About shotgun chokes.

[Mosin_Nagant_Fan]

What are the different kinds and what do they do? My late grandpa's 16ga is, I think, a fixed mod. I'd like to know if/when I get a one for myself.

[TRAP55]

Not entirely sure of what you need to know, but I'll give it my best shot.
The choke determines the diameter of the shot pattern at a given distance. A Full choke will have a tighter/denser pattern at 30yrds than a Cylinder bore will. A Modified choke is the best choice for a general purpose choke. Chokes for Steel shot are not the same as for Lead shot, a Modified choke for Lead shot would be a Full choke for steel. Shoot Steel through a Full choke for lead, and you'll expand the choke at best, split or bulge your bbl at worse.
Starting with the tightest choke at the top:
Turkey
Xtra Full
Full
Improved Modified
Modified
Imp Cylinder
Skeet
Cylinder

[Mosin_Nagant_Fan]

For the most part you answered my question. I just wanted to know what kind of chokes there are and what kind of patterns they make.

[CampingJosh]

There is a pretty good article on Wikipedia for this. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shotgun#Pattern_and_choke

[bunnyhunter12]

http://www.wildfowlmag.com/tips_stra...hotgun_062304/

Seems like a good article as I scanned down through,explains things pretty well. Here's a graphic which shows the "cones" as your shot spreads out after being fired from various chokes.

[Pistolenschutze]

This might help, Mosin:

Standard American* Constriction (12 gauge) Pattern percentage

Cylinder .000 in 40%
Skeet .005 in 53%
Improved Cylinder .010 in 57%
Modified .020 in 67%
Improved Modified .030 in 73%
Full choke .040 in 75%



Briley
Cylinder .000 in -
Skeet .005 in -
Improved Cylinder .010 in -
Light Modified .015 in -
Modified .020 in -
Improved Modified .025 in -
Light Full choke .030 in -
Full choke .035 in -
Extra Full choke .040 in -



Winchester
Cylinder .000 in 25 - 35%
Skeet #1 - 33%
Improved Cylinder .005 in 35 - 45%
Skeet #2 .007 in 50%
Modified .012 in 45 - 55%
Improved Modified .022 in 55 - 65%
Full choke .036 in 65 - 75%



Jack O' Connor
Cylinder - 35 - 40%
Skeet #1 - 35 - 40%
Improved Cylinder - 45 - 50%
1/4 choke / Sk. #2 - 50 - 55%
Modified - 55 - 65%
Improved Modified - 65 - 70%
Full choke - 70 - 80%

[Mosin_Nagant_Fan]

Basically what I'm after is what would be good for home (defense) use, outdoor (general) shooting and game shooting (mostly bird like quail, duck, maybe turkey).

I don't want to have to use my gun to defend myself and others at home and blow half my hallway away but I don't want to miss my target, either.

Thanks for the info, guys, you've been very helpful.

[TRAP55]

To add some more confusion, you have shot pattern......and shot "string".
The shot string is the measurement from the first pellet in the pattern to the last one trying to catch up.
Ammo is the leading factor in the length of the shot string, but chokes and barrel types contribute too.
Browning figured it out and went from Invector chokes, to Invector Plus. The Inv+ barrels and choke tubes are cylinder bore with a long forcing cone, and backbored barrels.
What this does (besides confuse me with the physics of it) is to give a slight increase in velocity, less recoil, and a shorter shot string with a more uniform pattern. Translation: More pellets get there at the same time, and closer to the same place.
Jess Briley improved on this with an even longer forcing cone in his choke tubes.

[Mosin_Nagant_Fan]

So the chock affects the pattern/size of the shot (depending on the type and size, I suppose) and also the range?

I take that cylinder is OK for short range and shouldn't do to much damage to the walls and things on the walls, so long as it's not a far off target?

I'm thinking about a 12ga shotgun and need to know and think very carefully of what is best for home defense, as well as target shooting.

Also, what ammo would be good, for paper punching and to keep in home.

I was thinking about this one.
http://www.galleryofguns.com/genie/d...item=54125-MOS

[CampingJosh]

I recently got a Remington 870 Express 12 gauge that is for home defense and taking out big raccoons (I don't want the fur; I just want them to stop destroying things). It was listed at $220.

The one I bought came with an extra full turkey choke, but it's the adjustable kind(screw in), so I also bought an Improved Cylinder and a Modified. It stays around the house with the IC, but if I know I'm going to get a coon that night, I switch to the Mod.

[CarcinogenX]

Totally ignorant with firearms but long story short, I was given some old family firearms and am curious.

I know it is a Remington model 11 semi-auto 12 gauge from way back when. I get what a choke does and I am curious to know what is going on at the end of the barrel here. whatever it is, it looks pretty ghetto and does not seem like it wants to come off by hand.



Lemme know if more info is needed.

Loren

[JLA]

carcinogenX, that is an old weaver choke that has a built in compensator, extremely popular in the 50s and 60s with trap/skeet shooters. I personally think they are very ugly and make the gun unbalanced, however they are very functional and some models were even adjustable as to how much choke you needed.

And to answer you question mosin, the best choke for home defense/birds and skeet shooting would be improved cylinder. You certainly wouldnt want full choke for hd because it increases the odds of collateral damage, nor would you want it for dove/quail because you would like something left to eat right, plus it decreases your odds of hitting the target. Personally all my shotgus are open cylinder bore except my 11/87 which has screw in chokes. I use my rem 870 hd shotgun for skeet shooting and it will sling everything from #8 birdshot to slugs with equal authority and isnt picky about what the shot is made of...

[CarcinogenX]

Originally Posted by JLA

carcinogenX, that is an old weaver choke that has a built in compensator, extremely popular in the 50s and 60s with trap/skeet shooters. I personally think they are very ugly and make the gun unbalanced, however they are very functional and some models were even adjustable as to how much choke you needed.

Thank you JLA. I've only been wondering about that for the last 30 years or so.

So, is the part with the holes and inscription the compensator? Can I bother you to explain that? I was not able to find any clear info on it online.

Thanks,

Loren

[JLA]

Yes, the part with the holes and inscription is indeed the compensator/muzzle brake. if you will shine a flashlight from the other side you will notice the end of the barrel, a large gap and the beginning of the choke, the shotcup and wad actually exit the barrel followed by the hot gasses and enter the choke while the gasses escape through the ports, thereby making follow up shots quicker and more precise. UGLY THEY ARE, BUT THEY DO INDEED WORK...