The Waterfowler wrote:I read all these aftermarket choke tube threds with interest as most people don't need a tighter choke, on the contrary a more open one while also learning how to get the ducks in good killing range. To many with all these super duper long range chokes, shooters think that it makes them a better shot and able to kill birds at extreme ranges which results in more cripples and decoy shy birds. You said that "I'm hitting well with the gun" so if it ain't broke don't fix it. Most of the time I shoot a factory modified in my SBE and sometimes use a Terror light modified and the only time I tighten up is with a Terror .675 for turkeys, which is more open than a lot of turkey chokes. Since I started shooting them the last 47 turkeys I've killed have been from 6 feet to 60+ yards. With a lot of the new ammo on the market not developed to shoot through extremely tight chokes I often wonder that all this aftermarket choke theory is just another way for manufacturers to make money. I also shoot Xpert 1 1/4 oz. loads 90% of the time on waterfowl. After all if you make camo rubber dog-do duck hunters would buy it and I think the aftermarket choke tubes fall into this category. Some Black-Hoodie idol shoots one so I have to so I can be as good as he is has become quite common. He's being paid to shoot them!!! and will swap horses in mid-stream if the money is right. Just like Phil Robertson did going from Browning to Benelli among others. I spent a lot of time with a manufacturer developing his choke tubes and I learned several things. All choke tubes are made out of tubular steel except one. And all tubular steel has a seam which is why Terror Tubes are drilles out of solid bar stock that is the highest Rockwell Density possible and still be machined. This can eleminate two things that I've seen happen first hand. One blowing off the end of an extended choke that I saw happen on a Carlson and another blowing off the end of a SX2 barrel that was caused by a tubular steel choke rupturing along the seam. Ported choke tubes and wad-strippers are another gimick to sell the products also IMO. A tighter choke never makes someone a better shot, practicing and confidence in what you have makes you a better shot.
You are 100 % correct about a tighter choke not making you a better shot! But if you are a good shot and are willing to learn the differences it can and will increase you effective killing range greatly! But with that said you got to go all out! This means with the best stuff you can buy. First you have to have a good quality gun, then you need to have your choke matched to your gun, then you need to shoot the highest quality shell you can buy for the extended range. Then you will have to practice, practice, practice with this setup over and over again just to get used to it at different ranges. Yes this means shooting that high priced steel at the range too! You can't skimp back on anything! You can go to a "cheaper" shell like the expert or the lighter loaded shells or the "discounted" ammo. You must use the best quality components out there! Win Drylocs or Supremems, Remingtons Nitro Steel, Federals Premium Ammo. Things like that. It definately makes a difference! You get everything matched up you can effectively kill ducks as far if not further than you did with lead! I have no problems with shooting ducks at 50 -60 yds. Tear em all to pieces sometimes with these tight chokes and heavy loads too! I personally shoot a .650 5" long ported choke tube. Shoot's number 2's 1&9/16 oz loads great! But you do have to be good enough and be able to tell when they do come in you have to head shoot em. But yes as back to the original question you can extend your range with chokes and porting but only practice can make you a better shooter!
