Late season pheasants - Full choke? Modified?

J

jonnyB

Well-known member
I struggle getting my gun mounted, this due to 40% of my shoulder missing, no deltoid muscle, extra fall clothing and gloves. A bit of a handicap...

Question: I'm currently using imp cyl., 20 ga. or 12 ga. Both guns are slow/difficult getting proper mount.

Given the extra time it takes to mount, should I switch to modified or full. Can't use magnum shells - too much impact on the shoulder.

Comments anyone? Suggestions?

Thanks!
 
That's really a subjective thing w/ a lot of variables. Typical range; what you feel your max effective range is (how far out you can hit 'em); load/gun/choke pattern combination; single-barrel or double-barrel; etc. I shoot a modified in my 16 almost all the time, & feel it's appropriate since I like to be able to reach out 40+ yards at any given time. But come mid-December if the birds aren't willing to give me closer shots, I'll switch to full. 870 raises good points. I-M may be a good compromise. If you're going to be taking longer shots, you not only need to maintain pattern density, but you need to have loads that'll give you the necessary pellet energy to penetrate. This typically means #4/#5 lead or #2/#3 steel (& fast steel no less than 1400 or 1450 fps).
 
Because I''m slower to mount, the shots are farther away, hence the switch to Mod or full. I don't have a mod/imp in my choke selection. #4 or 5 lead seems reasonable, 1 1/8 oz?

Will try both the mod and full. Thanks!

Maybe cuz I'm almost 80 things are slowing down. Good excuse!
 
With 1 1/8oz loads, I would stay with 5s to get adequate density. 191(5s)vs 152(4s) approximately. I'd think the 5s would be adequate to 50yrs on packing enough energy, but I'm not sure how much farther you plan to shoot.....I'm gonna say FULL so you can take your time and not feel like you have to hurry yourself.
 
jonnyB said:
Because I''m slower to mount, the shots are farther away, hence the switch to Mod or full. I don't have a mod/imp in my choke selection. #4 or 5 lead seems reasonable, 1 1/8 oz?

Will try both the mod and full. Thanks!

Maybe cuz I'm almost 80 things are slowing down. Good excuse!
Click to expand...

You not only have an excuse for slowing down, but you have an excuse to BUY something!!! An improved-modified aftermarket choke tube!! It's between modified & full. And even if you never use it, who cares? Carlson's makes a reasonably priced, quality product.

That said, if you don't feel like buying new stuff, I'd stick with modified unless you think a significant amount of shooting is going to be over 40 yards. Then try full. In 12 gauge, I'd go 1-1/4 oz unless you think that might beat you up too much. But remember recoil increases as velocity increases too. So if you go 1-1/8 oz, I'd still try to keep the muzzle velocity down there around 1,250-1,330 fps.
 
A5 Sweet 16 said:
You not only have an excuse for slowing down, but you have an excuse to BUY something!!! An improved-modified aftermarket choke tube!! It's between modified & full. And even if you never use it, who cares? Carlson's makes a reasonably priced, quality product.

That said, if you don't feel like buying new stuff, I'd stick with modified unless you think a significant amount of shooting is going to be over 40 yards. Then try full. In 12 gauge, I'd go 1-1/4 oz unless you think that might beat you up too much. But remember recoil increases as velocity increases too. So if you go 1-1/8 oz, I'd still try to keep the muzzle velocity down there around 1,250-1,330 fps.
Click to expand...

Improved-modified:isn't that choke one step down from improved cyl? Confused.

Thanks for the input. Can't say I would shoot over 40 yds., so will try Mod.
 
Last edited:
jonnyB said:
Improved-modified:isn't that choke one step down from improved cyl? Confused.

Thanks for the input. Can't say I would shoot over 40 yds., so will try Mod.
Click to expand...

No. Choke designations don't necessarily make sense. Here they are in order from more open to more constricted:
cylinder
skeet
improved cylinder
light modified
modified
improved modified
light full
full
extra full
 
A5 Sweet 16 said:
No. Choke designations don't necessarily make sense. Here they are in order from more open to more constricted:
cylinder
skeet
improved cylinder
light modified
modified
improved modified
light full
full
extra full
Click to expand...

Thanks A5...never knew there were so many choices...some I've never heard of!
 
jonnyB said:
Because I''m slower to mount, the shots are farther away, hence the switch to Mod or full. I don't have a mod/imp in my choke selection. #4 or 5 lead seems reasonable, 1 1/8 oz?

Will try both the mod and full. Thanks!

Maybe cuz I'm almost 80 things are slowing down. Good excuse!
Click to expand...

Would shortening the stock a little help in mounting the gun easier?

The reason I ask is sometimes a perfectly fitting stock when in shirt sleeves can become a little long when adding extra clothing or a coat and it can snag on the clothing. Not sure that is your issue or not, just a thought.

Regarding choke. If you are finding yourself slow to the mount I would most certainly move up to at least a Modified choke which will extend your effective range out another 10-15 yards from an IC.
 
Last edited:
birdshooter said:
Would shortening the stock a little help in mounting the gun easier?

The reason I ask is sometimes a perfectly fitting stock when in shirt sleeves can become a little long when adding extra clothing or a coat and it can snag on the clothing. Not sure that is your issue or not, just a thought.

Regarding choke. If you are finding yourself slow to the mount I would most certainly move up to at least a Modified choke which will extend your effective range out another 10-15 yards from an IC.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your response. All three guns are semi-auto and have stocks cut as far as possible. The action spring housing limits the cut. The short stock helps, but with a coat/jacket et al sometimes does get hung up or I don't find the right spot, on what's left of my shoulder.

Going to try Mod. on my next outing...
 
If you're shooting a single barrel gun and hunting spooky pheasants, a full or improved modified might be best. With my double, I shoot modified and full late season.
 
Thanks for the input/message. Assume the Mod fires first...

Can you tell the difference between the two?
 
I think I can. I've used this setup when shooting trap and the IM does seem to allow me to break the clay into a few more small pieces/bigger puffs of dust than the M. It's not a real big difference but I think there is some. The F tube for this gun is really tight on the pattern board. The IM is between the M and F on the board but not a huge difference over the M.
 
i shoot skeet out of my auto's all season...I shoot
sk1/sk2 out of all my doubles...o/u and s x s...1 1/4 oz of #5 lead out of my 12 ga auto...from opener to the close...skeet choke...birds fall...
 
BB: Skeet the whole season...all close shots? What distance is this arrangement effective?

This is good to know - thanks.
 
jonnyB said:
BB: Skeet the whole season...all close shots? What distance is this arrangement effective?



This is good to know - thanks.
Click to expand...

Jonny,

May I make a recommendation?

Since your issue seems to be mainly your ability or inability to mount the gun quickly / efficiently, how about focusing on practicing your gun mount at home? You can even wear the same clothing you would when hunting. In the carry position you would normally use when hunting, practice mounting the gun to your shoulder whiLe focusing on an object across the room. Do this deliberately at first until you get muscle memory working then if need be increase the speed a little. I think you will find that if you do this every night for a couple weeks you will find it to help quite a bit. No need to be excessive maybe 20-25 times a night. Just remember to duplicate as best as possible your normal low gun ready position and step into the shot with your lead foot.

Give it a try you may be surprised. I instruct some of my youth league members at our local Sporting Clays club to do the same.

Oh and be sure you gun is UNLOADED....
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top