New shotgunner needs info
Question:
I’m a rifle hunter that just purchased a Rem. 870 express magnum combo. I needed a slug barrel for hunting in the urban county (shotgun only) and also wanted a smoothbore for occasional fowling. I was recently introduced to trap shooting and find it alot of fun too. My questions: I really know nothing about chokes and would like some info regarding all the different choke tubes avalable and what circumstances or situations the different types are recommended for. Are there any "bible’s" out that give good info? Used to see the "shooters bible" when I was a kid, but haven’t seen one in years. The 28" vent-rib barrel came with an improved cylinder type choke (I think). Is this considered a good "all around" choke? What type of situations is it best for? I also picked up a modified choke tube on the advice of the salesman (heck, he told me to get a full also but they were sold out!) but again am unsure of the best application for this tube. Are the choke tubes (these days) sturdy enough for use with all types of shot? I have seen in Cabella’s choke tubes that advertise for use with steel shot (specialty stainless steel tubes) and it seems to me that the two Rem. choke tubes I have are also made from stainless. Any info/help would be greatly appreciated, even if its a link or point to a good manual related to shotgunning. Thanks, Paul Schnettler Stoughton, WI Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
Hello Paul, Go to http://www.shotgunreport.com Pop on "Technoid," and you can read MANY detailed discussions regarding choke selection and performance. Randy Wakeman Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
There are a number of good sources of information out there but it can be difficult to find. One of the best books I have ever read on shotguns is "Shotguns and Shooting" by Michael McIntosh. It is published by Countrysport Press (you can log onto their website at www.countrysport.com and buy any of their books) Another good book is by Gene Hill called "Shotgunners Notebook" you can get it at Countrysport as well. Regarding choke tubes, IC is a good overall choke. There are several theories regarding choke costriction. There are several people that feel with the introduction of the plastic shotcup todays shotshells are much more efficent than those of even 15 years ago. As a result you can get by with a much more open choke than you could in the past. Most of the time people tend to err on the side of using too tight of a choke, however, it all depends on how far you will be shooting. A lot of this is discussed in Shotguns and Shooting in much more depth. The best thing that you can do is take several cardboard circles about 30 to 40" across, and go out and pattern the gun with different chokes and loads at different distances. Put the targets at 15,20,30, then 40 yards and shoot at them with your IC choke and see how the gun patterns at those distances. You will tell if the pattern is even or if there are big "holes" in the shot pattern that a bird or a clay target might get through. Also make sure to use different types of ammo with each choke so you can see how the ammo choice can make a difference. This is the quick and dirty version and the two books I mentioned cover all this so much better than I ever could. The book by McIntosh is the single best book I have ever read on shotguns and wingshooting. Good luck, Steven T. Van Dis Holland & Holland New York Gun Room Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
: My questions: I really know nothing about chokes and would like some : info regarding all the different choke tubes avalable and what : circumstances or situations the different types are recommended for. Are : there any "bible’s" out that give good info? Used to see the "shooters : bible" when I was a kid, but haven’t seen one in years. The 28" vent-rib : barrel came with an improved cylinder type choke (I think). : Is this considered a good "all around" choke? What type of situations is : it best for? Please have a look at the rec.guns FAQ, go to shotguns and look at the article on chokes. http://www.recguns.com/ -Scot — *** ANTI-SPAM ALERT *** Note the "removethis." in the return address. *** Scot E. Heath, P.E. "Nothing beats turning clay to dust." Fort Collins, CO Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
Randy Wakeman wrote >Go to http://www.shotgunreport.com >Pop on "Technoid," and you can read MANY detailed
discussions regarding choke >selection and performance.
Good idea. I’d also go to my public library and try to check out a copy of _Shotgunning, The Art and Science_, by Bob Brister. You’ll probably find several other good introductory guides to shotguns there, too. Choke refers to how much constriction there is at the end of your barrel, comparing the choke (inside) diameter with the barrel bore diameter right behind the choke. They are usually described something like this: .000 Cylinder (zero constriction) .005 Skeet .010 Improved Cylinder .015 Lite Modified .020 Modified .025 Improved Modified .030 Lite Full .035 Full .040 Extra Full Don’t shoot steel or tungsten in any choke tighter than Improved Cylinder until you are assured by a knowledgeable person that it is okay to do so. Even then, I wouldn’t shoot steel or tungsten in any choke tighter than Modified. Steel and tungsten pattern much tighter than lead does anyway, so with a Modified choke in the barrel you will get about the equivilent of what you would get with lead through a Full choke. HTH Cush Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
