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If you could only pick one choke for sporting clays.

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#42 ·
Booma said:
If I could only use one choke on sporting clays, with a 20ga, which one would it be?

I've been researching patterns. It seems like modified is pretty darned good for everything out to 40 yards. How far does sporting clays go?

When I'm watching video reviews it seems like they often split hairs. I'm not feeling a huge benefit of a 65% full vs 50% modified pattern on a 30 inch target at 40 yards??

Or, should I be using different chokes at different ranges? If so, maybe I'd like to use skeet out to about 15 yards, and modified beyond??

But I'd really like to use one choke because I'm not shooting competitively.
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OK, going to name drop here..but as a mentor of mine while I was on the Air Force Trap Team in 1986 (SMSgt Terry Howard) I think would answer this question something along the lines of: "Use the Tightest choke you've got and can still break them all".
 
Discussion starter · #44 ·
Okay. So here is the result after carefully reading all of your excellent viewpoints.

Technical Considerations: For my 20 ga o/u I went for the Light Modified choke, both upper and lower. This is based on me being a newbie, yet having some experience during the distant past. The choice really isn't a down the middle of the road choice. While it's not tight or loose, I feel like it will get the job done AND be more than precise enough for my purposes so I can grow into it, as I get better. This is a hobby for me as it gives me an excuse to get outside and enjoy the weather, and I don't plan to do serious competition. I will shoot #7-1/2 loads for more distant shots, and #9 for very close shots. I may even carry a couple of spreader loads for really close shots. I've just started getting into reloading, so I'll spend my time, here.

Non-Technical Considerations: Bling!! :giggle: I just sold my Winchester model 70 (not the 60's) in 270. I haven't shot it in over a decade. So I took $160 of that (Browning is having 20% off father's day sale), went crazy, and bought two Diamond Grade extended light modified gold Invector Plus chokes. Can't believe I was sober when I did it. If anyone on the range says I can't hit the side of a barn, then I'll laugh, "Yeah but you don't have gold chokes! I win! Hahahaha!"

Thank you to everyone here, whose many different opinions enabled me to make the best decision for me at this point in time. I'm very grateful that you are all here and took the time to help!
 
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#45 ·
DuckPerry said:
OK, going to name drop here..but as a mentor of mine while I was on the Air Force Trap Team in 1986 (SMSgt Terry Howard) I think would answer this question something along the lines of: "Use the Tightest choke you've got and can still break them all".
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I'd have to agree. I've not used anything but a full choke and my scores are where they belong. Started out with a Model 37 20ga at 14 for Western PA bird hunting and continued from there. Even the guns I have that came with chokes the Full is the only one that gets used. Almost 5 decades and I go with what I know. Target guns I pattern once at 30 yds one time and go shoot.
 
#49 ·
drawdc said:
Google him about the World English 2019. He was DQd for altering his scores.
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ahhh. That's certainly something to consider. I'll check that out.

Would it have been difficult to just put that in the first reply to the video I posted? Rhetorical question.
 
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#52 ·
I have learned over the years that some of the top guys fib about what chokes they have in....you know , "fib" like lie.

And they even have their chokes color-coded to support the lie.
 
#53 ·
Sera, I'm just curious as I only dabble very lightly in NSCA shoots and will very likely never be very competitive, even in the middle classes, let alone reach master. So take my question in perspective please.

What form do the fibs take? Purporting to use tight chokes when in reality it's the opposite? Or is it the other way around...shooting open chokes but purporting tight?

Are they fibbing to gain an advantage or just busting balls for fun? My guess is busting balls. I admire the consistent skill of upper level shooters. I'm kinda surprised a top guy, or hardly any upper class shooter, would pay attention to what choke another shooter is using. At that level they all have solid focus and skills...judging by the highly consistent scores they put up.

Please be assured I am not doubting what you are citing does indeed happen. I'm just curious and a bit surprised.

Thanks!
 
#54 · (Edited)
I shoot a lot in Houston , the home of Briley. They have a certain set of colors for cyl thru full. If you have blue in you are shooting Mod. and so forth.

The ones who have discussed it w/ me think they are fooling the other top shooters. Like you I doubt this , but they are seeking any advantage they can get.

Some of these guys shoot with their students , even coaching them thru tournaments. I have seen them tell their students a certain lead , to fool other top shooters who might be listening. The students then miss every target. It's sad. A couple of years ago I took a lesson from one of these bozos (I thought he might be different) and he took me to a tower that had a 60 yd shot. I hit it 3 times out of about 20 attempts. I said , you do it on the 1st try or I won't be paying. He tried 20 times and never touched it. I did not pay him for the last 30 minutes of the "lesson." The club owner chewed me out. I said I won't be back.
 
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#55 ·
sera said:
Some of these guys shoot with their students , even coaching them thru tournaments. I have seen them tell their students a certain lead , to fool other top shooters who might be listening. The students then miss every target. It's sad. A couple of years ago I took a lesson from one of these bozos (I thought he might be different) and he took me to a tower that had a 60 yd shot. I hit it 3 times out of about 20 attempts. I said , you do it on the 1st try or I won't be paying. He tried 20 times and never touched it. I did not pay him for the last 30 minutes of the "lesson." The club owner chewed me out. I said I won't be back.
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Some just call him Bobby
 
#56 ·
The 2d guy , no. So maybe yes on the 1st one.
 
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#57 ·
I have said this for years. There's no money to win. Knowing this , if you want to take lessons to make sure you are the best you can be, go for it. This thing of ours (as the Godfather would say) ain't never going to make you any money. Invest wisely.
 
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#58 ·
Shot our State shoot this weekend,.

Shot everything from 5 yards to 40-45, but those all showed some belly or dome. I kept the LM in, and any miss I had was not due to choke, as I had solid breaks on the ones I did hit.

I did see more choke changing around me than I have in years, which if that gives you confidence, then more power to you. BTW, shot a 1 oz, 1250, 7.5 load at everything, part of my KISS program.
 
#59 ·
^^^wise plan.
 
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#60 ·
Tried to up my game a bit this weekend at the Hopkins eastern shore open and instead of LM/LM i went LM/M. A small change but for me personally it represented one more step away from the training wheels. One station with simo rabbits very close got SK in the bottom barrel but that was the only change. I can say with confidence the M didn't cost me anything close with the possible exception of a rushed shot at a trap style bird.

Still i don't think you need more than LM for 90% of tournament birds...at least that i see at Hopkins, M&M, Schraders, etc. Even FITASC is well in the LM range most of the time.
 
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