Choke questions

[brentn]

Alright here goes.

Recently I have been VERY interested in getting into trap, i recently asked some questions in which all of the replys were very helpfull, but I have some more but this time about chokes.

I see that there are extended chokes that protrude from the end of the barrel, and flush ones. I have 'read' that there is no difference in performance between the two and that people use extended ones because they are much easier to grab ahold of with the wrench. Is this true? I would have thought that a restriction in the barrel (choke) that is longer, even by an inch or so, would have some difference in long range patterning.

Finally, barrel lengths with shotguns related to the sport. Why is it that 2-4" of barrel length determins if a shotgun is good for skeet or trap? I mean does an extra 4" of barrel really make that much of a difference with long range shooting? Isn't that what chokes are for, to simulate the effects of a longer barrel? I know that it constricts the muzzle so that the pattern is denser for long range shooting.
Maybe what I'm trying to ask here is how does barrel length effect a shotgun's pattern, and how does it effect it at close/long ranges?
I know with a rifle, the longer length increases bullet velocity and energy as the powder behind it accelerates more the longer the barrel.

thanks for your time.

 

[Virginian]

Trap is the home of the shotgun gadget. If someone thinks it will work, they do it. Then a lot of other people do it if that guy beats them.
A lot of the tubes you see that extend at trap ranges have holes in them to vent gasses from behind the shot, and improve the pattern, and/or to reduce recoil. No doubt this works, but the improvement is miniscule. If you are in the "looking for a 0.5% improvement" bracket, that's fine. A lot of extended solid tubes are used at Sporting clays where the ranges vary a lot more than they do at trap. You can see both types at both games.
The longer barrels give a longer sighting plane. I don't think they think they are getting a 4" edge, but you may be right.
You can shoot trap in the 23 to 24 out of 25, with an occassional straight, with a field gun, and that is what I would recommend for starters. You are going to get plenty of advice at the range on how to spend $2500 here and $2500 there, and pretty soon you will be talking real money.
If you are starting from scratch then buy a trap gun, but if you have a good field gun I would shoot some before deciding exactly what you want to buy dedicated to the game. You will have ample opportunity to spend money.

 

[Striker]

Regarding your choke question, I use extended chokes exclusively on my competition guns for two simple reasons.

First as you mentioned, extended chokes are easier to install and remove.
More importantly though, is the choke tubes (Brileys in my case) are marked on the exposed part so I can tell at a glance what choke is installed. After trying to shoot a round of trap doubles with flush skeet chokes installed, this feature took on a new meaning for me!


As for the barrel question, I like shorter barrels for skeet (26"or 28") and longer barrels for trap (30"-34"). Others like Dave Mac and Will Fennel like
30"+ guns for both games. A matter style, technique, and for me the region I learned to shoot influenced my choices.

 

[RNB65]

Extended choke tubes are used because they can be easily screwed in/out with fingers. No one uses a wrench with extended tubes.

Barrel length is all about handling and sight picture. It has no significant affect on performance or pattern size.
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[Milkmaster]

What everyone has said above is true! For me it has more to do with handling characteristics. A longer barrel is heavier and makes me move more smoothly through the target when shooting. The shorter barrel is lighter and swings much faster whihc makes me tend to be more jerky with it. Try a few different guns by any method you can including borrowing, buying, trading, renting, and begging. Find out what works for you!

My advice is not to spend so much on your shotgun that you can't afford the ammo to use it.

 

[brentn]

good advice, thanks to all you guys for helping me out.

I'm not planning on spending anything on a shotgun right now, just a barrel and see how things work out.