Choke Tube Selection

[Justin Spencer]

I have been patterning my benelli Super Vinci using several loads and chokes and am only happy with the IM factory choke with light dove loads, not happy with anything shooting steel so I am trying to figure out which after market choke to purchase. I am leaning toward a patternmaster, but the price tag is a little bit of a deterrent. It will be well worth the $90 price tag if it results in more kills and less cripples, and the way they obtain a shorter shot string than constriction type choke tubes makes me think this would be the case. My father in law has a patternmaster and when he hits he usually kills. Any others have experience with this choke tube, or recommend others? Thanks.

[Bird Watcher]

Justin, my opinion is that the Crio chokes that come with the new Benellis can pattern steel very good. If you aren't happy with your patterns, I would play around more with your load. Try downsizing your shell, i.e. try 3" instead of 3.5", try #4 instead of #2, etc. Slower loads and smaller shot will often produce better patterns. What have you tried and what type of patterns are you seeing?

That being said, there are definitely a lot of fans of those chokes and other aftermarket chokes. I know a lot of people are big fans of briley chokes too.

Good luck and keep up posted.

[Feathers and Fins]

Factory IC seems to pattern best in just about any gun I have ever shot 20 to 45 yrds. I have patterned hundreds of guns and chokes ( actually a hobby of mine ) As Chris points out its the loads that make the dramatic difference.

The best load I have found is Hevi-shot #6 through an IC Choke. At 40yrds it typically puts 18 to 33 pellets on a silhouette of a duck and 28 to 47 on the silhouette of a goose based on a 50'' circle and there is no place a duck or goose can get through the pattern without a hit on them. Removing the typical circle and running the 50 high by 20 ft long butcher paper with a solid swing to simulate shot string shows that the highest percentage of pellets are in the center mass of the swing. This section puts between 4 and 10 pellets on the silo of both ducks and geese.

The high velocity loads tested the same way actually show blown out patterns in both testing situations with severely decreased hit on target as few 0 to averaging 2 to 5 on the shot pattern simulation which leads to many cripples and or misses.

I know people hate paying for hevishot and don't get me wrong im one of them. But a load that will reach out to 60 yards in #6's and still have the energy to bring down even a Honker says something. Plus it being in #6 means im putting 356 pellets down range vs standard steel loads of bb= 108, 2=187 and 4=288. with 12g 1.50oz.

So depending on how much you shoot a year is to if HS price is worth it.. In timber situations where all shots should be under 25yrds then choke plays a more vital role and the more open the better and Briley makes a very good timber choke that patterns at almost 65'' at 25 yards, Problem with that is just that it blows open patterns. In that tight a proximity I still stick with the IC choke but go with the a #3 or 4 Steel shot cheapest possible as any steel should be more than capable of dropping a duck dead at that range.

The biggest thing I would encourage people to do is get out and shoot more sporting clays and request the use of Mini's instead of standard skeets as this will improve their shooting dramatically.

[Justin Spencer]

My problem has been different with each different choke, although I have not patterned my IC since I usually only use it to quail hunt. My modified consistently shoots about a foot to the left while my full shoots a foot low. My IM is the only one of the factory chokes that hits where I point it, since the same problems are seen with different loads, I attribute the problem to the choke tubes themselves.

[Bird Watcher]

My problem has been different with each different choke, although I have not patterned my IC since I usually only use it to quail hunt. My modified consistently shoots about a foot to the left while my full shoots a foot low. My IM is the only one of the factory chokes that hits where I point it, since the same problems are seen with different loads, I attribute the problem to the choke tubes themselves.

Then I would use your IM. With the tighter pattern of steel, that should be all the choke you need out to 40 yds. In fact I use my IC and IM a lot during the season . But I'm also weird in that I take 4 choke tubes with me in my gun case will switch them out if I feel the need.

.

[BilletHead]

Your not weird Bird Watcher but your avatar is, Babe I love it!<br />Justin I have been using my modified in my vinci for the last couple of years. I really tear up birds badly sometimes. I will be using my improved modified this season. Never even had it in my gun until this season. Picked off my second teal this morning with kent teal steel #5s. What dove I have found it worked well too with #8s.<br />BilletHead who needs to shoot paper more often like Fins and Feathers.

[Feathers and Fins]

LMAO, Marty, its actually an addiction for me, I love grabbing new loads and running them through guns to see what they do. Most the time its negligible to be truthful on the stationary target. It isn't until I switch to the simulated shot string board that you can really see the dynamics and mechanics of a shotgun shell load. I got my hands on a super high speed camera a few years back and learning the mechanics through it of shot string and shot string effected by wind is real neat.

[Justin Spencer]

LMAO, Marty, its actually an addiction for me, I love grabbing new loads and running them through guns to see what they do. Most the time its negligible to be truthful on the stationary target. It isn't until I switch to the simulated shot string board that you can really see the dynamics and mechanics of a shotgun shell load. I got my hands on a super high speed camera a few years back and learning the mechanics through it of shot string and shot string effected by wind is real neat.

Have you ever looked at the patternmaster and the thought behind it. They have some informative videos on their website that might interest a pattern junkie like yourself.

[Feathers and Fins]

Yes I Have Justin, Im already hated enough for the side ports on my gun Adding a PM to that would probably get me shot lol.

[Justin Spencer]

Went down around DeWitt Arkansas last weekend and did a little duck hunting. Stopped by Mack PW in Stuttgart and pulled the trigger on the patternmaster. Didn't have a chance to pattern it before hunting, and still haven't. But after a few misses I got it dialed in and it really knocks the crap out of the ducks, made a couple long shots, and it kills the ducks dead pretty well. It also seemed to lessen the kick of the gun, although maybe that was just me not feeling it since the ducks were falling. Had a good timber hunt with 4 other guys, we didn't limit but would have had one guy not fallen in and gotten cold a little prematurely. Killed 16 gadwall and 1 Susie. Only let 2 ducks out unscathed which is pretty rare for our group. 6 Gaddies landed just outside the spread while picking up the decoys, makes you wonder why we have to hide so good.