I didn't quite make it into A class with the 410 but I seem to recall most shooters used .010" constriction in their guns. I had a Mod/Full fixed choke Browning Citori with .012" and .019" constriction. That was the difference between the bore diameter up to 12" behind the muzzle and the point of greatest constriction in the choke.

That said, the Mod choke gave me the tightest patterns on the whole than the Full choke with the Full being splotchy or having hot spots of greater density. I don't remember the percentages but I remember understanding why it was not totally in jest that one should not pattern the 410. In neither barrel were the patterns such that I wanted them larger as there isn't much shot to begin with. This would be doubly true with "hunting loads" where I used 7 1/2 shot. 25 yards was pushing the patterns with small shot for consistently and larger shot had even less distance.

I would shoot what you have for skeet and not give it a second thought. The 410 has little enough shot that I am more concerned keeping adequate core density than overall size of pattern. Place the center of the pattern on the target and it will break. I rarely use chokes more open than modified on clay targets with any gauge with Full being nearly a constant. I'll open up for game but only because turning a close bird to mist and drifting feathers is a waste.

 

My advice would be to go up to 16.5 gr to speed them a bit more and open the pattern that way and shoot the .009 choke. I shoot .006 and .010 Comp N Chokes in my Beretta. The IC that came with my Tri Star is out of round but my Beretta choke works great. I like at the Mid choke for hunting. My Citori with fixed Full/Mod measures .015/.010. It throws some of the nicest patterns.at 21 yards.

 

I do need to shoot a couple rounds of skeet for fun before doing too much but sure would like to pattern a .005 Skeet. Just hate to spend $55 to ‘try something’!!

 

Shooting skeet? Buy a skeet choke.

Don’t overthink it that’s why they make ‘em.

 

Agree you need to up the speed .(1300 fps) I use skeet chokes in my 725. To shoot skeet. Pattern is 20+/- inch in diameter at 25 yards.

 

At one time, I was AA in skeet, except for the 410. I asked one of the best tournament shooters in my club about 410 chokes. He recommended 003” in the 410. I switched to .003” chokes and finally got to AA in all gauges.

 

410 is such a small barrel, the chokes have less effect. There are two choices, close and not close. Skeet chokes for close and Mod or Full for not close. And never pattern it for pattern. You will wonder why you ever hit anything. I have run 25s with a 410 at Skeet, using Skeet chokes.

 

the worst thing you can do is pattern a 410 before long you'll be talking to yourself. Shoot the IC and call it good.

 

All good advice. Need to get my loads chronographed. I do have a few boxes of WW SC that say 1300….. next to try them as a comparison to my loads!

thx guys

 

My Winchester Model 42 has two barrel and magazine assemblies. One is a pre-war 26-inch SKEET with a bore of .407" with .006" choke. The other is a late 28-inch modified choke barrel with a bore of .410" and .009" choke. I could never tell an iota of difference with AA skeet shells. I shot 25 straights with both. When Tony offered the limited edition of his RBL in .410-bore I was one of the eighty purchasers. While I ordered mine straight grip, double triggers and slim forearm to match my others, I ordered it choked skeet and improved cylinder. They measure only .002" and .0055". Does far better on a skeet field than a five-pound gun has any right to, including a couple of straights. The .410-bore Skeetmaster tubes in my Model 3200 that I used for my last 11 years of registered NSSA skeet have .006" choke.

 

Here are a few of my .410 patterns to give you an idea of the kind of performance you might get with different constrictions.

Patterning results @ 25 yards from a Yildiz SxS .410 with 28" barrels and factory flush choke tubes (patterns average of five, post-shot scribed circles, yardage taped muzzle to target, in-shell pellet count average of five, and true choke constriction from bore gauge).

.410 2 1/2" WINCHESTER AA TARGET LOAD
1/2 oz #9 lead (281 pellets) Max DE

RIGHT BARREL (ID .408”)

FULL choke (.023” constr.)
20" / pattern 189 (67%)
20-30" / pattern 68
30" / pattern 257 (91%)

IM choke (.017” constr.)
20" / pattern 190 (68%)
20-30" / pattern 66
30" / pattern 256 (91%)

MOD choke (.012” constr.)
20" / pattern 173 (62%)
20-30" / pattern 71
30" / pattern 244 (87%)

IC choke (.005” constr.)
20" / pattern 144 (51%)
20-30" / pattern 85
30" / pattern 229 (81%)

CYL choke (-.002” constr.)
20" / pattern 84 (30%)
20-30" / pattern 83
30" / pattern 167 (59%)

Good luck!

 

I shoot Skeet with Skeet Improved extended chokes from Briley. I found out late last year that the range for 410 is a bit limited when using skeet chokes. The problem is that a distance equal to the distance from station 1 to the low house the pattern opens enough that you are shooting holes at your target. Go 0.002 inch tighter and you gain a good 20 to 25 feet of additional effective range. On a windy day when the low house is going "for the moon" at station 5 that extra range can be a matter of make or break.

 

I've had my TriStar Bronze 410 since they frist came out. I've settled on a Carlson IM choke but it's a dove only gun

I use IM and full in my Yildiz OU. Used MOD some in it but anything more open than that seemed no good on birds