Extended vs regular chokes

[Null754]

I'v heard that with the external chokes pellets travel for longer distance vs the regular.
But i know that the number of the choke (ex: F,IM,M,IC,C) is what matters when it comes to your distance from the target.
so what is so special about the external chokes?

 

[Ontario Hunter]

They are easier to change which can be handy when moving through stations at sporting clays range. In real life not so much.

 

[Saul]

I feel that most claims about choke tubes are nothing more than marketing. If it patterns decently in your gun, odds are that a new expensive choke of the same constriction is not going to make a perceivable difference.

 

[archer36]

It's a more gradual constriction. It gives you a better pattern than flush chokes most of the time. But, you always have to test pattern your loads before hunting.

 

[mauserhunter]

Not a big shotgun guy but extended chokes sure protect the muzzle.

 

[WAB]

IMO you will never see a practical difference unless you are doing something specialized like turkey hunting, international trench, etc. Interchangeable chokes are vastly overused by the average clays shooters. Some of the best shooters never change a choke or even shoot with fixed chokes.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I'v heard that with the external chokes pellets travel for longer distance vs the regular.
But i know that the number of the choke (ex: F,IM,M,IC,C) is what matters when it comes to your distance from the target.
so what is so special about the external chokes?

Im an avid turkey hunter. The extended choke tubes in super full allows one to cleanly kill a turkey at 65 yards with the right ammo. Something like TSS. I killed a turkey at 74 yards. I will never take that shot again but I only did it because I was very familiar with my gun's set up. You're not going to kill a turkey at that distance with the standard choke tube.

Also it makes a big difference for guys who shoot geese.

 

[Firebird]

Made fun of Guys with shiny chrome chokes full of fancy holes sticking out the end of their waterfowl guns.
Then I had to borrow another guys gun one time and was instantly converted. I ended up calling Briley and had the customer service rep help me get the correct one for my shotgun. Not chrome or full of holes but sure stretches the distance with steel waterfowl loads-

 

[cms62236]

Pellets do not “travel farther” in an extended tube vs a flush mount tube. The distant a pellet will travel is a function of pellet weight(shot size) and velocity. That being said most extended tubes I have used will throw a hotter “core” which is to say a denser pellet in the center of the pattern. The total pellet count in a 30 inch circle may still be that of a F, M whatever but the pellets are “tighter” to the core. Obviously this is not true of all choke/shell combinations. Just like rifles like a certain load, shotgun patterns can vary greatly from brand of shell and type of choke. The only way to know is get some good old butcher paper and break out your bench rest. I have had some factory chokes do just as well or better than an extended aftermarket tube. For example my Benelli SBE2 factory choke gives a more consistent evenly spread pattern with BOSS # 2 goose loads than and extended tube but switch to #3 or #4 and it likes the extended tube better….my old Remington 870 was like shooting a rifle with an old Hastings extended tube and #5 Winchester Supremes…any other brand/load was no bueno. Hope that helps and doesn’t muddy the water for you.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

IMO you will never see a practical difference unless you are doing something specialized like turkey hunting, international trench, etc. Interchangeable chokes are vastly overused by the average clays shooters. Some of the best shooters never change a choke or even shoot with fixed chokes.

On the clays course the utility of changing chokes has a lot to do with what gauge is being used. At the 50 yard crosser station the shooter with 410 and IC can have a target on edge fly through the pattern. Not enough pellets. Many shooters don't realize a 410 with IC will throw the same diameter pattern as 12 gauge with IC at same distance. Just a lot less pellets in that pattern. Guys shooting the dinkies should consider changing chokes. Nothing like trying to fix something when it's not broke: "Is my lead off? Am I flinching?"

 

[BeeMaa]

Practical (measurable) applications of that extra inch are limited. I've not done any pattern testing on flush mounted vs extended chokes on the same shotgun, same load, same distance...etc. Reason being is that I have good results with what I have so I'm not in the experimental phase anymore. At least until I become sponsored by Beretta, Benelli, Müller, Carlson's and Federal.

My expectations of the difference between the two would very little (if any) noticeable difference.

The reason I appreciate extended chokes is checking to make sure they are secure without my fingers (or anything else) covering the end of the barrel. After a volley of geese or between stands on the clays range, it's pretty easy to do. And a good habit to get into for those of us with a multi-choke barrel. Lubricating the threads prior to installing them and cleaning up at the end of a day will ensure your threads remain crisp and clean.

 

[Forrest Halley]

Extended chokes can be nice for changing in the field, but nowadays I am generally sticking with one choke save bird hunting.

With my extended chokes I actually lubricate the internal threads and wipe the choke down before applying loctite blue to the choke threads. I tighten and use a sharpie to make a witness mark so I can see that the choke is tight.

As others have said the testing phase is the key for best patterns.

As to how the term "pellet travel" is used confuses me. If we are talking about effective range being increased it is a possibility, but no more so than a flush choke if similar constriction. If we are talking a more gradual construction across a longer choke tube, then yes it is a possibility if the extended tube is significantly longer than the flush tube. i have lately come to prefer flush chokes in short barrels and extended chokes in longer barrels. Placebo effect to fullest extent in both cases.

 

[BeeMaa]

Placebo effect to fullest extent in both cases.

Absolutely. Especially with shotguns because there are so many variables.

Reminds me of baseball. If you are hitting the ball because you eat ice cream every night or using the same socks everyday…then it’s true. At least in your head. And confidence can be a big difference maker in baseball…and hunting.

 

[Forrest Halley]

Absolutely. Especially with shotguns because there are so many variables.

Reminds me of baseball. If you are hitting the ball because you eat ice cream every night or using the same socks everyday…then it’s true. At least in your head. And confidence can be a big difference maker in baseball…and hunting.

Confirmation bias is very much alive and well in shotgunning. Go to a turkey shoot sometime and worship at the temple of the true believers.


In my case, I either want the shortest possible setup (18" 3½" 12ga Holy Grail) or I no longer care how long it is beyond 26-34" (Ole Bessy/Long Tom kill 'em tomorrow all the way from yesterday guns).

 

[BeeMaa]

Confirmation bias is very much alive and well in shotgunning. Go to a turkey shoot sometime and worship at the temple of the true believers.


In my case, I either want the shortest possible setup (18" 3½" 12ga Holy Grail) or I no longer care how long it is beyond 26-34" (Ole Bessy/Long Tom kill 'em tomorrow all the way from yesterday guns).

I’d like to know if you ever find a 3.5” chamber with an 18” barrel and how it prints those turkey loads.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Extended chokes can be nice for changing in the field, but nowadays I am generally sticking with one choke save bird hunting.

With my extended chokes I actually lubricate the internal threads and wipe the choke down before applying loctite blue to the choke threads. I tighten and use a sharpie to make a witness mark so I can see that the choke is tight.

As others have said the testing phase is the key for best patterns.

As to how the term "pellet travel" is used confuses me. If we are talking about effective range being increased it is a possibility, but no more so than a flush choke if similar constriction. If we are talking a more gradual construction across a longer choke tube, then yes it is a possibility if the extended tube is significantly longer than the flush tube. i have lately come to prefer flush chokes in short barrels and extended chokes in longer barrels. Placebo effect to fullest extent in both cases.

What is the object of super tight choke installation? There's so much threading in the tube, it would be almost impossible for the choke to inadvertently come out on its own. I have had chokes come loose a bit shooting at the range with my old A5 but it hasn't affected my score. Not that I could tell. Last year someone distracted me with questions about my recent safari while I was cleaning my gun before shooting and somehow I didn't get the skeet choke screwed all the way in. I was about to dig out the choke wrench when one of the guys wanted to see pictures. First shot on station one and that choke went into orbit. Didn't hurt the shotgun a bit ... nor my score. I still shot 23 without the choke.

 

[WAB]

On the clays course the utility of changing chokes has a lot to do with what gauge is being used. At the 50 yard crosser station the shooter with 410 and IC can have a target on edge fly through the pattern. Not enough pellets. Many shooters don't realize a 410 with IC will throw the same diameter pattern as 12 gauge with IC at same distance. Just a lot less pellets in that pattern. Guys shooting the dinkies should consider changing chokes. Nothing like trying to fix something when it's not broke: "Is my lead off? Am I flinching?"

Actually I believe that they should just shoot everything with the tighter choke. If you’re good enough to be effective with a .410, you don’t need a skeet choke.

Patterning boards are also greatly overused IMO. Read Bob Brister’s book ‘Shotgunning, the Art and the Science’. He shoots a moving patterning board towed by his wife (brave woman!). It’s the only patterning I’ve ever seen done that’s worth a flip on a crossing target. The visual of shot stringing effects lets you realize how useless static patterning boards are. Patterning for turkey is an obvious exception to this.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Actually I believe that they should just shoot everything with the tighter choke. If you’re good enough to be effective with a .410, you don’t need a skeet choke.

Patterning boards are also greatly overused IMO. Read Bob Brister’s book ‘Shotgunning, the Art and the Science’. He shoots a moving patterning board towed by his wife (brave woman!). It’s the only patterning I’ve ever seen done that’s worth a flip on a crossing target. The visual of shot stringing effects lets you realize how useless static patterning boards are. Patterning for turkey is an obvious exception to this.

410 shoots the same diameter skeet choke pattern as a 12 gauge skeet pattern. Just a helluva lot less pellets in that pattern.

The mythology behind shot string effectiveness is a matter of considerable debate. I shoot honker triples every year with cheap Walmart Super X steel BB 3" twelve gauge and many days a limit batting a thousand. I have used Black Cloud when it's all I could get to shoot pheasants on the refuge in Montana (steel required) and their so called improved shot string seemed to be slightly more effective ... I think. Only shot one box so not much of a sample for analysis. Yesterday I saw some in the local outdoors store @ almost sixty bucks per box. They aren't THAT much improved! I wouldn't pay that for tungsten.

 

[spotnspook]

410 shoots the same diameter skeet choke pattern as a 12 gauge skeet pattern. Just a helluva lot less pellets in that pattern.

The mythology behind shot string effectiveness is a matter of considerable debate. I shoot honker triples every year with cheap Walmart Super X steel BB 3" twelve gauge and many days a limit batting a thousand. I have used Black Cloud when it's all I could get to shoot pheasants on the refuge in Montana (steel required) and their so called improved shot string seemed to be slightly more effective ... I think. Only shot one box so not much of a sample for analysis. Yesterday I saw some in the local outdoors store @ almost sixty bucks per box. They aren't THAT much improved! I wouldn't pay that for tungsten.

Best way to see the shotstring in action is to shoot moving birds over water, and if you can get above them it's even better. The further you get the more pronounced it becomes. I even aim high for water swats now. I'm with you on the cheapies if your gun likes them, I mostly shoot 3" #2 Xperts and haven't even tried Black Cloud. I mostly wingshoot with an old Carlsons light modified and keep it under 35.

As far as chokes, some good info in the thread, like others said it's mostly slower constriction causing less stress on the wad and shot which in theory equates to a denser and more consistent shotstring. Some of the more modern factory choke designs do a good job of this, and some guns just like some loads. Shotgunning is probably as much science as it is voodoo. Best advice is if it works it works, play around and have fun.

 

[BourbonTrail]

I’d like to know if you ever find a 3.5” chamber with an 18” barrel and how it prints those turkey loads.

There’s an aftermarket barrel for the Mossberg 835 that’s 18.5”. I think mine is 22”. It’s been a long time since I have done any printing with it.

Everyone seems to dog on Mossbergs, but I’ve never had problems with mine.