Which choke for #4 buck.

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xtrempredhntr

New member
I have done a search on this, but nothing has really been said on this exact topic. I will be shooting 2 3/4-3 inch plated #4 buck out of a mossburg 535. Any recomendations?
 
I have tested and used the modified choke in my shotguns with the best results for throwing buckshot.

I tried #4 buckshot out on silhoutte targets and did not see any difference between full and modified at 35 yards. I have shot and dropped yotes at 45 yards with the modified choke.

Several others I know also use modified for throwing buckshot.

I know many here use extra full, full for buckshot.

Using a open cyclinder like in a riot shotgun is a waste of time when shooting at ranges beyond 25 yards.

Most would say pattern your shotgun to really know what works best........ /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
Most of us shoot a .660" diameter for No. Four Buck with a 2 3/4" or 3" .12 gauge. 3 1/2" .12 gauge you may want to open up to something like a .680" for the increased payload of shot.
 
I've tried quite a number of different chokes. A more open choke patterned better than the turkey chokes in all cases when using #4 Buck. A modified tube would be a good place to start as far as factory tubes go. I'm currently using a Pattern-Master tube that I ordered through the company and specifically asked for a tube made to shoot #4 buck. It has slightly less restriction than the Pattern-Master chokes you buy on-line or locally. The only real way to get the best combination of choke and ammo is to pattern your gun.
 
Weasel,
The standard Pattern Master isn't very tight. Usually only miking out around modified or maybe improved modified. If you get a chance and think about it sometime, mike the interior dimension of that choke. I'd be interested to hear what it actually is. Thanks...
 
I have measured both the Pattern-Master off the shelf and the one I ordered. I have the measurments written down somewhere. I'll look around and see if I can find the paper. I've used a couple of other wad stripper type tubes and they were good, but not as good as the Pattern-Master.
 
Okay, I found the paper. This is a 12 gauge choke tube. The off the shelf Pattern-Master was .700. The special order Pattern-Master is .710. My Remington factory tubes measured .715 for Imp. Cyl. The Modified tube is .705. So, the Pattern-Master measures right between the Imp. Cyl. & Mod. choke tubes. The Pattern-Master is a "wad stripper" choke tube, so that has to be taken into consideration when determining the best load/choke combo for each individual gun. The ONLY way to tell for sure is to pattern YOUR gun. My gun throws what looks to be a killing pattern at 45-50 yards, but I'm wary of the lack of penetration and energy of the copper plated #4 buckshot I am currently using. Heavy Shot, Dead Coyote loads might be better? For the time being I think I'll limit my shots to 35 yards and see what kind of kills I get.
 
Weasel I've tried the factory skeet, imp cylinder, imp. skeet, modified, full, and extra full in my 870 sm and a carlsons .660 turkey choke outpatterns all of them with dead coyote and number 4 buck. Every gun is different but my Dads 870 shot better with his undertaker turkey choke what I think was .665 we haven't patterned his new sbe2 but I'm betting once he gets a turkey choke it will beat his chokes that came with the gun.
 
That's exactly why everybody should pattern their own gun with their own load. I've patterned three different turkey choke tubes in two different guns and tree different barrels. I used the same Federal Premium, 3", #4 Buck loads in all of them. All three of the turkey choke tubes blew my patterns apart. The extra full and full choke tubes weren't much better. The modified and improved modified tubes weren't too bad and I'd use either one of them if I was limited to a factory tube. The improved cylinder tubes were just so so with #4 buck, but shot pretty well with 00-buck. The factory Pattern-Master wasn't too bad, but I thought it could be better. I called the man that makes the tubes and told him what I what to shoot and my intended load, expected range, etc. He open up a regular Patter-Master tube and it has been the best patterning tube with #4 buck yet. Everybody's gun and load may shoot differently. That's why it is a MUST to pattern each load and gun. What works for me, may not work for you. I know many people will shoot a load and choke combination because their buddy does, but unless he patterns his gun, load and choke combination he'll never really KNOW what works best for him. I doubt if many people actually spend time patterning their shotguns. Can you imagine doing that with a rifle?
Oh, edited to add this: I also have an Under-Taker Coyote Killer choke tube. It shot as well as the off the shelf Pattern-Master and cost alot less.
 
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Your exactly right patterning you shotgun is very important. It suprises me the amount of people who never pattern there shotguns I find it fun to find out what my gun is capable of.
 
Weasel,
I knew the PatternMaster's weren't tight. If you can consistently get 5-6 pellet strikes from No. Four Buck on target, say the six inch center center of aim, then you'll kill coyotes cleanly at 50 yards. That's with good shot presentations, no rear end running away stuff. And no gawking, if the coyote doesn't drop, keep your head down on the stock and feed him another shot. Brush has a nasty habit of deflecting shot, so I'm always ready to apply another dose as necessary. Usually it isn't needed, but I'm not going to sit and looky-lou while my prize turns and burns out of the territory.
 
I know what you're saying buddy. When in doubt, empty the magazine! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif I'm just a little on the conservative side until I can see the penetration I get on animals at the longer ranges.
 
Here's a link to an article I wrote for another coyote hunting forum showing my pattern tests with #4 buckshot.

Patterning #4 buckshot

I found that my RemChokes and 870 patterned just like you would expect them too - full produced the tightest patterns and Imp Cylinder the widest patterns.

Most importantly I learned that the premium grades of buckshot made more of a difference in the pattern than did the choke that was used.

I had a friend that tried patterning #4 buck with two different Patternmaster chokes and he got horrible results with them.

I've only shot at one coyote with #4 buck. But it flat knocked the snot out of him at 40 yards - dropped like a sack of taters and never even twitched.
 
I LIKE THE FULL CHOKE WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT
BUT MOST TIMES I FIND MY SELF WITH THE SLUG BARRLE ON MY SCATTER GUN WHEN I NEED TO USE IT.
 
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