What choke for HD?

[Rigma]

I keep an 18.5 Remington barrel on my 870 at when it is stored at home and bought one with an adjustable choke, simply because a friend told me that there was no such thing.

It came with a shiny new modified choke that I swapped out for an old one...but I am wondering if I should be using something else.

I took it out to see the 00 buck pattern at relatively close range and found it acceptable. I never really considered that it would be used at any distance.

I really just want to know if I should be using something different for 00 buck and maybe infrequent slugs just to know how it shoots.

Since I have the choice, what is the best choke for when it is in HD duty?

[Reductio]

Cylinder and FliteControl wads.

Suppose IC with regular shot.

[saki302]

Across a room, the choke won't make any difference- nothing that you will notice anyways. Run what you've got.

-Dave

[HardHatMan]

You shot it without the choke installed? That can eventually ruin the threads.

[Norsemen308]

^^^beat you it already has..

[5539]

Screw in the choke, you have and be done with it.

Being retired from the Forensic Game, the kind of choke used, was never a part of the discussion.

The most common shot size used is#7.5, go figure.

You would be supprised, how lethal the plastic shot cup is.

John

[BigDogatPlay]

The general school of thought in many LEA and tactical circles now is that Modified is the best choice. Many custom builders are using that unless the customer specifies otherwise. Aippi has posted to that effect here more than once, IIRC.

However, the shots that LEO, .mil or other tactical applications are going to typically be at greater distance than most imaginable HD situations so, as suggested above, constriction is going to be lmuch more of an issue for them that it will be in the close quarters of HD. Couple that with bringing wads that help keep the pattern together into the discussion, such as Federal Flite Control and Hornady TAP, I think it becomes pretty much an 'either choke will deliver good results' discussion.

Regardless of choke and ammo choice, putting your gun on paper at realistic HD ranges and seeing where it shoots is the first, best course. At least that's how I feel about it.

[Thefeeder]

Info on shotgun wads:

Wads such as "Flight Control" or "Tap" are not new to shotguns. Wads to tighten or spread patterns have been used by shotgunners for decades. Very popular when shotguns were made with fixed chokes.

With interchangeable choke of today, simply changing to a tighter or more open choke will save all the money spent on shells loaded with "Special" wads.

[MaHoTex]

HD use means what, 30 feet? Choke makes exactly zero difference in the pattern at this distance.

[RenegadeRebel]

What about at distances like 30-50 yards? Can a choke be used to tighten up buckshot at those distances?

[BigDogatPlay]

Info on shotgun wads:

Wads such as "Flight Control" or "Tap" are not new to shotguns. Wads to tighten or spread patterns have been used by shotgunners for decades. Very popular when shotguns were made with fixed chokes.

With interchangeable choke of today, simply changing to a tighter or more open choke will save all the money spent on shells loaded with "Special" wads.

You're absolutely right that they aren't a new thing. They are a much better take, IMO, on past technology. Range results published in these pages and elsewhere seem to bear that out.

What about at distances like 30-50 yards? Can a choke be used to tighten up buckshot at those distances?

Yes. Choke looser or tighter will always affect patterning one way or the other. If you shoot buckshot out of choke tighter than improved cylinder you will get tighter patterns over distance. I'd imagine shooting it out of a turkey choke (extra full) would produce relatively good patterns out to 30 yards, but I'd start getting concerned about pellets deforming from compression. I could be wrong, and now I am kind of interested to try it and see what results really are.

But if you have to shoot 50 yards with a shotgun, you'd be far better off shooting slugs, IMO.

[Rigma]

You shot it without the choke installed? That can eventually ruin the threads.

Of course not. What I said was I removed the shiny new Modified Choke that came with the barrel and installed my old one. Sorry if I did not make that clear.

Before I forget, thank you for the responses.

Maybe I did not state my question clearly.

1.) What is the prevailing choke used on shotguns designated for or in HD configuration?

2.) I would like the option of being able to fire slugs, and am of the mind that the weapon would be used for relatively close range, and would opt for something else in a range beyond 30 yards.

I guess what I want is the best utility choke. From the responses it seems there is no reason not to leave in the modified choke unless I am seeking a specific performance attribute.

There was one vote for Cylinder, and I am wondering what the reasons are for that choice.

[jeffrice6]

With any HD you test it at the range to see what works best!!! Off the cuff, id say run a mod or anything more open....

[Halfey]

Unless your home is being invaded by clay pidgins, cylinder bore/no choke

[inbox485]

Best choke for HD is whatever choke it came with. At short range (<7 yards) the difference isn't measurable.