Choosing the Right Choke Tube for Waterfowl Hunting 

The essential function of a choke tube is to constrict the inside of a shotgun muzzle to squeeze pellets into a tighter, more effective pattern that packs the required wallop to kill the intended birds or game.

There are four basic constriction types: skeet, improved cylinder, modified and full, with the last three included with the purchase of many shotguns. Skeet and improved cylinder chokes produce broader patterns better suited for hitting small, fast-moving targets at shorter distances. Meanwhile, a full choke results in tighter patterns desired for longer shots.

Using an improved cylinder for shots at 25 yards and under, a modified for 25 to maybe 40 yards and a full for beyond 40 yards is the rule of thumb, though it’s not necessarily set in stone.

BEYOND THE BASICS

While the aforementioned choke types suffice for most hunting situations, there are specialized options like the light modified, improved modified, light full, extra full and more. Some companies have their own names for different chokes, making the selection process more confusing.

To shed light on the subject of choke tubes, I consulted with Joel Strickland, a seasoned waterfowl hunter and guide who manages Lost Bridge Duck Club near Augusta, Ark., and hosts and produces “Surviving Duck Season,” a popular YouTube series covering a wide range of duck hunting topics.

“I mostly hunt flooded timber where shots typically come at 15 to 20 yards,” he says. “And I find an improved cylinder, or even a skeet choke, is best for shooting ducks over decoys inside of 25 yards. A skeet choke is slightly more open than an improved cylinder, but the average shooter won’t notice a great deal of difference at 20 yards.”

Strickland adds that a modified choke offers a good balance of pattern and range, performing best from 20 to 35 yards. But for longer ranges, such as when pass shooting or hunting over large waterbodies, sportsmen will want a full choke, which reaches out to about 45 yards and is a good choice for finishing off wounded birds on the water. With steel-shot loads, however, Strickland recommends keeping shots within 40 yards with a full choke.

INDEPENDENT TESTING

Strickland has discussed choke tubes and shot patterning in depth with professional shooters, manufacturers and other experts. He also conducted extensive testing over the course of two years, firing more than 12,000 rounds of steel, bismuth and tungsten loads with several shotgun models in 12, 20 and 28 gauge and more than 40 different choke tubes, both factory and aftermarket.

As you might suspect, the aftermarket tubes proved to be better than the factory chokes, which did not perform as advertised and were quite inconsistent. And while many of the aftermarket models didn’t do much better than the factory chokes, Strickland did find a couple of gems.

“Of all the tubes I tested at multiple distances, Müller choke tubes performed the best, with Carlson’s coming in second,” he says, adding that the Carlson’s tubes matched the Müller chokes in a few instances.

Another revelation from Strickland’s testing is that we shouldn’t rely on manufacturers’ designations. Just because Brand X says a choke tube is an improved cylinder, a modified or a full, it doesn’t mean the tube will constrict a gun’s muzzle and control the spread of pellets as one would expect. Strickland advises that the only way to know for sure is to go out and pattern your shotgun with your preferred ammo and choke tube at the distances at which you will hunt.

AMMO CONSIDERATIONS

Of all the types of shot used for waterfowl, Strickland believes that bismuth performs most closely to the once-favored lead shot because it patterns better and allows hunters to drop birds from slightly greater distances.

“I almost exclusively shoot bismuth with a Müller choke tube in the ‘decoy’ size, which is equivalent to a light modified. It makes a little wider pattern than a modified and a bit tighter than an improved cylinder,” Strickland says. “Müller’s ‘passing’ choke falls between a modified and a full, and it’s the company’s mid- to long-range model. It’s good out to about 50 yards with bismuth shot, and there’s also a Müller ‘UFO’ choke for even longer range.”

If you would rather use more affordable steel loads, Strickland suggests keeping shots within 40 yards with a full choke, making sure the tube you choose is specifically approved for said ammo. Not all meet this safety requirement, and shooting steel through a choke tube not designed to handle it could damage the gun barrel and possibly harm the shooter.

SMOOTH VS. PORTED

Strickland’s testing also set the record straight on the dispute over smooth and ported chokes. Some people opt for ported because, supposedly, the small holes reduce recoil or “muzzle jump,” which can affect accuracy. However, Strickland’s test results did not substantiate that notion.

“The performance level with ported chokes was slightly lower than with smooth ones,” says Strickland. “A ported choke does not pattern as well. It can also be slightly louder, and it does nothing for muzzle jump. In my opinion, there is no real reason to shoot a ported tube.”

SAGE ADVICE

After polling more than 100 duck hunters he hosted at the club one season, Strickland found that few waterfowlers bother to pattern their shotguns, a requirement he can’t stress enough.

“All shooters should know what their patterns look like. With a new shotgun, you need to make sure it hits where it’s supposed to hit,” he says.

Simply place a large piece of paper or cardboard on a flat surface, like plywood, draw a 30-inch circle around a midpoint and fire at the center with the ammunition and choke you’ll use to hunt. The goal is to get at least 100 pellets inside that circle.

“Too many holes in your patterns means you’re either using the wrong choke, shooting the wrong ammo or both,” says Strickland. He also points out that an incorrect stance can throw off a shot. However, just a few minor adjustments can improve your balance and help you develop the fluid motion you need to consistently hit your target.

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• This article was featured in the November 2024 issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe.

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