We know we know, typically we are talking about the latest and greatest holsters like the We The People Holster. Shoot we even tell you how to shoot a pistol, but we switched gears for this post and we think you will like it.
There are many different opinions on the best choke for buckshot loads used with shotguns. Some people swear by a specific choke, while others think it doesn’t make much difference.
This blog post will discuss the best choke for buckshot and why you might want to use it. We will also talk about the different types of chokes available and how they can benefit your shooting. Before we go any further always remember to always handle your firearm safely.
What is the Best Choke for Buckshot In a Nutshell?
The answer depends on the type of buckshot you are using and the shot pattern you are looking for. Again, there are many shotgun choke tubes on the market however we recommend you try out full chokes, modified coke, or improved cylinder by patterning all three and see which is best for you.
However, many factors to consider if you want a detailed answer. Factors to take into account are:
- What shotgun gauge are you using, and is the choke in your shotgun fixed?
- What are you using your shotgun for
- What Buckshot load are you using
- Choke tube constructions
List of Common Choke Tubes That Can be Used with Buckshot Loads
Cylinder Choke & Skeet Choke
There is no restriction from the breach to the muzzles of a shotgun with the cylinder choke. At 40 yards, approximately 40% of the pellets or shots hit within a 30-inch pattern board and are utilized by police exclusively.
A plinking or skeet choke is the best way to describe this choke. It has a muzzle constriction of approximately 0.13 millimeters. At 40 yards, 45 percent of the pellets or shots land inside a 30-inch pattern board, and they’re primarily used for skeet shooting (shocker, we know)
Improved Cylinder Choke & Modified Choke
The choke reduces the muzzle’s diameter by 0.24 millimeters. A 30-inch target at 40 yards receives around 50 percent of the pellets or shots. The improved cylinder choke is ideal for hunting upland birds at a short distance or waterfowl close up over decoys.
The modified choke has a muzzle constriction of 0.51mm. At 40 yards, approximately 60% of the pellets or shots hit inside the 30-inch target. This choke is ideal for hunting tiny animals like rabbits, upland birds, and ducks.
Full choke and Turkey Choke
A full choke has a muzzle constriction of 0.76 millimeters—about 70% of the pellets or shots hit inside the 30-inch target at 40 yards. This is an excellent choke for buckshot, trap shooting, and turkey hunting due to its tight pattern.
The turkey choke has a muzzle constriction of 1.145 mm, which is considered quite tight. At 40 yards, with this choke, > 75% of pellets in shots strike within the 30-inch target. This choke also has a tight pattern and is used with turkey loads and turkey hunting.
Do not forget you even have an extra full turkey choke used, and no, we are not kidding.
Your Guide to the Best Choke for Buckshot loads
What is a Choke Tube?
So what’s a shotgun choke tube? It is a device that attaches to the inside of a shotgun barrel. It alters the constriction of the barrel at the muzzle.
The choke tube affects the spread of the buckshot pellets and can help you achieve a broader or tighter pattern. You can check out our article on which choke is the mot open for more details.
What Gauge and Type of Shotgun Are You Using?
The most common gauges of shotguns are 12, 20, and 410. The 12 gauge is the most popular because it offers the best balance of stopping power and ease of use. It can be used for hunting coyotes as a home defense weapon.
A shotgun choke is a device that attaches to the muzzle of a shotgun and alters the spread of the shot pellets as they leave the barrel.
There are two main types of shotgun chokes – fixed chokes and interchangeable chokes.
A fixed choke shotgun has a choke that is permanently attached to the barrel and cannot be changed. This is best suited for hunters who plan to use their shotgun for a specific purpose, such as home defense.
An interchangeable choke shotgun has a barrel threaded on the muzzle end so that different chokes can be screwed in and out as needed. This type of a shotgun is best suited for shooters who participate in multiple types of sports. You simply screw in the desired choke for each sport.
What Buckshot Load and What are You Using the Shotgun for?
Buckshot loads are shotgun shells filled with pellets (or shots) instead of a single projectile. Most buckshots are made of lead shots, but can use other dense material. There are many different types of buckshot loads, each designed for another purpose.
One most common type of buckshot is #00 buck. This is a relatively large pellet, measuring just .33 inches in diameter.
Another common type of buckshot is #0 buck. This pellet is slightly smaller than #00 buck, measuring .32 inches in diameter.
The largest buckshot is #000 or triple-aught buck. This pellet is .36 inches in diameter.
What Are You Using the Shotgun for?
Shotguns are used for various purposes, including hunting, self-defense, and competition shooting.
Shotguns are used by hunters for various game, including birds, rabbits, and deer. They are effective weapons for hunters because they can fire multiple types of ammunition, including buckshot, slugs, and birdshot.
These guns can be used for self-defense in a variety of ways. People can use them to protect against an intruder in their home. Buckshot is a popular choice for self-defense because it effectively stops the bad guy at close range without aiming too much.
Last but not least, these weapons can be used for various purposes in competition shooting, including trap, skeet, and sporting clays.
Trap and skeet are both clay target sports that use shotguns. In a trap, shooters attempt to hit a target thrown away.
In skeet, shooters attempt to hit targets thrown across the field.
Sporting clays is a shotgun sport that simulates hunting, and shooters attempt to hit targets thrown in various directions.
Whatever you are using your shotgun for, consider your desired maximum effective range
Choke Tubes Constriction Factor for Shotgun and Choke Identification
Shotguns are patterning devices. The choke tube selected affects the dispersion or patterns of the buckshot.
A full choke will produce tighter patterns for buckshot some be people consider this the long range buckshot choke while a cylinder bore will give you the widest spread. There are various degrees of constriction due to different choke tubes.
The constriction factor measures how much the bore diameter is reduced at the muzzle end of the choke tube. A 12 gauge shotgun that has a bore diameter of .729″ with a choke tube that has a constriction factor of .005″ will reduce the bore diameter by .005″ at the muzzle end.
The best way to determine the best choke for buckshot is to experiment with different chokes until the desired pattern density is achieved.
There are a variety of ways to identify chokes for your gun. One way is to look at the markings on the choke tube.
Most manufacturers will identify the constriction factor on the side of the choke tube in some way, shape, or form.
A few ways they do this are by notches (Example: I notch= full choke), the color bands, stars (example, *=full choke), and alpha code (example: XF=extra full choke)
Another way to identify shotgun chokes is by measuring them with a micrometer. This can be done by measuring the bore diameter of the shotgun with a micrometer and then measuring the bore diameter at the muzzle end of the choke tube. The difference between these two measurements is the constriction factor.
Wrapping Up
Shotguns are patterning devices that we shoot, and the choke tube selected affects the dispersion or patterns of the buckshot. A full choke or Carlson’s Turkey Choke will produce tighter patterns, while a cylinder bore will give you the widest spread.
There are various degrees of constriction due to different choke tubes. The best way to determine the best choke for buckshot is to experiment with varying chokes until the desired pattern density is achieved for what you are using your gun for.
You also need to consider what kind of shotgun you have, what you are using the gun for, and which buckshot you plan to use.
Finally, there are a variety of ways to identify shotgun chokes. One way is to look at the markings on the choke tube or their color. Another way to identify shotgun chokes is by measuring them with a micrometer.
What are your thoughts about the best choke for buckshot? Let us know in the comments below.
If you are not a shotgun gun person you may want to learn how to shoot a pistol. The main thing is to be safe and have fun with whichever firearm you are using.
Thanks for reading!