Got my Beretta 686 Onyx and did a 16yd pattern test. The O/U has the mobile chokes - Improved Cylinder top and Full on the bottom. I used Winchester AA trap loads of #8 shot @ 1200 fps. First shot with the IC gave me a spread of 16" with thinly sparsed flyers out to 23". The full choke had a high density area of 10" fading out to 13". I'm not happy with the IC results and am seriously considering changing it to either Improved modified or modified. 20 years ago when I last shot trap, my 870 and 1100 both had full chokes. Should I go to Full? I may shoot doubles and handicap (never done that before). I've read that a lot of you claim the more open a choke is the sloppier you get. I don’t want that to happen. I also don’t want to buy every possible choke. The chokes I have now are flush with the muzzle - what about the extended tubes. Is there an advantage other than being able to change them without a tool and looking pretty?
Changing Chokes?
- Thread starter Super Scout
- Start date
Why did you do your pattern test at 16 yards? Pattern at the yardage that you would expect to break targets from the 16 yard line and also the distance that you would expect to break targets at your handicap distance. Later you might want to pattern at the distance where you first engage your first shot in doubles and then where you usually break your second target.
I dunno, I think having extended choke tubes, especially colored ones would be a bit distracting in my SxS's. Of course having not tried it I may just be whistling in the wind.
I went out yesterday and set up my thrower. Missed quite a few. Dont know how fast they were going but were clearing the 50 meter berm. Will go out Sunday morning and try pattern tests at 25, 30 and 40 meters. I just know I'll be off the page with the Imp cyl.
Best to pattern at the range you expect your break. Get permission from your club manager to measure a few. Stand on the 16 yard line with an imaginary gun at your shoulder. Have someone stand in the field. Call for a few targets and pretend to shoot em. Have your friend come in or go out where you think you broke your target. You didn't miss? Did you?
After a few you will get an idea of your break point. Have you helper pace back to the house then add 16 and round to the next increment of 5. eg. 15 paces + 16 yards = 31. I would round this to 35 to allow for angles. Pattern your candidates for singles choke at 35 yards.BTW, even though I really like an imp. mod. for singles trap, don't rule out your im. cyl. This year I shot a summer league with a fellow who shot an 870 with skeet choke. Once a week 25 singles and 25 short handicap. He was not a particularly fast shooter but he was able to rack up quite a few 24 and 25's even from the handicap distance.
For me, I have a pair of light mods. that I use on sporting targets and I know they would do the trick on singles, but I got this silly hang up about making black smoke.
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
Nothin wrong with flush "Mobile" chokes, although the extended "Victory" series replacements do make choke changing easier ... as to any other advantage ... nope, don't believe it.
For Trap singles, I'd go with "Improved Modified" - about .028' to .030" constriction and for Doubles, a "Light Modified" in the bottom, about
.015" - .017" . Improved Cylinder at around .010 is a little loose for consistant breaks.
Covey Ridge pretty much hit the nail on the head for you ... pattern at the distance you expect to break targets at. 16 yards is correct for POI and gun fit patterning, however, pattern "percentages" are generally done at 40 yards
with Skeet shooters doing there's at 21 yards, singles Trap shooters at about 34 yards ( the average distance a lot of experianced shooters break their targets at.) A nice, even 75 percent coverage at whatever distance you choose to break your targets at will give you very nice breaks.
For Trap singles, I'd go with "Improved Modified" - about .028' to .030" constriction and for Doubles, a "Light Modified" in the bottom, about
.015" - .017" . Improved Cylinder at around .010 is a little loose for consistant breaks.
Covey Ridge pretty much hit the nail on the head for you ... pattern at the distance you expect to break targets at. 16 yards is correct for POI and gun fit patterning, however, pattern "percentages" are generally done at 40 yards
with Skeet shooters doing there's at 21 yards, singles Trap shooters at about 34 yards ( the average distance a lot of experianced shooters break their targets at.) A nice, even 75 percent coverage at whatever distance you choose to break your targets at will give you very nice breaks.
