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Island_Craig

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Hey everyone in the SG forum, I just recently purchased myself a Benelli M2 Field for a University Graduation present. Never had a shotgun before, but figured it was a good time. Now I have some questions...

I picked up some 00Buck, Slugs, and Winchester AA Target loads... Is it worth picking up a more detailed range of loads to run thru the gun?

Also, this thing came with Five different chokes. Can someone please let me know which chokes would be best for the aformentioned rounds, and is there a "go to" choke to keep in there?

Thank you in advance...
 
Congrats on graduating. What are you shooting targets, clays, the earth? The choke you choose will depend on whats your activity.

I would buy a bunch of target loads head out to the range and shoot some clay. While your there take a variety of loads, run them though your various chokes and pattern the shotgun.
 
I have a Beretta semi auto and for hunting and informal clays I have the IMP cyl choke in for 90% of the time. For late season pheasants or shooting trap I use a Mod choke. As mentioned the choke you choose will depend on the activity and what your gun likes. For both Buck shot and slugs mine does best with a more open choke ( IMP) and in fact my slug barrel is Cyl choke and is good with slugs out to 75yds.
 
For hunting I have IMP in most of the time. Good upland choke, and since steel patterns tighter then lead its a good waterfowl choke as well. You'll also find it probably groups slugs best as well.
 
Awesome!

Thanks for the info... my intent is to have some fun at the range shooting targets, and I am very excited to have the opportunity to get into clays / trap / skeet etc... I'd very much like to give a try at hunting once I get decent at shooting the clay birds!

I'm guessing theres not much to the bead sight, and one will "feel it out" after shooting a while with it? (as opposed to normally shooting scoped firearms).
 
Look past your bead sight to the target. Its like driving, your not focusing on the hood of your car , you're focusing on where you want the car to go and the hood is peripheral.

As for hunting and chokes , i shoot full for everything pretty much except waterfowl where i use a modified which produces a full pattern with steel. That's mostly a in my head kinda deal though
 
Congratulations.

I will speak about the clay target part of your questions.

AAs are nice shells, save your empties, as someone may buy them from you or you can reload them at a later date, if you decide to go that route. Winchester Super Target shells are much more cost effective.

Factory choke tubes are not always the best quality, so you should pattern them all on paper at an appropriate yardage for the particular choke. Trap chokes are usually, modified or improved modified and some folks prefer full. Skeet chokes are usually skeet (if you have one) or improved cyl. Sporting clays require a range of chokes depending on the target you are trying to shoot.

Pattern your gun at 13 yards ... this will show you where your Point of Impact (POI) is in relation to your Point of Aim (POA). Then pattern the chokes at an appropriate yardage. A selection of chokes are necessary so you can effectively shoot the different targets.

Shotgunning is very different than shooting rifle or handgun. You don't aim at the target, generally you swing through the target. Aiming will cause you to stop your swing and you will shoot behind an angled target.
 
Beretta687EELL said:
Congratulations.

I will speak about the clay target part of your questions.

AAs are nice shells, save your empties, as someone may buy them from you or you can reload them at a later date, if you decide to go that route. Winchester Super Target shells are much more cost effective.

Factory choke tubes are not always the best quality, so you should pattern them all on paper at an appropriate yardage for the particular choke. Trap chokes are usually, modified or improved modified and some folks prefer full. Skeet chokes are usually skeet (if you have one) or improved cyl. Sporting clays require a range of chokes depending on the target you are trying to shoot.

Pattern your gun at 13 yards ... this will show you where your Point of Impact (POI) is in relation to your Point of Aim (POA). Then pattern the chokes at an appropriate yardage. A selection of chokes are necessary so you can effectively shoot the different targets.

Shotgunning is very different than shooting rifle or handgun. You don't aim at the target, generally you swing through the target. Aiming will cause you to stop your swing and you will shoot behind an angled target.
Click to expand...

What is the general range of impact on trap / skeet? I understand you're ~15m behind the target to begin with, and things are going to be quick... But is there going to be a huge variance of patterning between say 50-100m - or where the impact with the clay / bird would be?
 
A general rule of thumb is that each .005 increase in constriction will give you the same pattern 5 yards further away. Skeet targets vary in distance but the usual furthest point from the barrel to where you break the target is about 20 yards. Trap targets (from the 16 yard line) are usually broken at around 35 yards. Skeet chokes are around .005 constriction and a modified choke is about .020 and improved modified is around .025 constriction. There is a saying in clay target shooting (especially trap) choke for smoke. This means that a well centered target (most of the pellets go through the target) will produce a small cloud of smoke. There is lots of room for discussion, and some will tell you, the only choke you need is a full. My comment is that why would you not maximize your pattern? Frankly, my modified choke breaks targets better at 16 yards than my full does.
 
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