Best choke for waterfowl?

[NateEboy-1]

I read all of the posts under shotguns for waterfowl and I concluded everybody has a different opinion on guns but not much mention about what choke to use. I used my dads 870 turkey special with the undertaker short range choke tube over decoys on the opener and I couldn't hit dump.Could it have been the short barrel, the rifled sights,or the wrong choke? Most of the shots were far away (thanks to the sky busters who set up down wind of our decoy spread.)so I switched to the long range choke tube.I still couldn,t hit dump. I was using 3"-#4s. I used my dad,s BPS 28" mod. on sunday and did better. Any info on choke tubes would be greatly appreciated, I plan on purchasing my own 12ga. in the future. Thanks, Nate.

[Fisher Dave]

I would recommend an Imp. Cyl. choke for shooting ducks over decoys. Steel shot shoots tighter than lead, so choke descriptions are deceiving... example .. modified is actually very similar to full. An improved cyl choke will give you about the same as a skeet choke. A skeet will give you a reasonable pattern up to about 40 yards .. which is also approximately your max range on your #4's. If your using larger shot and plan on goose hunting or something in that order a modified should take care of your needs for longer shots, or to hold the larger shot closer together for smaller gaps in the pattern.

The fact is choke tubes are based upon lead shot results. There are none to my knowledge yet that are based upon steel, and I make every effort to keep with the modern equipment.

I would recommend experimenting and find a choke tube you are happy with. The same choke can produce different results from different manufacturers, or even by using different ammo. Steel shot is very finicky. Patterning targets can help greatly.

I cant give a direct answer, everyone has their preferences .. hope this info can help.

Good hunting,

Dave

[NateEboy-1]

Thanks Dave. Do you have any comments on the barrel length? Nate.

[Fisher Dave]

The barrel is whatever your comfortable with. I prefer a longer barrel (28"-30") but its what I'm accustomed to shooting. A shorter barrel (24"-26") is fine for shooting at ducks over decoys, and will also make your gun less nose heavy (balanced)usually allowing quicker, easier targeting. The shorter barrels are better for upland, and small game hunting. Much faster on the *draw*.

A long barrel doesnt do anything for you besides give a more precise aim, only needed for longer shots, shooting slugs with more accuracy, or something along that line.

[Finlander]

Don't use 4 shot! Use 4 shot for clay pigeons!
Use 2 shot and bb's for duck's!
They need all the punch you can give them.
Go with modified choke for all around waterfowling. I use improved cylinder in my 11-87, 3.5" 1 9/16 shell with #2 shot that has more than enough pellets to make a superior pattern out to 40 yards!
Don't use 4 shot!

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F-STOP

[Guest]

kid you should stop cripping the ducks and go shoot some trap or skeet, I don't think it's the gun your shooting but maybe it's the recoil or the fit of the gun.

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take a kid hunting

[Lip RIPPER!]

3's and 4's work just fine over decoys.