Just how important are shotgun chokes?

[DaveB]

Man, you guys must see some long shots in sporting where you are! Seldom do I ever see a shot here in NZ where I feel anything tighter than 1/2 is needed.

[Sim G]

There has been much written in today's shotgunning that a quarter/improved cylinder (US) is all the choke needed...

[Mattnall]

Man, you guys must see some long shots in sporting where you are! Seldom do I ever see a shot here in NZ where I feel anything tighter than 1/2 is needed.

Midi and minis from some very high towers, but you're probably correct, just like red meat most Brits will over do it.

[farmer7]

As TomH said its all about how your gun/choke/cartridge actually patterns rather than what the choke has stamped on it. Last summer I spent a wee while patterning my Beretta 692, the results were surprising. Given that at 35 yards full is expected to put 80% of shot inside a 30" circle at 35 yards. My patterns went thus: 3/4 88.6% , 1/2 86% , 1/4 80.4% , Skeet 55.3% and Cylinder 50.8%. Averaged over two shots of each choke.

That gives me 3 chokes all giving over Full choke patterns at 35 yards! Granted that may well change using a different cartridge, that was all shot using my Express 7 1/2 clay loads. It does show that patterning and counting pellets, although incredibly boring and tedious, can be worthwhile! Patterns were all very good and even and confirms as others have found Beretta Optima HP chokes have a tendency to shoot tighter than marked.