Factory extended optima hp vs aftermarket chokes

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Montefeltro

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Finally upgraded my waterfowl gun, moving away from Mobil chokes and into optima hp chokes..

With Mobil chokes, the oem chokes never had the patterns I wanted, so I went with Carlson crematory.

My new a400 with the optima hp chokes, patterns very well for me.

Is there any advantage of going with an aftermarket choke? Can the patterns get better? Also, to my understanding these chokes are made to handle a beating from steel shot, so will the aftermarket options outperform/outlast the factory extended optima hp?
 
In all but the tightest constrictions your Beretta chokes are approved for steel, they will be marked 'STEEL'. Most aftermarket chokes to fit your gun are no better than your factory ones which are very good chokes but they will be considerably cheaper to buy.
 
I wouldn't bother with aftermarket tubes if the ones you have are doing alright. You may find ones that outpreform your factory tubes but you may also spend a lot of money finding one that does and the improvement won't be much. Even then as soon as you buy a different box of ammo than what you tested with then the patterns may change.
People buy aftermarket tubes for various reasons but improving on the performance of the factory Beretta tubes is not a given thing. Some people have flush tubes and want extended ones, some people want a greater selecton of constriction, I've even heard of people buying complete sets of new tubes becuase the factory supplied tubes they had didn't mic out to the exact diameter that he thought they should and never stopped to think that the diameter doesn't matter if the pattern is good.
 
I have read a recent article that tested extensively factory vs extended aftermarket. Basically, there's no noticeable difference (like 3-4%).
 
My experience is the same as previous guys. Not much if any gain for extra money. If my memory serves me right, Carlson Optima HP extended chokes for steel have velocity limit so you have to pay attention to the ammo. I want to have an extended choke and went with original Beretta choke from Stoeger. Very happy with performance so far.
 
Vic1 said:
My experience is the same as previous guys. Not much if any gain for extra money. If my memory serves me right, Carlson Optima HP extended chokes for steel have velocity limit so you have to pay attention to the ammo. I want to have an extended choke and went with original Beretta choke from Stoeger. Very happy with performance so far.
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do you know if there is a velocity limit on factory chokes? Can’t seem to find anything
 
If there is pretty sure I have passed it,agree with most comments for hunting my Benelli chokes have been as good as anything I have purchased in the past.My Aftermarket optima chokes I use on my trap guns are definitely better to a small degree but always shoot the same shells,same shot size, and lead which it seems has much more consistency than some of our flighty steel shells.
 
Montefeltro said:
Finally upgraded my waterfowl gun, moving away from Mobil chokes and into optima hp chokes..

With Mobil chokes, the oem chokes never had the patterns I wanted, so I went with Carlson crematory.

My new a400 with the optima hp chokes, patterns very well for me.

Is there any advantage of going with an aftermarket choke? Can the patterns get better? Also, to my understanding these chokes are made to handle a beating from steel shot, so will the aftermarket options outperform/outlast the factory extended optima hp?
Click to expand...

You kind of answered your own question. For your particular gun, an aftermarket choke provided an improved pattern. That isn't always the case, but it was for you
 
I wasted 100 bucks on a carlson turkey choke for my a400. The factory flush full patterns just as tight as the carlsons turkey choke. Not much difference in my 20ga mobil choke full vs carlson turkey choke either but that was only a waste of 50 bucks
 
I think a lot of guys miss the point of most aftermarket waterfowl chokes. They may or may not improve your pattern, but they most certainly reduce shot string which is most important. More pellets on the bird means dead birds. If your crumpling decoying mallards you probably wont see a difference, but pass shooting or shooting at fast flying diver ducks it makes a world of difference.
 
We all love to over think things. Here's my take ... I often don't shoot the same ammunition from hunt to hunt, or season to season. And different chokes may throw patterns the are slightly different depending on the ammo used and the shot size. Unless you're so scientific that you match the ammo and shot size to a particular choke, the small variables in one cancel or override the 'advantages" of the other. I'm pretty sure Beretta knows what they're doing. So do Carlson's and Briley.
Shooting three or four shots at a blank piece of paper tells me something about the pattern performance of a shell, but not much. So I do that, but I try not to get obsessive about the results.
If you really want to measure the small difference between manufacturers of chokes, you would need to do extensive tests with proper pattern boards with targets divided into fields to measure pattern density in the centre, edge, and each quadrant. And shoot enough shots of one particular load and shot size to eliminate statistical variability from shot to shot as a factor in the results.
Oh, and none of that will measure shot string. I can be convinced that short shot strings are an advantage on a bird flying at right angles to the shooter, but differences in shot string would be very difficult to measure consistently. I am aware of only a few ballistics labs that can do it, with moving pattern boards set up to record the results of impact.
 
Falconflyer said:
What have the aftermarket choke tube manufacturers done to reduce shot stringing that the OEM hasn't?
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All my carlson waterfowl chokes and my patternmaster chokes have rings inside them right before the porting or rings from the mid point of the choke to the end. Patternmaster refers to it as a stud ring and claims its designed to slow the wad down which in turn reduces the shot string.

Of all the factory chokes I have owned between Browning, Benelli and Beretta. None of them have the feature.

I happily drink this kool-aid and believes it works based on my own experience factory vs aftermarket.
 
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todigy said:
All my carlson waterfowl chokes and my patternmaster chokes have rings inside them right before the porting or rings from the mid point of the choke to the end. Patternmaster refers to it as a stud ring and claims its designed to slow the wad down which in turn reduces the shot string.

Of all the factory chokes I have owned between Browning, Benelli and Beretta. None of them have the feature.

I happily drink this kool-aid and believes it works based on my own experience factory vs aftermarket.
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Fair enough but I'd love to see some data of their tests that support the claim.
As a side note, Angle Port makes tubes with rings in them to retard the wad and cause the pattern to open up quicker for close shots at sporting clays, some people call them diffuser chokes or spreader chokes. So one manufacturer uses rings to spread the pattern out quickly and another manufacturer uses the rings to tighten the shot string for "truely superior knock down power at distances that most would think impossible". Logic says that retarding the wad isn't going tighten the shot pattern but hey, it's their story!
 
Ive got a bad box of black cloud 10ga #2. The wad keeps the shot in well out passed 20 yards. I get about 10" pattern at 30 yards. Great for blasting those divers on the water that just sit outside the decoy spread. Both my 10ga guns have issues with the one box. Newer black cloud doesnt suffer the same patterns
Funny thing is black cloud except for the one box patterns decent in 10ga but horrible in 12ga. I bought a bunch because it was on a clearance sale
 
Falconflyer said:
Fair enough but I'd love to see some data of their tests that support the claim.
As a side note, Angle Port makes tubes with rings in them to retard the wad and cause the pattern to open up quicker for close shots at sporting clays, some people call them diffuser chokes or spreader chokes. So one manufacturer uses rings to spread the pattern out quickly and another manufacturer uses the rings to tighten the shot string for "truely superior knock down power at distances that most would think impossible". Logic says that retarding the wad isn't going tighten the shot pattern but hey, it's their story!
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Patternmaster claims the shot string is reduced up to 80%. how in the hell they determine that is beyond me.

Here is what I know, shooting bluebills with my factory choke vs the same constriction on the Carlson's equals night and day difference. I am not swatting nearly as many cripples with the aftermarket choke. I agree it seems gimmicky, but my personal experience says otherwise.
 
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