The factory Optima HP IC choke will break most clays on average sporting courses.

 

I leave two of those in my 694 for sporting.

 

I am using the Beretta chokes. I have no idea if they are "sufficient". They seem to shoot fine, stay tight, and the few patterns I have looked at while checking barrel alignment and comb adjustment have seemed to be about right for the choke selected. I pretty much have just screwed in a LM and a M and left it that way unless I am shooting trap. I shoot 1 oz loads. I have Briley chokes for other guns and just do not see any improvement over the factory Beretta HP chokes.

 

Are the factory Beretta Optima hp chokes sufficient or have you had better luck with others like briley carlsons etc? Thanks

I’ve been using my factory chokes for 15 years. They are “sufficient.” 😀

 

Yes.

 

Thanks! I have found my CG patterns well with factory chokes but wasn’t sure about Berettas. Also, checking patterns is a PITA! 😂 much appreciated

 

My Beretta A400 came with something like IC, MOD, and F. I bought Carlson's Cyl and LM. I use the Cyl and LM for sporting clays, work great. I've used the Beretta-MOD for trap and patterning, and it works fine; cf the Beretta-MOD and Carlson's-LM for trap, got mediocre scores with both

 

When this has been looked at scientifically, not just anecdotally (my chokes smoke targets!), chokes with the same constriction from different companies throw patterns that are indistinguishable from each other. Your Beretta chokes are fine and when I have measured factory Beretta chokes they are spot on.
This is when others post that their after market chokes perform better than everything else.

 

The shooting accessory market needs your support. Step up and do what you know needs to be done

 

Many people prefer aftermarket because they look better in many cases. LM is a compromise choke. Not enough difference between it and IC and M to matter.

 

I had a bad threaded choke from a known maker and had to return it for a new one,so I sayed with Beretta!

 

Yes. A choke is a choke is a choke.

 

I sold my after market and now only use factory

 

I patterned most of the factory hp's in my various a400's. Basically if using cyl, skeet or IC chokes, it doesn't matter much as most tubes pattern well at open constrictions. some may be a more open or closed constriction than stamped. In LM and tighter, choke tubes do come into play. I tested several (not all) after market tubes also and the comp n chokes were best and I preferred the arc which was easier cleaning and the pattern was the same as ported. Later the black extended came into play and were equal to the comp n choke.

Factory tube Results:

The flush tubes were ok but slightly open patterns in relation to stamped. Mod flush had a good pattern but was about same as ic in CNC or blk extended.

The stainless extended were very tight but with clumps and holes and I was pretty bitter about their poor quality

Then later came my models with the extended black chokes and wow these were great patterns and a bit tight in relation to marked. I guess beretta fixed the issue.

I have stainless flush and extended for sale. lol

 

Ammo plays a huge roll in POI and patterns.

 

I always found Optima HPs to be effective. My only reservation is that they my ones didn't always correspond to how they were marked.

 

I have not analyzed patterns but been very satisfied with the results of the black extended HPs that came with my a400. I shoot the modified almost exclusively. And according to my bore mic they are spot on to marked constrictions +/- 0.001"

 

My A400 did not come w Cyl or LM chokes, came w IC M IM. At that time based on my skill level I was using Cyl and IC, could not use the M or IM, so bought Carlson Cyl and LM. All 5 chokes measure at the nominal constrictions w calipers and pattern as expected. The purchase turned out to be good, as now the Cyl is my preferred choke for short distance targets and LM otherwise. I can use the M rather than the LM, but hit more targets w the LM.

 

Thirty plus years ago when factory screw in chokes became common, they often threw irregular and spotty pattens. That gave the reason to exist for the Briley and third-party choke makers to exist and thrive. I know, I bought a lot of them. In recent years, the gap between the performance of factory chokes and third-party chokes has narrowed or disappeared. Nowadays, many third-party choke makers market their chokes on claims to working well with certain ammo or at specified game and distance. Not so helpful or a reason to replace factory chokes.

My take is that the extended chokes from major makers work just fine these days. But the Briley chokes can have cool looking rims on them. To be sure which ones might be a little better at your chosen game, spend some time at the pattern board. Otherwise, don't worry about it.

 

I've been using a Carlson LM in my A400s as a matter of habit. I need to pattern the factory chokes.

 

Your factory chokes will be more than sufficient. I wouldn’t sweat it, pattern You’re gun with what You’ve got, ( factory equipment), and be confident in that equipment.
That said, I shoot Optimachoke & Mobilchoke in My guns. I bought a set of Briley Mobil’s from a vender here because it was a good deal.
Bob

 

I did a bunch of pattern testing with BOSS ammo for duck hunting. With an A400, AL391 and A300 Ultima the flush, factory chokes patterned as good or better than a host of aftermarket. In the 391…. markedly better. Carlsons and Patternmaster were the aftermarkets . All our guns are flush OEM chokes now.

 

Like several others have already said, I bought some aftermarket chokes because the guns didn't come with everything I wanted.
My 694 came with only one Skeet choke, and I was shooting some skeet at the time, so I ordered another factory skeet. Light Mod was unavailable at the time, so I bought a couple Briley L/M chokes.
The A400 Xcel only came with I/C, M, and I/M; but I already had the Sk and L/M.
I picked up a used A400 that came with a couple extra Carlson chokes.
I eventually bought a set of Pure Gold, Cyl-I/M, just because. (they are ported, stainless, and I like the way they look)

But, they all work. And, I can't say that the aftermarket chokes are any better or any worse than the Beretta chokes

 

Nothing wrong with the stock Beretta chokes.

I use Briley Titanium chokes in my 694.
Only because Beretta doesn't make a LM and I got a screaming good deal.

 

I also use the briley titanium chokes in my Beretta's. OPHP, liked the patterns from the skeet choke so I bought a second one for my top barrel.