Which Choke?
- Thread starter WLONG
- Start date
GC
Well-known member
There is a lot of information about shotguns, chokes, and loads, that has been discussed on PredatorMasters over many years. A search here can give you a lot of solid information from some very knowledgable shooters/hunters with real experience. I'm stating this because I wouldn't rely on just one person for information (that is not directed to anyone in particular, that includes me in the group). I'd draw information from as many reliable guys as I could. You will find that while there naturally are a few differences of opinon, there are also a great number of guys who seem to use the same basic set-up. That must be a recipe that works if so many good shooters/hunters use it.
Usually that is a variation of a turkey gun. A repeater in .12 gauge, mostly 3" or 3 1/2", semi-auto/pump, short barrel, drab/camo finish, sling equipped, accepts choke tubes. Some sort of high visibility sight is usually present, or, even a glass sight of some type is mounted. The choke is pretty tight, from around .685" - .660", and, the load is plated lead No. Four Buck, BB, or Dead Coyote.
Here is mine. A Benelli M1S90 semi-auto 3" .12 gauge camo turkey gun with 24" barrel and fiber optic sight. Sling equipped and with a Kick's GT .660" ported choke tube it patterns Federal Premium 3" .12 ga. No. Four Buck well enough to clip a coyote to 50 yards reliably. Been using that combo for the last 5 - 6 years. Before that was a Remington 870 .12 gauge turkey gun set-up very similar. Before that a Browning A5 with 26" barrel with full choke and loads of BB's did the trick, though not as well as the Benelli. Here's my Benelli...
Usually that is a variation of a turkey gun. A repeater in .12 gauge, mostly 3" or 3 1/2", semi-auto/pump, short barrel, drab/camo finish, sling equipped, accepts choke tubes. Some sort of high visibility sight is usually present, or, even a glass sight of some type is mounted. The choke is pretty tight, from around .685" - .660", and, the load is plated lead No. Four Buck, BB, or Dead Coyote.
Here is mine. A Benelli M1S90 semi-auto 3" .12 gauge camo turkey gun with 24" barrel and fiber optic sight. Sling equipped and with a Kick's GT .660" ported choke tube it patterns Federal Premium 3" .12 ga. No. Four Buck well enough to clip a coyote to 50 yards reliably. Been using that combo for the last 5 - 6 years. Before that was a Remington 870 .12 gauge turkey gun set-up very similar. Before that a Browning A5 with 26" barrel with full choke and loads of BB's did the trick, though not as well as the Benelli. Here's my Benelli...
BHLBAMA
New member
I emailed Puregold and briley yesterday and all I got so far is a automated response saying they had received my email and they'd email be back shortly. I didnt call due to being able to post the exact response and put this matter to a end.
WIth that being said......NO matter how many people you rely on that shoot this way just because dad or uncle bob did....... makes it safe. I personnally grew up in state where running dogs in the 80s and early 90s was the norm and buckshot and Auto rifles is what everyone hunted with so it was known all to well that a mod to a imp mod was the most constriction shot. I honeslty heard over 25 stories of barrel getting blew up in the county and I posted two personal experiences earlier. The choke manufacturers warn against shooting buckshot in a turkey choke due to the constriction. (Yes the dead coyote constr. is .665 or .655 I cant remember Shane hestatly told me...... But it is heat treated a certain way). Im telling you it isnt safe no matter how many people opinions you are going on. I really dont know why I am bothering with you...... after saying you shoot steel shot out of a full choke. I guess that is safe as well???? I shot the steel shot out of my full Poly choke for over two months before it messed up. I honeslty have read a lot of your posts in the past months and saw people ask you for advice due to you being knowledgeable.......that being said I figured if anyone knew better than this it would be you GC. As far as you asking a "buckshot" question I dont understand what you are asking??? ALso call Shane Carlson at 785-626-3999 and ask him why you can shoot any type of buckshot out of a Dead Coyote choke and he'll explain about the treatment process.
WIth that being said......NO matter how many people you rely on that shoot this way just because dad or uncle bob did....... makes it safe. I personnally grew up in state where running dogs in the 80s and early 90s was the norm and buckshot and Auto rifles is what everyone hunted with so it was known all to well that a mod to a imp mod was the most constriction shot. I honeslty heard over 25 stories of barrel getting blew up in the county and I posted two personal experiences earlier. The choke manufacturers warn against shooting buckshot in a turkey choke due to the constriction. (Yes the dead coyote constr. is .665 or .655 I cant remember Shane hestatly told me...... But it is heat treated a certain way). Im telling you it isnt safe no matter how many people opinions you are going on. I really dont know why I am bothering with you...... after saying you shoot steel shot out of a full choke. I guess that is safe as well???? I shot the steel shot out of my full Poly choke for over two months before it messed up. I honeslty have read a lot of your posts in the past months and saw people ask you for advice due to you being knowledgeable.......that being said I figured if anyone knew better than this it would be you GC. As far as you asking a "buckshot" question I dont understand what you are asking??? ALso call Shane Carlson at 785-626-3999 and ask him why you can shoot any type of buckshot out of a Dead Coyote choke and he'll explain about the treatment process.
Last edited:
GC
Well-known member
Bama,
Been waiting to hear from you. You said you were going to personally call the choke companies, that is why I thought you'd be posting sooner. No telling when they'll get around to returning an e-mail, and, then sometimes you have to wonder if they fully understand the question as written. We don't seem to be communicating effectively in writing.
Honestly, I'm not sure where we disagree. Or..., even if we actually disagree. I think I agreed with you about heat treatment for special shot such as steel and Hevi-Shot. I just stated that in my experience No. Four Buck shoots fine from the tighter constriction chokes, yet, I would not shoot 00 or 000 buck through them. However, I never said anything about shooting steel through a full choke. I do not shoot steel for predators and am not sure where you see that I said that? When I asked about "buckshot", I'm asking what SIZE buckshot you're referencing. You have never said a particular size of buck, just used a rather vague "buckshot" term in your post. How can I explain it in a more clear manner? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
Been waiting to hear from you. You said you were going to personally call the choke companies, that is why I thought you'd be posting sooner. No telling when they'll get around to returning an e-mail, and, then sometimes you have to wonder if they fully understand the question as written. We don't seem to be communicating effectively in writing.
Honestly, I'm not sure where we disagree. Or..., even if we actually disagree. I think I agreed with you about heat treatment for special shot such as steel and Hevi-Shot. I just stated that in my experience No. Four Buck shoots fine from the tighter constriction chokes, yet, I would not shoot 00 or 000 buck through them. However, I never said anything about shooting steel through a full choke. I do not shoot steel for predators and am not sure where you see that I said that? When I asked about "buckshot", I'm asking what SIZE buckshot you're referencing. You have never said a particular size of buck, just used a rather vague "buckshot" term in your post. How can I explain it in a more clear manner? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
BHLBAMA
New member
Still nothing from the choke manf. I guess Ill have to call some of them Tues. after the holiday. I shoot a variety of buckshot now all 3.5" either no 4, no 1, 00. I forgot I also have a pattern-master that I havent used in a while and saw this morning while in the safe. They are good buckshot chokes too. SOrry about the confusion on the steel shot and full choke comment I got it form your "Browning A5 with loads of BBs". I still have 2 Auto 5s one is a 12 solid modifed steel Magnum barrel for duck hunting. The other is my baby its a 20 mag grade 1 with a threaded barrel I use my comp n choke set mainly for quail hunts or occasional duck hunting on the creek.
redeyeddawg
New member
Went to Gander Mtn. to pickup some #4 Buck. Was hoping for 3" plated, but all the plated was 00. Is that common for you guys? Ended up with 3" unplated in a Remington load I believe. I have an Undertaker in .660 and and a Briley Hevi-shot choke in .675. Any opinions on which will shoot better? I know, I know, shoot both at various ranges. I shot Federal HD BB's last year and they patterned well from the Undertaker and sucked out of the Briley. At $30 a box they aren't in the budget this season. Gotta admit, #4 buck out of a .660 choke seems like a lot of lead through a small tube. Won't know till I hit the range.
GC
Well-known member
Bama,
I loved my old A5! I shot magnum lead BB's through it for predators and it did a fine job out to 40 yards or so. Mine was a 2 3/4" chamber so used the short mag loads. Back then the lead BB's were much easier to get. The A5 points very well for me and I liked everything about it except they weigh a ton. I got tired of lugging that hunk of steel up and down these Ozark mountains. I didn't have a sling on it and the weight in my hands all day shifting it around got pretty tiresome. At the end of a long day the Benelli handles like a featherwight O/U compared to the A5.
redeyeddawg,
You know the answer already... The only thing I could offer is that I've shot and recommended the Federal Premium .12 ga. 3" buffered and plated No. Four Buck through, and to, about a dozen shotguns/shotgunners and it has consistently been a top notch performer over all others. So far, I don't know of anyone who hasn't been pleased with the patterns from it. It may not shoot worth a darn from your rig, who knows until you try it.
I loved my old A5! I shot magnum lead BB's through it for predators and it did a fine job out to 40 yards or so. Mine was a 2 3/4" chamber so used the short mag loads. Back then the lead BB's were much easier to get. The A5 points very well for me and I liked everything about it except they weigh a ton. I got tired of lugging that hunk of steel up and down these Ozark mountains. I didn't have a sling on it and the weight in my hands all day shifting it around got pretty tiresome. At the end of a long day the Benelli handles like a featherwight O/U compared to the A5.
redeyeddawg,
You know the answer already... The only thing I could offer is that I've shot and recommended the Federal Premium .12 ga. 3" buffered and plated No. Four Buck through, and to, about a dozen shotguns/shotgunners and it has consistently been a top notch performer over all others. So far, I don't know of anyone who hasn't been pleased with the patterns from it. It may not shoot worth a darn from your rig, who knows until you try it.
berettaman
New member
Just wondering if you had heard from any choke companies??