What choke for trap?

Silver_wlf

Silver_wlf

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So I finally found my trap gun - I got a Beretta 391 Urika. But now - which choke to use? I have a Mod choke in it now - but one of the guys I was shooting beside tonight said I should have an Imp-Mod or Full choke. He said I was shooting "slow".

I pulled off a 19 on Saturday (compared to my previous best score of 8) but only 16 at night under the lights last night. (2nd time shooting this gun.)

Should I swap out the choke or leave it and shoot a few more rounds with it the way it is?
 
If the gun I am shooting at the time has choke tubes:

16-23 yards mod choke
24-27 yards improved mod.

I have shot more clays from 16-27 yards with a full choke.
So my advice is don't worry about what choke to use, learn where the gun shoots and where it fits you on your sholder. The more little things you wory about the more your mind wonders out on the trap line. That = missed targets.
 
There is a common saying in the trap game ... Choke for Smoke. When you are in the middle of a target and break it really hard you should see smoke. Different ammunition, shooting style and chokes will affect your gun's ability to smoke a target. Some folks subscribe to the adage that the only choke for trap is a full choke. I shoot a mod choke at 16 yards. You also need to put the chokes on paper to see what kind of pattern each one is throwing. Do this at the yardage that you are breaking the target at ... so, if you are shooting "slow", the distance to try the chokes at will be 35 - 40 yards. You might be amazed at what you see.
 
I use Turkey Choke and shooting between 25 to 30 yards, its a bit unusual but i got the hang of it now, My usual score is between 19 to 23, and yes i use Mossberg 935.
 
I use a full for 16-27 yards. Most of my guns have a fixed full and my choke tube guns I put in the full. For fun sometimes I use my 4x full custom tube. It really smokes em
 
Put every choke you have to the pattern board. If you can't do that, experiment with each choke for a few rounds is your next option. Just don't worry about what choke you're using at the time. No need to think/worry about what the guy next to you is using either. Call for the bird/See the bird/Shoot the bird. Have fun and better scores will follow.
 
There seems to be a lot to discuss about this even now. Part of the reason is probably that all chokes are not the same. My BT-99 is full choke, which is OK, and my Citori has interchangeable chokes, as does my Beretta. I like to use the BT-99 and do, but sometimes I would like to open the pattern a bit when I'm having a bad day. Using Bearhunters table the way I'd go is:
16-23 IM
24-17 Full
I use modified for the first shot in doubles. But, as has been said, patterning helps with the decision.
 
Beretta687EELL said:
There is a common saying in the trap game ... Choke for Smoke. When you are in the middle of a target and break it really hard you should see smoke. Different ammunition, shooting style and chokes will affect your gun's ability to smoke a target. Some folks subscribe to the adage that the only choke for trap is a full choke. I shoot a mod choke at 16 yards. You also need to put the chokes on paper to see what kind of pattern each one is throwing. Do this at the yardage that you are breaking the target at ... so, if you are shooting "slow", the distance to try the chokes at will be 35 - 40 yards. You might be amazed at what you see.
Click to expand...

I don't have a choice with Chokes in my Gun. It is Full. But I do find that different wads can make a difference in patterns. I also think that Atmospheric conditions can make a difference in smoking a target or getting a star burst effect.
 
I have used a Winchester Model 12 with a Full choke, 28" barrel and it works superbly, though you have to aim directly at the clay due to the tightness of the shot. Also, I have used a Remington Model 10 Riot Shotgun, with no choke and a 20" barrel. The results were less than impressive. I am surprised that a choke can have such a ranging effect on the shot. For the best impact, I would agree that a middle-size choke would be best from my own observations.
 
i maintain the old saying full full, and full...full for everything, atleast thats what i practice with, i shoot a citori... sometimes i will switch to M for first shot in doubles and IM for my second shot, but thats usually only at registered shoots that i will open it up a bit.
 
All my Trap guns have fixed chokes.My single barrel gun has been choked I/M.Works fine from 16 to 27 yards.
Dave
 
I shoot an MX2000RS with fixed chokes and will never go back to interchangeable. My 34" unsingle is equivalent to that of a Beretta Extra Full Choke. My 32" double barrel is set for bottom - IM, top - extra full..

The reasoning behind shooting a full choke or being told to shoot a full choke for everything is very simple. If you can break a target and score the same if you lead a target 4" or 10", you become sloppy. There is no difference in what you see the majority of times with a more open choke when it comes to a targets break pattern. When you shoot a full or extra full choke and get a little ahead of a target and literally shear off the front 40%, you know to back it up a little for the next one of the same angle. With a modified choke you may never pick up on it, and if you pull slightly ahead on the next one, eat a loss.

Trap is a game I grew up shooting from the time I was 11 years old. I've met and talked to the boys at the grand. I've shot against the best this country has to offer.. They all have their own opinions and shoot different chokes. There is no one clear answer, as like everything else in this game, it's opinion and experience that will dictate how and what you shoot.
 
Give yourself time to get used to your new Beretta first. If you are shooting well then have fun with it. Once you are more comfortable with your new 391 then you can play with options. For now, there is nothing wrong with a mod choke.
 
A while ago there was a survey done one the ATA website discussion form, that was answered by a large number of ATA registered bird shooters.. the overall conclusion when completed was about 85% went with

IM at 16 -24 yds and Full from 25 - 27 yds.

A high percentage of the involved group were 92 + shooters.

Was good enough for me... used that combo of chokes ever since
 
Azazle said:
The reasoning behind shooting a full choke or being told to shoot a full choke for everything is very simple. If you can break a target and score the same if you lead a target 4" or 10", you become sloppy. There is no difference in what you see the majority of times with a more open choke when it comes to a targets break pattern. When you shoot a full or extra full choke and get a little ahead of a target and literally shear off the front 40%, you know to back it up a little for the next one of the same angle. With a modified choke you may never pick up on it, and if you pull slightly ahead on the next one, eat a loss.
Click to expand...

Azazle knows what he's talking about. I would guess your Beretta came with a full choke so here's my suggestion. Examine the breaks you are getting with your mod choke. Are they smoke balls, starbursts or are they chips and chunks. Shoot a round with the full choke. Compare the breaks. The breaks should now be solid hits. Any chipped birds with a full choke will show you where your pattern was in relation to the bird.

While you are learning trap you are memorizing sight pictures needed to break the bird. Those solid hits will teach you to be a better shot. And when you miss, you will then know where you missed.

John

John
 
I've shot trap at RRGC and it was recommended to me from a few other members there to try a modified choke. Lots of good shooters there that are more than willing to help you out!! My first round I shot a 23. Then it got dark and I ended up getting 13 and 15 on my rounds under the lights. Just wasn't used to shooting under the lights at all. The most important part is knowing your gun and being comfortable with where it shoots. My winchester 1300 is all I use/currently own so I use it for trap/skeet/turkey/deer/anything else. Last year i put a red dot scope on it, so it's ready for turkey season with a extra full turkey choke in it.
Just get out and practice, practice, practice.
 
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