must buy a choke before trip next week... help?

T

TNReb

New member
I hate to be the new guy who asks an ignorant question.

I've spent the last two days reading as much information as possible... and yes, I've used the "search" feature here.

Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to reply.

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I've been invited on a last minute pheasant trip to South Dakota. It's a guided hunt, mostly with flushing labs. The outfitter provides all of our ammunition. It is B&P nickel plated 4/5/6 shot.

The most constricting factory choke I have for the shotgun I'm taking is IC. I plan to do some duck hunting this year but haven't had the chance to buy any other chokes yet.

I called the outfitter, and they suggested a LM, M, or IM depending on the conditions of the day (wind, etc).

I know - I need to pattern my individual gun and see what chokes perform best. Unfortunately, I do not have the opportunity to do that before we leave. I need to order a choke (or two) and hope it works well.

I was thinking of just ordering a couple of Carlson Sporting Clays Chokes in a different constrictions. I didn't know if their Extended Super Steel Shot chokes would be any better/worse. I'm somewhat confused by the way they're just labeled for Close/Mid/Long range.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Must be Invector DS chokes. I don't care if it is extended or ported. I would like to be able to possibly use the choke for duck hunting if it patterns well, but that would rule out the Carlson Sporting Clays Chokes.
 
My preference is a LM, use it for both upland and waterfowl. The Carlsons are good chokes, the close is an IC, mid range is a M. On windy days I will occasionally put in a Mod.
 
Since you have an IC already, personally, I would opt for a modified (.020) constriction, rather than buy a LM. If this is the 725 O/U get one of each, otherwise just a Mod. Given that you will be shooting quality nickel plated shot, the mod should be plenty of choke for longer shots. If you do happen to hunt public land, they will work well for non-tox shot as well.

I would like to be able to possibly use the choke for duck hunting if it patterns well, but that would rule out the Carlson Sporting Clays Chokes.
Click to expand...
Carlson chokes are good as are Briley which are pretty close in price. Both companies chokes are made of heat treated 17-4 Stainless steel and will handle lead or steel whether they are for sporting clays or otherwise. The Waterfowl chokes are usually black in color that's the main difference. Besides I don't want something that says decoying, passing or close/mid/ long range etc.. Tells me nothing about the constriction.
 
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Thanks for the feedback everyone.

I called Carlson's and got a little more information from them.

In case anyone else is curious....

They explained that there is no difference in their Sporting Clays tubes and the Super Steel Shot tubes. The "Mid" Super Steel is a modified Sporting Clays that is simply rebranded to capture a different audience.
 
So Inquiring minds want to know.


What gun are you shooting that takes an Invector DS choke tube and the tightest constriction you have is an IC?
 
Ok. You may know this already, but the Invector DS chokes are more open than what is marked on the choke tube with the exception of the Full. I know this is true for the 725 and I suspect the same may be true (not positive) for the A5. Browning factory chokes have always been more open than marked even with the Invector plus systems. Some of the premium Diana grade chokes were accurate, however they were made for Browning by Briley.

Just to give you an idea... on my 725 the Invector DS chokes are as follows in thousanths of an inch.

Invector DS
Skeet choke = .001
IC = .004
Mod = .011
IMOD = .015
L.Full = .026
Full = .039

Standard choke measurements
Skeet = .005
IC = .010
LM = .015
Mod = .020
IMOD = .025
L.Full = .030
Full = .035 -.037


So as you can see they are way off and for the most part pattern reasonably close to what they measure. Your IC choke may be closer to what a typical skeet choke is. Without knowing exactly what your bore measures i am speculating of course, but i suspect the bore size would be close to what my 725 is.

So based on that, my recommendation would be to buy a IC and Mod from either Carlson's or Briley.
 
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I shoot IC with flushing Labs and I manage to knock one down from time to time. Many have a misconception that your shot is going to be way out there with a flushing Lab. In fact most of my shots are within 30 yards. I have always preferred an open choke with a larger shot. It only takes one or two # 4's to crumple a bird.
 
I'm one of those guys that thinks many people overthink this choke and choke tube thing. I'e spent a lot of time patterning various load combinations looking for a "perfect" pheasant load. My experience has shown that the loads make as much difference on pattern as what's marked on the tube.
The B&P ammo you describe is high quality and should pattern well. If you have a tube marked IC and want two more for pheasant, I'd go with a Mod and ImpMod. Between those three and that ammo you can get a combo that will drop them if you hit them.
Carlsons are fine tubes. No need to go more exotic or fancier than them.
 
After reading all of these "what choke tube should I use" questions. I have the answer. Using the same technology as the Tracking Point scope systems, the manufacturers put a range "sensor" in the choke. When the bird takes flight, the sensor reads the distance and automatically adjusts the choke for the correct distance.

Now, before you laugh this one off, I asked Burris several years ago why don't they design a scope that not only tells the distance to the animal, it locks in the distance and moves the red aiming dot to reflect the proper hold. While I was just kidding, those engineers just looked at each other in disbelief, and stated they indeed were working on such a "device" due to come out later. That devise was the Burris Eliminator Laser scope........
 
Overthinking this? I shoot improved in my A5 and do well with it. We hunt over pointers but late season so all shots arent close as you would think. Confidence will make up any choke difference. Happy hunting:cheers:
 
Trulock LM

I shoot a BUL 12 and used a Trulock Crio Plus LM choke in SD the last three years. Over mostly flushing dogs, it killed everything I had any business shooting at DRT. :thumbsup:

NB
 
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