Shoots an SBE2, prone to site ballistics, seldom cries, and fond of whistling sad ballads...

Maybe I'm crazy, but I use a modified for everything. I think if you get used to a certain gun with a specific choke, you learn how to adjust and make close shots that won't destroy meat, make mid range shots and long range shots. I use modified shooting skeet, sporting clays, doves, ducks, quail, pheasant. I think its more about knowing your gun and where to take shots. Chokes serve there purpose for sure, and I'm probably a little old school, but knowing the gun and how it patterns is more of an advantage then changing chokes IMO.

I think the type of bird is just as important, or more, than distance when choosing a choke. Some birds simply take more pellets to bring down than others, and a tighter choke works better. (Thats one reason why turkey chokes are extra full)

you can bring a dove down at 30yds with just a couple pellets, while a january rooster or a 15lb canada takes a heck of a lot more. Cylinder for doves at 30yds works great. Cylinder for canadas at 30yds... not so much.

Somewhat agree...but this is something that is just part of the beast. Shot placement is everything. Doves are small so you can get away with a lot of little pellets and only need a few to connect. Canadas are big, but the pellets are big...still only need a few to connect, especially at 30 yards it shouldn't be difficult.

Nope, you're not crazy. I use a modified Kicks for just about every single thing. I do have a Kicks full as well that has been put to use a few times. Like you said, the chokes do have their purpose and they do what they are supposed to. But knowing how to shoot is the most important. If a person would just learn to shoot really really well, the only choke they would need is a full. All ranges would be covered.

That modified kicks is really an IC and the kicks full is really a modified

Try ic on doves and ducks, much better

I use an IM for ducks to tighten my pattern. I want to crush birds so my dog has short /easy dead bird retrieves. She retrieves about 1000-1500 birds/yr and it makes a diff on her not having to chase cripples.

If I'm going after birds for taxidermy I shoot a skeet it ic choke. Less pellets on the bird, less damage. My .02. And since I'm not the most interesting man in the world its not even worth that.

After all these responses to this thread I still don't know what choke to use

Guess the one that's been in my POS 870 will have to do

Then maybe you should get a CBR. My dog fetches 1500 plus a season and has no problem running down cripples and sailor birds.

dang.........1500? You guys are LEGIT. How many shots does it take to wear a choke out?

To me - and I've shot a lot of birds, both feathered and clay - chokes and shot loads get way too much attention.

An IC or Modified choke in most guns with most shot loads will kill PLENTY of dove or ducks.

A Skeet or IC choke in most guns with most shot loads will break PLENTY of clays.

The most important part of the equation is hitting the target.

The real answer is practice. But that's harder than talking about it.

I don't shoot. My clients do. But if i was going shoot i would use a light mod or skeet so I could cripple more ducks

nuff said

LM = Skeet II; When shooting skeet with O/U I do use Skeet I and Skeet II... sometimes. A pair of IC work about the same as far as I can tell. Skeet I is light IC.

For dove I found LM is pretty good. There is no perfect choke because game never fly in at the same range every time. This is why the old fixed choke guns can be so lethal. People focus on their shooting skills more than what choke is in their guns. This, OF COURSE, assumes that the gun is holding the patterns together well. George Digweed uses fixed choke Perazzis and no one can outshoot him

George digweed

If i was him, i would keep my fixed choke but change my last name!

I hate cats, i would skin them alive

here go the parrots again

Rooster, I guess you shoot a 870...

He's only hunted part of 1 season so he knows you weren't referring to him

Yes,I shoot an 870 since I was in grade school. Gayraker you have been misinformed.

Maybe time to grow up and buy a man's gun...

Not a priority for me, shoots good...dont jam, I like it.

Yep