Best choke for shooting 20ga skeet?

FMP

FMP

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Hey CGN

I've gone skeet shooting twice and I'm currently using a Mossberg 20ga 500 series with a 26" barrel. The gun came with three chokes ( Imp Cyl, Full, Modified )

Anyone have any feedback on the best possible to choke to use? I can't really tell the difference when shooting ( due to my lack of knowledge / experience )

Any input ( for a newb like me ) is greatly appreciated

Thanks!
 
take a look at : http://www.wildfowlmag.com/tips_strategies/shotgun_062304/

i think i have a Modified on both my 12ga and 20ga. just to help me get some more range out of it so i can get more bb's per inch^2 but not have to be pin point accurate.

its a trade,
tight pattern = good distance
open pattern = more forgiveable

for strictly clay the more open the better, id rather shoot what what i am hunting with though so i can get a feel for the pattern.
 
thundergrey said:
take a look at : http://www.wildfowlmag.com/tips_strategies/shotgun_062304/

i think i have a Modified on both my 12ga and 20ga. just to help me get some more range out of it so i can get more bb's per inch^2 but not have to be pin point accurate.

its a trade,
tight pattern = good distance
open pattern = more forgiveable

for strictly clay the more open the better, id rather shoot what what i am hunting with though so i can get a feel for the pattern.
Click to expand...

In other words use the choke to match the game, be it skeet or trap ;)
 
ben hunchak said:
Skeet choke.
Click to expand...
Don't have a " skeet " choke, thanks though

thundergrey said:
take a look at : http://www.wildfowlmag.com/tips_strategies/shotgun_062304/

i think i have a Modified on both my 12ga and 20ga. just to help me get some more range out of it so i can get more bb's per inch^2 but not have to be pin point accurate.

its a trade,
tight pattern = good distance
open pattern = more forgiveable

for strictly clay the more open the better, id rather shoot what what i am hunting with though so i can get a feel for the pattern.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link, Ill definitely read it over tonight.

From what I've seen on the forum, modified seems to be the popular choice. I'm shooting strictly clay / skeet only, not trap.

Thanks for info!
 
If you don't have a 20 ga. "Skeet" choke for your gun, and aren't about to buy one, then use Improved Cylinder. You will have the best chance of putting your pattern to work for you on Skeet ( max. 21 yards if you break them at or just before the centre ! ) targets.
 
MudChucker said:
my wife uses the same gun to shoot clay at the farm, Ive found the imp cyl to be best
if its an overcast day and we can see clearly I will screw in the full choke and go for longer shots...
Click to expand...

Good point ... some folks refer to clay targets simply as "skeet", even when they are talking about shooting clay targets informally, say when they are thrown from a hand trap or stationary trap set-up.

Skeet is a particular clay target shotgun game, as is Trap, Sporting Clays,
5-Stand, etc., etc. Clay targets are used in all those games, but the clay targets themselves... or "clay pigeons" as they are sometimes called... are not skeet.

Improved Cylinder Choke (sometimes called 1/4 choke, IC or Imp/Cyl.) has relatively little constriction, offering the largest amount of shot spread (of the 3 chokes mentioned in the original post ) at any given distance. It is typically used effectively on clay targets or game out to about 25 yards. Full choke on the other hand has a relatively high amount of choke constriction, useful on clay targets out to 40 yards or better ... maximum shotgun range. Modified ( or 1/2 choke) is pretty much in the middle of the two - between Improved Cylinder & Full (constriction wise) , and tends to work best on targets or game in the mid-range, 25 to 35 yard range.

Chokes can range from "Spreader" tubes, through Cylinder, Skeet or Skeet 1,
Skeet 2 ( sometimes called Skeet In & Skeet Out respectively), Improved Cylinder, Light Modified, Modified, Improved Modified, Light Full, Full and Extra Full. Turkey chokes for use with heavy loads of large shot and Predator chokes for use with buckshot have even more constriction still, and may be referred to as Super Full, Super Extra Full or some such. With standard lead clay target shells, they rarely provide ultra-tight patterns however.

Perhaps the foregoing will help understand choke a little more ?
 
we just bailed up a field this morning so we broke out the shotguns and had some fun... on the 20g 3 inch I found I was 16 for 20 with a full choke on clay that was maybe 30 to 40 yards out ... I screwed in the imp cyl and was 13 for 20 on the same distance... switched over to the 12g 31/2 inch I was 20 for 20 with imp cyl and 14 for 20 with a full choke...something to point out, the 20g has a 28 inch barrel, the 12g has a 22 inch barrel...

kind of odd stats, but thats a hundred shells fired Im thinking I was getting week before lunch :)
 
beretta boy said:
Good point ... some folks refer to clay targets simply as "skeet", even when they are talking about shooting clay targets informally, say when they are thrown from a hand trap or stationary trap set-up.

Skeet is a particular clay target shotgun game, as is Trap, Sporting Clays,
5-Stand, etc., etc. Clay targets are used in all those games, but the clay targets themselves... or "clay pigeons" as they are sometimes called... are not skeet.
Click to expand...

Your right, I'm not shooting skeet in the traditional sense ( game or 5 stand ) I'm simply throwing clay targets within a relative consistent distance ( 15 -30 yards ) I was using the champion High fly clay target thrower ( what a piece of garbage ..DO NOT BUY!! ) ended up going to cdn tire and picking up a hand thrower, which worked perfect over and over again.


Improved Cylinder Choke (sometimes called 1/4 choke, IC or Imp/Cyl.) has relatively little constriction, offering the largest amount of shot spread (of the 3 chokes mentioned in the original post ) at any given distance. It is typically used effectively on clay targets or game out to about 25 yards. Full choke on the other hand has a relatively high amount of choke constriction, useful on clay targets out to 40 yards or better ... maximum shotgun range. Modified ( or 1/2 choke) is pretty much in the middle of the two - between Improved Cylinder & Full (constriction wise) , and tends to work best on targets or game in the mid-range, 25 to 35 yard range.

Chokes can range from "Spreader" tubes, through Cylinder, Skeet or Skeet 1,
Skeet 2 ( sometimes called Skeet In & Skeet Out respectively), Improved Cylinder, Light Modified, Modified, Improved Modified, Light Full, Full and Extra Full. Turkey chokes for use with heavy loads of large shot and Predator chokes for use with buckshot have even more constriction still, and may be referred to as Super Full, Super Extra Full or some such. With standard lead clay target shells, they rarely provide ultra-tight patterns however.

Perhaps the foregoing will help understand choke a little more ?
Click to expand...

Yes, thanks for the insightful post , much appreciated :cheers:
 
FMP said:
Your right, I'm not shooting skeet in the traditional sense ( game or 5 stand ) I'm simply throwing clay targets within a relative consistent distance ( 15 -30 yards )


I see Beretta boy finally figured out what you were shooting.
You're not shooting skeet in any sense. :)
Allot of the shooters new and old, refer to the clay targets as "skeets", It sounds quit humorous.
As far as chokes for your 20, I'd stick with the modified for hand throwing, on a hand set trap, where the bird will go a little further, try the full choke.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
hogiron said:
I see Beretta boy finally figured out what you were shooting.You're not shooting skeet in any sense. :) Allot of the shooters new and old, refer to the clay targets as "skeets", It sounds quit humorous.
As far as chokes for your 20, I'd stick with the modified for had throwing, on a hand set trap, where the bird will go a little further, try the full choke.
Click to expand...
Well, I have done the 5 stand twice, but for all intense purposes ill be hand throwing 90% of the time.

Thanks for the input, Ill try the modified and full choke next time around.

:cheers:
 
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