Full Answer
Many hunters give it little thought, but one of the inventions most significant to those who hunt with shotguns is the choke tube — a simple device that allows one to change a gun's choke and thus alter its pattern and range so a single shotgun can be used effectively in a wide variety of hunting and/or shooting situations.
Measuring the wall thickness of the barrel you are working on is critical when installing choke tubes. All chokes, like the “Rem-Choke”, require a minimum wall thickness to be safely installed. Thinwall choke tubes are available for applications in thinner walled barrels.
Because the targets are at close range in skeet shooting, a very open choke is normally called for. A typical setup would be improved cylinder (or skeet chokes in the US hence the name) in both barrels.
Super-Full/Extra-Full choke tubes are sometimes called "gobbler getters" are ideally suited for the head shots necessary when turkey hunting. Before the invention of choke, all barrels were simply straight tubes with an effective killing range of about 25 to 30 yards. Hits beyond that distance were a matter of luck.
improved-cylinder chokeFor clay-target games, an improved-cylinder choke is best for skeet, as it is for most sporting-clays courses. For trap from the 16-yard line (by which I mean the shooting station closest to the target house), improved-cylinder is again a good choice.
A choke tube also determines to some extent the shotgun's effective range. The tighter the constriction of the tube, the farther the range. For example, a full choke is most effective at 40 to 50 yards. An improved cylinder is most effective from 20 to 35 yards.
Types of ChokesCylinder choke is an unconstricted barrel. The shot string spreads quickly. ... Improved Cylinder choke has a slight constriction. It allows the shot string to spread fairly quickly. ... Modified choke has moderate constriction. ... Full choke has tight constriction.
Improved Cylinder – The ideal range for improved cylinder choke tubes is 20 to 30 yards. Modified – Sitting at the middle of the pack, modified choke tubes are a good general choke size to use when not sure whether shots will be close or far. Their ideal pattern is found at 30 to 40 yards.
For targets at 40+ yards or further, use Full Choke. For targets up to 40 yards, use 3/4 choke (improved modified US) For targets up to 35 yards, use 1/2 choke (modified US) For targets up to 30 yards, use 1/4 choke (improved cylinder US)
1 notch = Full. 2 notches = Improved modified. 3 notches = Modified. 4 notches = Improved cylinder.
The Cylinder Bore (sometimes called a Cylinder Choke) refers to the shotgun barrel when used without any choke to tighten the pattern. This gives the widest pattern and thus the least shot pattern density.
The full chokeThe full choke is the tightest choke; it has the tightest shot pattern. This choke keeps the pellets together over a greater distance. Used it for longer shots, usually beyond 40 yards. The modified choke is not as tight as the full choke.
1:599:41FAQ #3 Can I shoot a slug through a full choke? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis is Remington slugger rifle the slugs drilling can have it right on the box that these clothesMoreThis is Remington slugger rifle the slugs drilling can have it right on the box that these clothes can be fired through in each out.
Never shoot your shotgun without a choke tube installed! CL=cylinder. IC=improved cylinder. M=modified. IM=improved modified.
The US improved cylinder choke has a (12 bore) constriction of 0.010” vs 0.020” of the modified choke. The effective range of modified choke is longer than that of improved cylinder so it can reliably shoot targets out to 40 yards.
Choke tubes are designed to constrict the shot pellets as they leave the shotgun's muzzle. Extended turkey choke tubes tend to be more constrictive than most standard full chokes. Some turkey chokes are ported to also help tame the shotgun's recoil.
They know a quality choke tube can increase a shotgun's effective range, and a strong, well-built choke tube also protects the gun barrel and, in some cases, helps reduce gun-barrel stress caused by heat. When a tournament is on the line, skeet and trap shooters want the edge they gain when using a good choke tube.
Specialty choke tubes are built for certain types of shot. For example, the steel shot required when hunting waterfowl is harder on shotguns than lead shot and patterns differently than lead. Waterfowl choke tubes are built stronger than traditional choke tubes made only for lead shot. They also are built so steel shot, which doesn't pattern as well as lead shot, will hold a tighter pattern. There also are specialty tubes made specifically for use with Hevi-Shot, tungsten and other materials.
Cylinder: With no constriction , this choke distributes approximately 40 percent of a shell's total pellets in a 30-inch circle at 40 yards. It's most often used by law enforcement for service shotguns.
Full: This choke has tight constriction and a dense pattern, delivering approximately 70 percent of a shell's total pellets in a 30-inch circle at 40 yards. It's often used for trap shooting, waterfowl pass shooting, turkey hunting and buckshot loads.
Modified: This choke has less constriction than a full choke, delivering approximately 60 percent of a shell's total pellets in a 30-inch circle at 40 yards. It's great for general waterfowl hunting and hunting distant-flushing upland birds and small-game animals such as late-season pheasants and rabbits. Also used for trap shooting.
Because different guns pattern differently, even with the same load and choke, the only way to know for certain how a choke tube/load combination will perform downrange is to pattern-test it on paper. When a shotshell is fired from a shotgun, the pellets leave the barrel and begin to spread or scatter.
The tighter the constriction of the tube, the farther the range. For example, a full choke is most effective at 40 to 50 yards; an improved cylinder is most effective from 20 to 35 yards.
Choke is positioned at the muzzle end of the barrel in order to keep the pellets in a tighter group (pattern) when they leave the barrel.
The invention of choked (restricted) barrels allows shotgun hunters greater effective range and accuracy range at distances beyond the standard 25 to 30 yards typical of a simple straight tube shotgun.
Once a cartridge or shotshell is fired from a shotgun, the pellets leave the barrel and begin to spread or scatter in a pattern. The farther the pellets travel, the greater the spread of the cluster of pellets (shot) both in length and diameter. This spread is referred to as, “the shot string.” To manipulate the shot string, shotgun barrels have a choke that will affect the shot pattern when the shot string hits the target.
The result is how the shot hits the target. The measure of how a shot hits the target is called the pattern .
Shot Pattern– The blowout result of shot pellets after they hit a stable non-moving target.
Improved Modified- choke that is slightly tighter than the modified and will also travel a little further. This choke is a great choice for Trap, Sporting Clays and Quail.
Full – 70% of shot inside 30” circle at 40 yards
To use the bore gauge, a standard ring is placed around the bearing at the bottom of the instrument. In this case, the standard is .700″. The dial indicator at the top of the instrument is then zeroed. Adding the reading, for instance .029″, to the standards diameter of .700″ results in the actual bore diameter, .729″ in this case.
Barrel measuring tools. The Manson wall thickness gauge (top) is used to measure the barrel wall thickness. The Skeets bore gauge (bottom) is used to determine the bore diameter. This helps determine whether or not the barrel has a fixed choke as well as which bushing to use when reaming and tapping.
The reamer will make a final facing cut on the barrel when it reaches the final depth. Once the barrel is removed from the lathe, we take the time to verify that the wall thickness is still adequate. Never take a chance with safety.
Note: It is important to verify the barrel you are working on is NOT chrome lined. HSS reamers will not work on chrome lined bores. An easy way to check is to see if the interior finish will take cold blue.
All chokes, like the “Rem-Choke”, require a minimum wall thickness to be safely installed. Thinwall choke tubes are available for applications in thinner walled barrels. Brownells has more available on this topic here, explaining the minimum requirements for different gauges and tubes.
We machine the barrel and mechanically fasten the side ribs together. Many of the barrels we repair see 50,000 rounds a year. After repair, no failures have been reported. Over the years, we have also repaired many Beretta ASE 90 side ribs.
The comb hardware easily adjusts up or down, left or right for the proper cast. The hardware is available in stainless steel or brass. Please allow 7 to 10 days for installation.
We remove dents in 12 and 20-gauge barrels, using a hydraulic dent raiser . 1 to 3 days.