An Experienced Opinion on Shotgun Chokes

Counting on your shotgun choke to break this target?

After watching countless X’s and O’s with an enquiring mind on which chokes work where, here are my findings.

Does choke selection matter? For some yes, others no, depending on how much the shot outcome means to our shooter.

Do chokes work? Equally to how well our swing is working.

Should we be depending on our choke to break this target? Sorry, no. The choke is simply a helpful tool. Our swing guides the shotstring and will decide X or O. Hold onto that as we continue.

Since they can help, which choke where? That depends on 1) target distance; 2) target surface area exposed; and 3) shooter skill. With the right swing, can a Skeet choke break a 60-yard target? Yes. Consistently? See numbers 2 and 3.

For example, in the Paragon C.I.S. instructor certification classes, my Candidates prove that a more forgiving Cylinder or Skeet choke can indeed break a long-distance target. A 7 out of 10 or 9 out of 10 largely depending more on a) the shooter and b) how much of the fragile bottom of the target is exposed.

The # 1 best choke? With a little latitude on distances…

Inside 35 yards, Skeet and IC just work. Dependably. A bit of doubt on Skeet? Use IC and trust it. Because you can. Fixed IC over IC has been used in winning Sporting championships.

At 50 yards, Light Modified and Modified earn their keep with no excuses 24/7.

At sane, longer distances, Modified and Improved Modified get it done. Fun to watch, proven too many times to argue.

If the target’s up real close or way out there, changing a choke may help. However, changing the choke on every station “to make sure the target will break” is a serious distraction leading to indecision and missing. Again, “guiding” the shot-string to the target is on us, not the choke.

In closing, our more open chokes offer us a bit of welcomed forgiveness on our scorecardand can be trusted.

Folks, we appreciate your visiting. In Part 3, we’ll discuss ammunition choices. Looking forward to seeing you here again. Each Part of the series offers a short preview of what I cover extensively in my three books: Take Your Best Shot, To The Target, and Beyond The Target—the next best thing to taking a lesson.

If you wish to become more consistent in your shooting, I’ll be happy to chat with you and share what you can honestly expect from lessons.

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