Choke preference

[cajunchefray]

Lots of discussion on patterning boards here. If you want a very out of the box approach to assessing patterns, get a copy of Bob Brister’s book, shotgunning, the art and the science. This is a much more insightful approach to assessing shot charge performance on a moving target than shooting at a static plate.

The choke is just one piece of the system, and not the most influential one when it comes to terminal performance.

I read Bob Brister, and he opened my eyes to the 3 dimensions of Shotgun Patterns. And why some guns (my grandfather's vintage Remington 870, 30" Full) kill more birds (waterfowl in this case), than my later model 870 with the same specs.

The vintage 870 just shoots. Mine sucks as a Full Choke shotgun. Thats the reason I changed the barrel to a 26" barrel with a Remchoke. It wears a modified tube, shoots well, I haven't changed it in 30 years.

@RedLeg comments about struggling with a Poly-Choke mirrors the same experience I had in high school, with my Dad's 20-gauge Remington Model 11. I could never get that gun to pattern consistently, using different loads, and many twists of the Poly- Choke.

Now I see the light (actually a while back). I'll just send the barrel to Briley, cut off that damn Poly-Choke, install a Modified choke tube, and just go hunting.

But my overall hunting preference is a SXS, two trigger double.

 

[peacemaker]

Anyone have a preference between Beretta's house brand of extended choke tubes verus the Briley variety? I noticed that the Berettas have no teeth for a wrench, which may be a good or bad thing. Just kind of curious, since I have other choke tubes on other systems that tend to shoot loose if you don't wrench them puppies in there.
Thanks!

 

[Daisy]

Anyone have a preference between Beretta's house brand of extended choke tubes verus the Briley variety? I noticed that the Berettas have no teeth for a wrench, which may be a good or bad thing. Just kind of curious, since I have other choke tubes on other systems that tend to shoot loose if you don't wrench them puppies in there.
Thanks!

I like extended chokes simply because I can change them by hand without tools.

 

[HankBuck]

I like extended chokes simply because I can change them by hand without tools.

@Daisy: agree, only positive of extended chokes = easy to change by hand plus look at and know “what choke” (IC, M, F etc..) is in. Some give a better pattern but Not all. Other then that “costly” and UGLY and make the barrel look like a “Plumber fixed a pipe”

 

[BeeMaa]

Anyone have a preference between Beretta's house brand of extended choke tubes verus the Briley variety? I noticed that the Berettas have no teeth for a wrench, which may be a good or bad thing. Just kind of curious, since I have other choke tubes on other systems that tend to shoot loose if you don't wrench them puppies in there.
Thanks!

I’ve found that most stock chokes are incredibly inconsistent with their measurements vs what they are supposed to be. This has included several Beretta, Benelli, Browning and a few other shotguns. Most recently I had a new Beretta show up with three of the five chokes egged to the point they can’t be installed without damaging the shotgun. Absolutely ridiculous.

The only stock chokes that have been good out of the box came with my Blaser F3 and those were made by Briley specifically for this shotgun. No surprise they were good.

Companies that I would trust are Müller, Carlson’s, Briley and Teague. I have used them all except the Teague, but I know they are a quality product.

Personally, I prefer an extended choke to be able to check to make sure it’s tight without putting my fingers in the line of fire. I tend to check this after shooting a stage or when walking between stations.