choke tubes?

[JasonC]

Sorry if this sounds stupid but I know nothing about them. Why should I not fire the shotgun without one? what are some good ones to use in my Remington 870? It came with one for Turkey loads, but what about buck shot or slugs?

[rjrivero]

If your shotgun came with a choke tube do not shoot it without one because you'll jack up the threads.

You can buy choke tubes for different patterns. A "full" choke will give you a tight pattern that spreads further away. It is good for longer shots.

An "open" choke will allow quicker dispersal of the shot pattern for short/quick shots. (Cylinder is the common name for the most open choke pattern.)

For Buck Shot, you can use a modified choke. I prefer improved cylinder for my Buck Shot. I don't use full choke with buck because it tends to push the pellets together, and deform them, causing a sloppy unpredictable pattern. Turkey Choke is a VERY TIGHT pattern to get a lot of pellets on a turkey head/neck.

For Slugs, if they have rifling you should use an improved cylinder choke tube. The slug is rifled, and will spin as it exits the barrel. If you have a rifled shotgun barrel, then you can use Sabot Slugs and get great accuracy with it. There are also "Rifled Chokes" that some have used with Sabot Slugs, but I haven't used one to give you a report.

The Choke tube from wide pattern to narrow would be:
Cylinder - Improved Cylinder - Modified Cylinder - Full Choke - Turkey Choke.

[JasonC]

So if I understand this right I can use my turkey choke for birds and the cheap clay target ammo and just get an improved cylinder for the buck shot and rifled slugs?

[rjrivero]

So if I understand this right I can use my turkey choke for birds and the cheap clay target ammo and just get an improved cylinder for the buck shot and rifled slugs?

Yes, in theory. Remember, your turkey pattern choke will be really tight, so you'll have to be really on the money to get hand thrown targets. On a skeet field, Cylinder is a good choke to have.

Sporting Clays guys have a full set and change choke tubes to suit the station they shoot. It's like having a bag full of golf clubs, one club is fine, but having the distance as well as the short clubs will improve your scores.

[JasonC]

Thanks rj! What brands would you recomend and what are some to stay away from?

[rjrivero]

Thanks rj! What brands would you recomend and what are some to stay away from?

I honestly don't think it makes a difference. Get the ones made by the brand shotgun you use. I don't have a preference.

[JasonC]

Thanks. I just checked out Bass Pro's website then Remingtons online store. Remington's chokes are a lot cheaper than what Bass Pro wants what they have.