Choke for Sporting Clays

9

9mmMike

New member
This past weekend I shot another round of SC and, as always, it was fantastic. However, while I was there I was talking to a fellow who told me that I should be shooting with an IC or Skeet choke. My '55 WM has a 28" plain-barreled fixed mod choke.
My question is this.....
How the heck can you hit those fast ones that are far away with such an open choke?
It just seems to me that the pattern would be so huge by then that any breakage would be luck.
What do you guys use? How are your scores?
Thanks,
Mike
 
It's a tough call on what choke to use, it depends on how far the clays are away. That is why some guys use over unders b/c they can have a more open choke then a more closed one. I tried using skeet once and it wouldn't break the clays and i knew it was b/c they were so far away. I think you're fine with your modified. You might miss a couple close ones but the far ones you'll be having a better pattern.
 
The "pros" around here change choke tubes depending on the stations. Open patterns for the close ones and tighter ones for the far ones.
 
Depends on how far the targets are and how they are presented. Typically I will take 3 constrictions with me for a round of sporting clays -- skeet, light modified and improved modified.

As a general guideline, I like skeet for targets 25 yards and under, light modified out to 40 yards and improved modified for the very long targets. I will go with the more open chokes for a long rising teal or battues because I am shooting at the full face of the target but may tighten up for an edge on shot.

I don't change chokes very often preferring instead to watch the target and develop a plan of attack. I shoot the light mods for almost 85 per cent of my targets.
 
90% of the target presentations at PGC can be handled with IC. I use either LM or Mod and have fun. Pintail Point needs full on a couple shots.

If you cannot change chokes, change the shells.

Keep some trap loads in 7 1/2s for the longer shots and wabbits, cheap 8s for closer opps.

This isn't ideal but will add some options.
 
I just began shooting sporting clays this past Summer. I have found that IC for the first bird and LMod (Skt 2) for the second works best for me in my 12 ga. Beretta SP II O/U.
There were a couple of times that I fired the top barrel, LMod, first due to the birds flight and distance but not normally.
The ones that don't break are me, not the chok tubes. ;)
I think if I had to use a gun with only one barrel, I would go with LMod.
 
You guys should get a laugh out of this one. I've shot SC twice, both @ Nemacola Woodlands, two years ago my score was 49 I think using my 870 with Mod. choke. This year I got down there & I had my extra full turkey choke in:eek: Oh well what was I gonna do..... I got some funny looks but I did get a 58 with it.:D I know, I know still not that good but hey it was an Extra Full & my second time shooting SC. I was proud:o
 
Thanks team. I think I will stick with my plain barrel and fixed mod choke. It is working OK for me. I shot an 85 last weekend which is my best ever.

Keep some trap loads in 7 1/2s for the longer shots and wabbits, cheap 8s for closer opps.
Click to expand...

This is kind of what I've been doing. Mostly because I buy whatever I can get a deal on and I have a cache of both 7.5's and 8's. I also have some 1290 FPS 7.5 stuff that I bought at Dicks. I have been using that for the really long shots.

I do have a 30" fixed full coming that I'd like to try. I know I'll miss a ton of the close stuff but what I hit should evaporate. This is about having fun, right? :D

Thanks again everyone.

Mike
 
And the best shooters I know say you'll learn to be a better shooter by shooting tighter-than-ideal chokes.
 
Also, at the SC course where I shoot, mod is as tight as anyone ever shoots, and it's a pretty advanced course with diverse presentations. I'm told that in the 15+ years it has existed, nobody has ever shot 100.
 
>>If you cannot change chokes, change the shells.<<

My method exactly. I typically run IC chokes, but use both #8"s & #9's depending on target presentation.
 
Now wait just a minit Mike!!!! What you really need are a whole box full of chokes, Briley makes 10 different constrictions. Change chokes based on a complex formula based on distance, target type, shot load, phase of the moon and last nights lottery numbers.....or just use Lt Mod.

Lt Mod is between IC and Mod, it used to be known as skeet II or Skeet out. But skeet shooters no longer use it so they changed the name.

With Mod you must miss a lot of bunnies, trick with them is cylinder and #9 shot. Battues need 9's too, but I never hit any of them anyway.

I used to change all the time, but now just leave the IC in both barrels and use full for the long ones.
 
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