If you are truly shooting them over decoys, you don't need anything more than IC and your factory in more than likely all u need too. If you haven't patterned it do so before you waste money on after market chokes. While u are at it pattern the mod too.

 

About a decade ago I put in an IC and I haven’t touched it since

IC will take down that duck that tries to land in the blind as well as the shy ones cupping out at 50 yards

 

I hunted ducks from 13-59 and IC works over decoys.

 

The advice you were given is good advice, but you could also pattern your gun at the distances you plan to shoot ducks.

 

I would estimate the distance from your blind to the back outer line of your decoy spread and select a choke based on that distance.
We always seem to have a lot of our birds try and land on the outer regions of our spreads.
However, the first 10 minutes of shooting time, its a different story.

 

IC with 1-1/4oz #3 steel is what I use primarily. If the ducks are decoying really well or primarily small ducks like teal and woodies, I'll sometimes go to SK choke with #4 shot (steel). If I'm hunting divers and they just are buzzing the fringe of the decoys, I go to LM with #2 (steel). But probably like 80% of the time, I'm using IC.

Now for Canadas over decoys, I use Mod with BB's

NOTE: Most chokes tighter than Mod are not approved for steel

 

Learn to build a better blind, learn better decoy placement, learn to call.

or

just sky bust.

I used mostly steel which patterns tight. IC produces plenty of density.

 

For decoying ducks (inside 40 yards), an IC is really all you need. Here are a few of my pattern numbers to give you an idea of the kind of pattern density you might get from some common low-cost steel loads.

Hope this helps, good luck!

Patterning results from a 12-gauge 3-inch Remington 870 Special Purpose with a 28-inch barrel and factory flush Rem-chokes (pattern average of five, 30-inch post-shot inscribed circle, yardage taped muzzle to target, in-shell pellet count average of five, and true choke constriction from bore gauge).

40 YARDS – IC REM-CHOKE (.009" const.)
Remington Sportsman 2 3/4" 1 1/8 oz #4 steel (218 pellets) pattern 132 (61%)

Federal Speed-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (186 pellets) pattern 112 (60%)
Remington Sportsman 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (193 pellets) pattern 113 (59%)
Winchester Xpert 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (195 pellets) pattern 109 (56%)

40 YARDS – MOD REM-CHOKE (.018" const.)
Remington Sportsman 2 3/4" 1 1/8 oz #4 steel (218 pellets) pattern 164 (75%)

Federal Speed-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (186 pellets) pattern 128 (69%)
Remington Sportsman 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (193 pellets) pattern 146 (76%)
Winchester Xpert 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (195 pellets) pattern 131 (67%)

 

Great information (for your specific gun and setup) that can be used as a guideline. There is no substitution for each person patterning their own gun with their own loads.

 

Be aware of your shotgun manufacture's choke recommendations when shooting steel. I usually shoot IC or LM out of a Beretta 390 with mobil chokes, with steel or bismuth. I've had guys in the blind tell me to use full choke for steel, not recommended for mobil chokes.

 

Much of your choice depends on what "over decoys" means where YOU are hunting AND how your particular gun/choke combo patterns. Decoys may be 10 yards from you some places and 50 yards in others. I use IC or even SK1 in some places but about 90% of the time I'm running LM (SK2). I've found that I can kill a lot more birds dead with one shot with LM than going more open unless I'm hunting timber or early teal. Bottom line: You're going to get all sorts of recommendations that people a hard stuck on but which really only apply to their particular situation.

 

I like modified for almost all my duck hunting.

 

Some of it depends on the gun you are shooting. Benelli and beretta ic's pattern tighter than browning's. But I run IC in my browning guns and kill effectively out to 35- 40. If conditions are keeping them out over that I change out to mod. To know for sure pattern your gun at different distances and see if your pattern inside a 30" circle is dense enough to take birds.

 

For me, when using steel, it’s IC or Skeet 1 depending on the gun. In my subgauges and using bismuth I prefer IC or skeet 2. I don’t feel like I need any more construction over decoys.

 

Ducks over decoys can be 15-35 yards. They get out quick, IC is the baseline constriction. Modified for steel, and IM for bismuth options. I shoot tight constrictions, but mod - improved mod still works well.

 

Being honest with yourself that targets within your ability ( 25 to 40 yds) along
with the pellet size you choose to shoot are only determined by shot density !
Decide what type birds you are after along with their size and pick what best
suits your needs ! OH , Pattern Density Rules the Sky !

 

Shoot mostly over decoys and do some green timber hunting from time to time. I have Light Mod chokes installed in both my Benelli SBE and my Beretta A400 and haven't changed them in 6 or 7 years. It's a little tight for close in but we get a good number of 40 yard plus pass shooting opportunities especially in late season when the birds have been educated and are call shy. And I have no problem at that distance with the light mod choke. Also, lots of the newer technology chokes like flite control in Black Cloud do better with a more open choke because the wad is what keeps the pattern together and I find these loads perhaps a bit too tight over decoys. Shoot mostly 3" Rio Blue Steel 1 3/8 oz of #2... Early season when we get a lot of teal I might drop down to #4 shot. But I almost never change my chokes. Same is true for me on the sporting clays course FWIW. Late season when we mostly take longer shots I might switch to a premium shell like Hevi or Black Cloud... I'll run 2-3 flats of steel shot a year in the duck blind But mostly I have no problem killing a limit most days with the less expensive Rio's or Winchester Experts and if you can't it aint the shell...

I don't know where most of these guys hunt where they can predict what birds come into the decoys on a given day....in our pits in Arkansas over flooded rice it's really a grab bag and I've had days where we shot as many as ten species in a single day. Of course when you go to the green timber it's mostly mallards and maybe a few woodduck or a Gadwall.... but you really only get ducks that eat acorns in the timber.

Really it comes down to skill and confidence. Too many people think they can buy their way to having better hunting success or competition scores with expensive shells or fancy chokes.

 

I have settled on Light Modified .015 over Decoys.

 

Its really hard to argue against a light modified for a do all choke

 

Nothing wrong with LM but how much difference does another .005" constriction make in performance? Let's see what the pattern board can tell us about that question. Good luck!

Patterning results from a 12-gauge Browning Citori with 28" Invector-plus barrels using Briley flush chokes (patterns average of five, 30" post-shot inscribed circle, yardage taped muzzle to target, in-shell pellet count average of five, and choke constriction from a bore gauge).

40 YARDS / LM (.016" constriction)
Rem Sportsman 2 ¾” 1 oz #7 steel (418 pellets) / pattern 262 (63%)
Win Xpert 2 ¾” 1 oz #7 steel (437 pellets) / pattern 278 (64%)
Rem Sportsman 2 ¾” 1 oz #6 steel (314 pellets) / pattern 199 (63%)
Win Xpert 2 ¾” 1 oz #6 steel (306 pellets) / pattern 220 (72%)
Rem Sportsman 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #4 steel (218 pellets) / pattern 150 (69%)
Win Xpert 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #3 steel (162 pellets) / pattern 106 (65%)
Rem Sportsman 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #2 steel (139 pellets) / pattern 114 (82%)
Rem Sportsman 3” 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (152 pellets) / pattern 107 (70%)
Rem Sportsman 3” 1 1/4 oz BB steel (85 pellets) / pattern 69 (81%)
Average pattern percentage of all loads / 70%

40 YARDS / M (.021" constriction)
Rem Sportsman 2 ¾” 1 oz #7 steel (418 pellets) / pattern 275 (66%)
Win Xpert 2 ¾” 1 oz #7 steel (437 pellets) / pattern 286 (65%)
Rem Sportsman 2 ¾” 1 oz #6 steel (314 pellets) / pattern 210 (67%)
Win Xpert 2 ¾” 1 oz #6 steel (306 pellets) / pattern 222 (73%)
Rem Sportsman 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #4 steel (218 pellets) / pattern 159 (73%)
Win Xpert 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #3 steel (162 pellets) / pattern 106 (65%)
Rem Sportsman 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #2 steel (139 pellets) / pattern 114 (82%)
Rem Sportsman 3” 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (152 pellets) / pattern 120 (79%)
Rem Sportsman 3” 1 1/4 oz BB steel (85 pellets) / pattern 70 (82%)
Average pattern percentage of all loads / 72%

 

My dedicated waterfowl gun has a Pattern master in it. I've used it for years with alot of success. One of my 20 ga patterns well with a LM. The other likes IC.

 

Running a Muller Decoy choke in my A400 Xtreme Plus with Boss Warchief 3” #3/5

 

This past weekend , SK choke with 1-1/4 oz #4 steel shot @1450 (Fed blue box) just folded woodies, teal and wigeon

 

There's (2) things that make choke constrictions better !
The distance you shoot your birds and the size of pellet you use ?

Those that shoot pellets other than Steel shot have the patterning board to see what works
best but needless to say , most hunters use to tight of choke because of not enough time
on the patterning board !

 

Light Mod is tight enough to reach out to the range 99% of folks have any business shooting, and not too tight for feet over the decoys. If you truly are only shooting good decoying ducks, IC is plenty.

 

Several years ago I took my current favorite duck gun to the Briley building at the Grand American and told them to start with the tightest extended choke tube they recommend for 1-3/8 oz of steel #3's and work back from there. I wound up with IC (locked up over the decoys), Mod (flaring fast in the wind), and IM (scratching down escaping cripples). It has worked out well.

 

Can't imagine you getting past the first barrel with that contraption !
Greenheads are for eating and Sussie's are for breeding can't say for
the other two !