I've got to order a new set of chokes for my sbe, but that's a different story. But as I am doing a deep clean on it to get ready for season this year I am deciding on what choke to use. So lets hear it what choke restriction are you guys mostly shooting for decoying birds.

I use my SBEII stock IC ckoke, for dove, duck, and sporting clay. It never comes out, been that way since 2008. If I miss a bird, its not the choke's fault.

I've been shooting a carlson mid range cremator the past few years and like it.

That is what I plan on going back to. Just got to get some ordered.

Briley LightMod thru my original SBE with #3 steel

Modified with 12 ga. IM in subgauges.

^^^^this

LM, LM

Stock especially if you shooting any Boss. Do not buy patterns patternmaster if it has the "wad stripper" ruins the pattern.

Every gun is different imo.....I use carlson's close range waterfowl choke in the new version browning a5. It stays in that gun during all seasons unless I go on a dedicated goose/crane hunt. I can kill birds at 40+ yds with that choke.

If I was buying a set of aftermarket chokes, I’d go LM. Factory chokes, I’d go IC

When my son was in 4H, all the 4H kids had extend chokes, not that it was any better than their stock choke that come with their $2k gun, but because it was cool. The cool thing to do right before you shoot, when everyone is looking at you, is tighten your choke, like a pool sharp chalking his cue before a shot.

I shoot a U2 which is .015 or LM.



I actually find the tightening before shooting a pain, but the benefit is tool-less choke removal/changing along with knowing what you have in there

I get it but there is some merit to different choke and shot combinations. Few years back I had a few different brands of #4 sitting in the bottom of a crate so went down to the patterning board with 3 different chokes, one being the stock Beretta. Found that most shells(3 out 4, if I remember right) performed noticeably better at 25 yds with one of the aftermarket chokes (yes, it was extended). But were talking holes in the pattern big enough that an outstretched hand could fit in.

You would think Beretta would fix that. I wonder what the pattern looks like when you are swinging your gun, it turns into a shot string. You need a shot string board.

Never understood the need to change your choke all the time. The times I watch 4H kids shoot with their extended choke can't once remember them ever changing it. My IC choke works great for shots 45 yards or less, I never take shots longer than that, why would I change it? I guess if you are into sporting clay long shots, you would need to change chokes. I, just me, have no interest in sporting clay courses with shots longer than 45 yard, because I do not take those long shots hunting, I have to be really desperate to take a 45 yard shot hunting.

If I ever put a choke in smaller than an IC, it would be a situation where I know I will be hunting and taking long shots all the time, like sandhill crane pass shooting.

Funny some really higher pressure ares I have hunted before, you got some guy right in the middle of the hunting area, no one gets a shot because "this" guy is sky busting them 60/80 yards out, he has a choke and shell for that distance...All his shots are long range, because he would obliterate a bird with a 25 yard shot with that long range set up.

If you want to stick with one choke only, what Guy said: Improved. I often preach that too many people fail to realize how effective it is beyond the short ranges they think it’s for. On the other hand it can be too much choke if you’re being bombarded by dove at 10-20 yards over a small watering hole. Personally, I keep a couple choices available, having too much choke can cost you birds just as much as having too little. Also, keep in mind that lead and steel shot are two different animals when it comes to chokes, steel patterns much tighter than lead.

That’s like saying a Tikka rifle doesn’t shoot Hornady ammo well, so Tikka should fix it (heresy, I know). No sir, I’m more than happy with my Beretta’s but Benelli has been known to make a decent shotgun .

I usually hunt with an over under. IC in the bottom M in the top. When I’m decoying geese I put M in both barrels. If I’m using an auto loader I choke M. Geese are in the mix a lot of the places I hunt. I get more heads and necks on geese with a little tighter pattern. I use factory chokes.

In my opinion, extending the forcing cone is much more important than the choke.

You got to have a gunsmith do it, and it cost about $100 to do it.

I wasn't a big believer in it till I did it. But I was impressed with how clean I killed birds and the distance I killed birds with it last year. I'm in the process of having it done on all my shotguns.

well, how long are your shots?

In my hunting gun (SBE), an extended Carlson in Light Modified... From Doves, Ducks, and the occasional clay (with that gun), the LM is probably my favorite choke.

Depends how prolific you are… Pick your shots wisely, most will be inside 30 yards unless you’re a master class sporting clays shooter and then shoot it whatever you want to.

It cracks me up people talk about chokes and don’t even know how they pattern at 203040+ yards… Spend an afternoon and go to the patterning board that’s my best advice to you… Many times you’ll find that stock chokes pattern just as well or better than aftermarket… I own both

LM great all around choke. You can kill dove at 50 yards w 7.5 shot all day long w IC

12 gauge significantly longer if you’re lead is right. Doesn’t take much to get a dove on the ground