking most shotguns shoot a choke tighter when shooting steel as compare to lead.

So if you want to throw a modified pattern of steel at birds 25 - 35 yards out, use your choke that shoots an Improved Cylinder for lead. If you want a full pattern for birds 35+ yards, use your choke that throws a modified pattern for lead.

Some of the newer guns have their choke tubes ###marked for both lead and steel so of course their recommendation would be more accurate.

Also be warned that different brands will pattern differently. I'd suggest shooting a few rounds at the pattern board to see how those shells react to your gun and choke. ###

[Trapp]

I use a Hasting Inproved plus with Bismuth #6's

[Fubar]

I agree with Jay. You need to pattern your shotgun. Key word being YOUR. Just because your buddy uses XYZ-brand choke with whizz-bang shells with good results doesnt mean your gun will have the same pattern. Check your gun before the season with the choke and ammo you are going to use. ### ### ### ### ### ### ### Fubar

[jerry d]

uhunter,

A good example of what Jay and Fubar are telling you about patterning with different brand shells would be what I discovered.

I also shoot an 870 which has a Hastings barrel with screw in chokes. At 35 - 40 yds, the distance I normally try not to excede, using a modified choke tube and Remington or Estates shells I have a good uniform pattern. With Federal or Winchester shells at the same distance I'm all over the patterning board with large holes in the pattern.

After having what I considered too many cripples, I went to the patterning board and discovered what I described. Now I try to use the brands that pattern best for me which has greatly increased first shot kills and drastically reduced the cripples.

jerry d
Environmentalist