Shotgun chokes?

[sprice]

I'm trying to get in to shotguns and I just bought a remington 870 xcs marine magnum. I'm going to go out for waterfowl and trap mostly. What new barrel do I need (its only the remington cylinder choke) and what chokes do what/ would I probably like the most? I already have my upland game shotgun too; springfield 5100 in 16 guage baby!

 

[abrink]

I'm not big into trap or waterfowl shooting but it sounds like you would be OK with an improved cylinder choke. Maybe modified? I know a high school champion trap shooter and he uses modified.

While on this topic I'd like to inform everyone on the great pattern i got the other day! With a remington 870 IC choke, Federal Premium 000 Buckshot, I got 5 pellets into an 8 inch kill zone (deer) at 60 yards. I was so happy! That's a great pattern IMO. It was 3" shells in case you were wondering.

 

[f4t9r]

For waterfowl you may want a choke tube that will handle steel shot.

 

[riverdog]

Chokes for Trap can go from Improved-Modified at 16 yards to Full at 27 yards. If you're good you can shoot Full at 16 yards.

For waterfowl I'd guess that a steel shot rated Full choke would be a good start.

$.02, YMMV

 

[Pete409]

Sprice,

For the uses you stated, if you were going to buy and use just one choke, I would recommend Modified. It should do a good job for you on both waterfowl and trap.

 

[throdgrain]

Personally I've tried lots of chokes for clays and have come to the conclusion that mod choke is for pigeon decoying and rabbits etc, and imp cyl for clays. The wider choke on a modern shotgun still gives a good pattern, but allows for the odd error as well

 

[Virginian]

To get back to your question about a barrel for waterfowl, I would suggest a 28" vent rib with choke tubes, and modified or improved modified choke tube. You can shoot trap and/or waterfowl with a 20" plain barrel and a skeet choke, but there is a real reason most people don't.

 

[deacon8]

I agree with Virginian. However, 26-30" would all be fine, depending on what feels good for you to swing. For hunting, I prefer a 26" barrel. And I don't like 30" for hunting at all, though a lot of hardcore trap guys like them. Whatever that's worth to ya.

You'll NEED IC and Mod. I don't really use Full all that much, but it's good to have all three basic chokes.