IC or Mod Choke for Doves

[ChevellRCR]

What do you think is the best choke for doves? I have used an old Mossberg 12 pump with the modified choke built in the barrel for the last few years. I bought a new berretta earlier in the year and need advice on which tube to use in it. Thanks for all help in advance.

 

[Fred Fuller]

In the early part of the season the IC should work, pick your shots and let birds get in range. One of the biggest mistakes people make is 'skybusting' or trying shots at birds that are way too far out/up. Setting up range markers at 30-35 yards often helps.

lpl/nc

 

[HKGuns]

I just got back from two days of blasting the little Dovies! What a fun time.

I asked before I went and received the recommendation to use IC, and I used that on the first day. The second day I tried using Modified and I had much better luck.

Either will work, it depends on how far you are shooting. I think Modified worked better for me because most of my shooting was middle distance shooting. From my experience, Modified had a better kill ratio at a slightly better range. The best advice is to wait on them to come at you before shooting, otherwise you'll be wasting a lot of lead.

I also hunted with some folks who had fixed choke guns and they did fine. Their fixed chokes were full choke.

Good luck.

 

[ChevellRCR]

Thanks, I am not a great shot anyway but I may do just what you did and take both tubes with me.

 

[TrapperReady]

Shoudek - Are you sure you didn't hit better on the second day because you had "practiced" on the first day?

I'm just kidding of course. Frankly, when it comes to chokes I will most often use IC if I've got a choice, but I've got a small collection of older guns that are all fixed Full choke. I seem to take just as much (if not more) game with those.

In general, if you practice with your gun-of-choice and limit your shots to what you are comfortable with, then choke is far less important than a lot of folks think. OTOH, even a full compliment of choke tubes weighs very little and takes up a minimal amount of room.

 

[HKGuns]

Actually that did have an impact. But not becuase my shooting improved. On the first day my inexperience led me to take far too many shots that were simply out of range. I would scare the birds off which probably ticked off some other shooters.

On day two I took a lot of shots, but I didn't try to reach the birds that were clearly out of effective range.

The best advice I could give, which was already given above, would be to wait on the birds to come within 30 or so yards. The birds also got a lot smarter on day two and their arial maneuvers were far more complex as they tried to live.

 

[TrapperReady]

Shoudek - Actually, based on your reply, I would bet that if you'd stayed with IC, it would have been OK. IC for a 12ga within 30 yards should be darned near ideal in most cases.

Of course, the problem is that accurate range estimation is difficult. It's one reason that I like the idea (put forth by several folks here) about putting out markers in your shooting area, so that you know when the birds are within range.

 

[sm]

That's why I use "skeet choke" markers....about "skeet" distance from the tree line they head for ....

Less work for the dogs, less work for me. If I catch the felled critter as its falling - I don't have to bend over and pick it up... even had one dog that'd get on its hind legs and "hand me the bird" ....that dog was respectful of elders.

Peppermint in return for showing respect....

I am a firm believer in Shoot Smarter - not harder.