Perfect Choke combo for a double

[MauserMike]

My First Double Came home Friday, it's a plain BRNO/CZ SXS with fixed Full and Modified, It will be headed to the Smith in the next little while to have the full opened to Improved cylinder.

If you do it that way the wrong barrel will be IC. Unless you have a single selectable trigger.

 

[Rick]

What is the best combo of Chokes for a multi-purpose double? To be used for short range waterfowl, upland and sporting clays etc. What combo of chokes do you use? I am set on buying a double or two and will probably try and save a few dollars by buying an older fixed choked gun.

Well, as we've resurrected the thread...

If you're buying an older fixed choke double and are intent on hunting waterfowl, you have to consider the issue of putting steel through whatever shotgun you have. Older shotguns with fixed chokes generally don't like steel. I know I won't be putting steel through my Superposed anytime soon.

I think you're setting up an almost impossible situation. Some shots in sporting clays are quite long, which contradicts your general short range use statement. Of course, no law prevents you from shooting sporting clays with more open chokes, and if you're just out for the fun of it, why not.

We hunt pheasants, huns, chukars, sharpies, and occasionally Ruffies behind a pair of Wirehaired Pointing Griffons - all wild birds, not game farm release birds. And even at that, I have a problem with fixed chokes.

Early in the year when the birds hold well, IC and Modified/Light Modified will serve you well. Towards the end of the year when they are getting spooky and often flushing 25 - 35 yards out, then Modified and Full starts to be pretty appropriate.

For me - and my hunting and shooting which doesn't include steel - if I was forced to just one shotgun with fixed chokes, I'd probably grudgingly settle on Modified/Full. Early in the year, when the birds are holding well, I can load 7/8 oz loads and let them get out a bit before shooting. Later in the year, when the birds are flushing further out, heavier loads will do the trick. And for trap, wobble trap, that choice will work just fine.

It helps a lot of you're a handloader, as playing with different wads and loads can in many cases make gratifyingly enormous differences in how a choke performs. I handload, and all my loads have been selected after proving themselves on the patterning board. Works for me with the Superposed et al.