Tag: shotguns

What Distance Should Be Used to Pattern a Shotgun?

This is a question that can be confusing to many people. However, it really is not that difficult if you understand what you are doing. In this article, we will teach you how to pattern a shotgun, and what distances should be used.

What Distance Should Be Used To Pattern A Shotgun

What Distance Should Be Used To Pattern A Shotgun

The Basics

If you are unfamiliar, patterning a shotgun refers to the shot pattern that is produced. Essentially, it boils down to taking some target practice with your shotgun to see what the pattern of shot looks like and adjusting it from there.

It is extremely important to pattern a shotgun to make sure that your weapon shoots accurately and is able to accomplish what you need it to.

Factors That Affect the Pattern

There are a few key factors that will affect the pattern that your shotgun produces. Therefore, these are the things that you should change if you want to change the pattern of the shotgun.

The first factor is the choke you are using. Just in case anyone doesn’t know, a choke does exactly what it sounds like. It “chokes” the muzzle of the shotgun to concentrate the shot. As you can imagine, changing your choke can either tighten or loosen your pattern.

A full choke will tighten the pattern the most, while an improved cylinder choke will be only slightly tighter than the normal bore. A modified choke is somewhere in the middle. There are many different kinds of chokes available. Do your research, and you will be able to find out the spread of each.

The next factor is the exact load that you are using. Each load will perform slightly differently. There really isn’t one specific answer – you are going to have to test it out on your own. But, that is the whole point of patterning your shotgun. Trying different things out until it is perfect for you.

What Distance?

This question is actually rather simple. You should pattern your shotgun at the range you will be shooting at. This will be dependent on what type of hunting you are doing, but that is the simplest answer. While it may not help much, it really is dependent on what distance you are planning on shooting at.

If you pattern your shotgun at 20 yards, but then try to shoot it at 40 yards, your pattern is going to be terrible. It’s not exactly exciting, but you should really pattern your shotgun for each type of shooting you do.

In doing so, you will pick out the best choke and load to use at your specific distance and for your specific hunting.

Conclusion

The pattern of a shotgun is pretty simple to understand. Patterning your shotgun for each type of hunting you plan to do will go a long way in ensuring that you are successful. To change the pattern, try out different chokes and different loads.

How to Determine a Shotgun Effective Range

Finding out your shotgun effective range can be important for a variety of reasons. No matter if the shotgun is being used for hunting or defense, it helps to know how far you can be from the target to have the result of putting the target down.

This is especially important when it comes to protection but you don't want that deer walking away either.

Their are a few factors that go into a shotguns effective range, and if you continue reading, you will find out what those are so you can figure out the effective range for your gun.

Things that Effect Range

Their are three main things that effect the effective range of your shotgun.

  • The first is the gun itself and the ammunition used
  • the second is the mental state of the target
  • And the third is your skill with the gun

Two of the three can be changed by you, so you can increase your effective range if needed, or create a set up that has a farther effective range. The mental state of the target can not be changed by you however.

You may be wondering how the mental state of the target effects the effectiveness.

You were probably thinking only the gun and ammo mattered, but that isn't the case.

If the target is angry or has an adrenaline high, then you will have to do more damage to it to bring it down.

This means having more of your ammo hit it. The situation is even worse if it is a home invader who may be on drugs.

Enviroment is one of factor impact weapon range

Enviroment is one of factor impact weapon range

What affects how much ammo hits the target though?

Well, that is where the type of shotgun and ammo comes into effect.

Bird shoot for example shoots out a lot of small pellets and because they are small means they spread more.

Buck shoot on the other hand doesn't spread as much and has larger rounds so you need fewer to hit the target.

Lastly a slug spreads even less, but because of this you need better aim to hit the right spot.

Having a chock on your shotgun can effect the spread though, and that is why it is not just the ammo that effects the effective range of a shotgun. A chock forces the load into a smaller compact area before leaving the gun. This means that the ammo doesn't have room to spread as far.

The last factor is your skill.

If you are a better aim or have a good sight, then you might be able to squeeze in a few more feet for your effective range.

Practicing with your gun and knowing how it handles is a good way to increase your skill.

A good rule of thumb though is most shots spread about one inch per foot back, so if you need a grouping that is thirty inches to hit the vital area of a person, then you should be at most thirty feet back.

This is just a basic rule though, and practicing with your gun can help you figure out how much spread your grouping has.

Best Set Up For Your Shotgun

Finding the best set up to increase range is hard.

Skill is a big part of it and practicing is the only way to importer that. Some other things you can do though is choose an ammo that doesn't spread as much.

Most peoples go to is 00 Buck Shot. This has a good spread pattern and has large enough rounds to do lethal damage. Their are some advantages to bird shoot though for home defense.

At close range it has enough little pellets to do a lot of damage. However, these little pallets have a hard time making it through doors and walls, so others will not get hurt.

The next thing is pick a shotgun that fits you.

You need to consider the compactness of it and also consider the type of chock it has.

If you are going to be hunting birds, then you want spread, but for larger things you might want the barrel to be reduced by a chock.

The best thing is to consider the primary purpose of the shotgun when you go to buy it. For home defense you will want a different gun than for bird hunting.

Their are a lot of reliable options on the market, and you can find one that meets your needs and gives you satisfactory results at the range you want.

Get for you best scope for shotgun also help you have best result when shooting

Conclusion

Now you know that there are a few factors that goes into a shotguns range and they don't just start and end with the gun and ammo.

While the ammunition of choice and the chock and sights of the gun play an effect. The mental state of the target and your skill are also factors.

Effective range of a shotgun can vary from person to person and target to target. The key thing is that you have enough ammo hitting the target at vital points.

The spread of the ammo combined with your distance determines this and with practice you can learn the effective range of your shotgun.

How To Choose The Right Shotgun For You – Shotgun Buying Guide

With the number of shotguns available, it can be difficult to choose the right shotgun for you.

In this article, we will go over the key factors to keep in mind when choosing a shotgun, and we will make some recommendations for which shotguns will meet which needs best.

What Gauge you should choose for your shotgun

When someone talks about the gauge of a shotgun, they are talking about the diameter of the barrel. In turn, this also means that they are talking about the size of the shell that the shotgun can shoot. 12 gauge and 20 gauge are the most popular, but there are actually quite a few different gauges available.

Here’s a list of the most common shotgun gauges, from smallest to largest:

  • 410 bore – one of the smallest shotgun shells ever made. It is often used for small game and defense purposes. There are revolvers available that are able to shoot this shotgun shell, and they are popular for defense purposes
  • 28 gauge – this is a small shotgun shell. The weapons are lightweight, and are commonly used for pheasant hunting or any other type of upland bird hunting
  • 20 gauge – second most common in the United States. It is popular for hunting and target shooting alike due to its light weight and the fact that it has less recoil than 12 gauge. As far as hunting purposes, 20 gauge can be used for most bird hunting
  • 16 gauge – not all that common. It is somewhat of a jack of all trades, but there are not many 16 gauge shotguns around anymore
  • 12 gauge – by far the most common. They are on the heavy side, but recent technology has improved this. 12 gauge is excellent for waterfowl, turkey, and any other number of animals. It is also popular for home defense
  • 10 gauge – another shell you don’t see much. It used to be very popular for waterfowl, but it is very heavy, and recent improvements to 12 gauge weapons have decreased the popularity

There are other shotgun shells that exist, but are extremely uncommon. Often, these shotguns will require custom ammunition.

Action

When it comes to shotgun actions, it essentially boils down to pump action, semiautomatic, and double-barreled shotguns.

Pum action shotgun: Pump action shotguns are the most common. They are inexpensive, reliable, and easy to use. A pump shotgun will excel in almost any use.

Semiautomatic shotgun: It don’t have a pump. They function using gas blowback, meaning that all you have to do is pull the trigger. They allow for much faster shooting, but are more expensive, and their reliability is questionable.

Double-barreled shotgun: whether over under or side by side, are breech loaded weapons. They are extremely reliable, but can also get expensive. Due to the fact that you only get two shots, these are popular weapons for shooting skeet.

Other Factors when buying a Shotgun

Barrel length.

Longer barrels will be better for shooting skeet, while shorter barrels are very popular for home defense and tactical applications.

Generally speaking, hunting shotguns have a barrel in the neighborhood of 26 to 28 inches long.

Rifled barrel.

Some folks will buy a shotgun for deer hunting, as they are unable to shoot rifles in their area.

If you’re buying a shotgun with the sole purpose of shooting slugs, it would be in your best interest to buy a shotgun with a rifled barrel.

Fit with you

Due to the size, weight, and recoil of a shotgun, it becomes very important to have a shotgun that fits you well.

Make sure that the stock is comfortable, and you are able to easily sweep the barrel.

Which Shotgun Is Right For you

For home defense, we recommend a pump action 12 gauge with a shorter barrel.

For waterfowl hunting, a 12 gauge is an excellent option. Both pump action and semiautomatic will perform well, but semiautomatic will allow for faster shots, which may be helpful.

For upland bird hunting, we recommend a 28 gauge. It is extremely lightweight and fast to shoot. However, many other gauges will work well for this use. 20 gauge is another great choice. As far as action, any will work.

For deer hunting, we recommend a pump action 20 gauge or 12 gauge with a rifled barrel will perform well. This is good shotgun for deer hunting, you should choose the best shotgun scope to have best target. 

For skeet and trap shooting, 12 gauge is extremely popular. A 12 gauge double-barreled shotgun with a longer barrel will perform exceptionally well.

For general shooting, a pump action 20 gauge is a great choice. It is lighter and kicks less than 12 gauge, making it more enjoyable to shoot.

Conclusion

Hopefully this article has taken some of the guesswork out of buying a shotgun for you.

There are a few factors to consider, but having this knowledge and comparing it to your desired use will make it easy to select a shotgun.

What Are the Best Shotgun Scope Options for Deer Hunting

What is the best shotgun scope available on the entry-level market right now?

There are a number of them, and most of them essentially get the job done the same way.

best shotgun scope for hunting

best shotgun scope for hunting

It is important to identify whether the shotgun scope you are looking to buy is going to solve your personal problems, such as increasing the line of vision, improving accuracy, or making the transition from the range into the hunting field.

The best shotgun scope for you depends on three factors:

  • What type of hunter you are, and your experience level
  • Whether you’re shooting long range
  • How important it is to you to have the top measurements in all categories

Let’s take a look at the best shotgun scope in those three categories: Shotgun Scope for the gear nerd needing top measurements/ for the experienced hunter/ and Shogun Scope for solving the problems of the everyday hunter

Top Our Pick For Best Shotgun Scopes For Hunting 

 

PRODUCT DETAILS    
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Editor's Choice

Nikon Prostaff Shotgun Hunter 2-7 x 32 black Matte Riflescope(Bdc 200)
  • Hi low mounts. No problems with clearance or mounting
  • 200 yard or higher moving targets.
  • Seamlessly consistent across both platforms, perfect for those trying out a new way of shooting
 CHECK ON AMAZON
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Bushnell 751432 Trophy Riflescope, 1.75-4x32mm, 1" Main Tube, Circle-X Shotgun Slug, Matte Black
  • Focuses extremely fast as the top priority
  • Sluggers find consistency across the board. The reticle is best in class
  • The light transmission is fantastic
 CHECK ON AMAZON
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Good in price range

Simmons 517793 Prodiamond Shotgun Prohunter Riflescope (4x32, Matte)
  • Perfect for short range hunting
  • This is the one scope on this list that really accentuates the ‘entry-level’ moniker
  • Perfect for twilight and early morning
 CHECK ON AMAZON

Top 3 Best Shotgun Scopes On The Market 

This is my review about three shotgun scope options on the market, it will help you find the best for hunting. Check out it:

1. Simmon Prohunter Prodiamond Shotgun Riflescope (1.5-5X32, Matte)

best shotgun scope

Best shotgun scope for the gear nerd needing top measurements

This scope has a design and features perfect for a serious hunter. At this price, it beats expectations easily. You may worry a budget scope cannot live up to the more expensive models, but when it comes to this Simmon scope, you would be wrong.

You get amazing optics paired with durable construction for a scope that will knock your socks off. When it comes to the experience, you get HD clarity coupled with high-quality, multi-coated glass that is water and fog proof that provides for excellent views. It also features a rubberized variable power ring.

Moving targets are no problem thanks to the TrueZero fingertip windage and elevation adjustment system and Quick Target Acquisition eyepiece. The 5x magnification and 32 mm objective lens suit your every need when out in the brush, forest, or field. The ProDiamond eyepiece offers about four inches of eye relief for the entire range.

This scope weighs in at 8.6 ounces and measures 11 5/8 inches long. It has a sleek look that pairs well with just about any rifle. The combination of high-quality craftsmanship, sleek design, and special features makes this a great choice when you need a scope that can stand up to the demands of a busy hunt.

Outperforms expectations in wooded areas where you are trying to take aim for a 200-yard shot and the line of sight is questionable.

The light weight is wonderful if you worry about the overall gun weight and want to keep it low.

No worries about bumping or moving the scope as it will hold to zero despite rugged conditions.

  • Hi low mounts. No problems with clearance or mounting, you’d think this scope was developed by the gun manufacturer
  • 200 yard or higher moving targets. If you use the gun for long-range shots, this scope will be the best of the entry-level class for your money
Buy It On Amazon.com

2. Bushnell Trophy Shotgun Scope with Circle-X Reticle, 1.75-4 x 32mm, Matte Black

Bushnell Trophy Shotgun Scope with Circle-X Reticle

Best shotgun scope for the experienced hunter

Best Shotgun Scope for the experienced hunter

The best shotgun scope for those already bringing a level of confidence to the table is this one.

The Bushnell Trophy falls behind others in magnification and eye relief, but not far enough that a confident shooter won’t be able to hit their target. If you are looking for a scope that focuses extremely fast as the top priority, this is the best scope for you

Bushnell really focused on the windage issue with this scope.

Mounting and elevation are secure and consistent across different guns, as you’ll find that hi low mounts typical among entry-level scopes will do the job. Get 1 inch rings and a mounting rail.

If you hunt in foggy or otherwise non-optimal conditions, or at altitude or across widely varying different seasons, this scope will give you a consistent line of sight. It’s versatile. You’ll never find yourself searching for a wipe or needing to remount in a situation where the scope should have performed

  • During the golden hour (either morning or evening), the light transmission is fantastic. You’ll have the best vision of the season
  • Sluggers find consistency across the board. The reticle is best in class

  • It isn’t as versatile as it could be. Experienced shooters will have to use their skills to make up for the reduced magnification

Buy It On Amazon.com

3. Simmons 517793 Prodiamond Shotgun Prohunter Riflescope (4x32, Matte)

Simmons 517793 Prodiamond Shotgun Prohunter Riflescope

Shotgun Scope for solving the problems of the everyday hunter

Shogun Scope for solving the problems of the everyday hunter

While the magnification (4x) is not a speck above standard, Simmons outdoes itself with the 4 inches of eye relief. Coupled with that is the Quick Target Acquisition, making this scope a great option for beginners and regular shooters.

The imagery is good for hunters of moving targets, especially deer, turkey, and others than tend to bounce as they trot. So this scope is perfect for deerhunting.

For newer shooters, the windage issue isn’t really a problem with the Simmons. It is the best shotgun scope for them because the elevation adjustment system isn’t going to budge, no matter the weather condition or season.

I like how easily it mounts onto my 870 remington shotgun. The one issue I have heard about with this scope is hard recoil. I recommend shooters to really fasten the scope securely and double check that everything is lined up right.

Most younger shooters that aren’t able to suck up the recoil as naturally may see problems if shooting many 3030s or similar rounds. But for less recoil, this scope will serve just fine

  • Perfect for short range hunting. You won’t find a better scope at 75 or fewer yards

  • Improves accuracy greatly, another reason why it’s best for beginners. This is the one scope on this list that really accentuates the ‘entry-level’ moniker

  • Light is collected and displayed really well. Perfect for twilight and early morning

Buy It On Amazon.com

Finding their niche

The best shotgun scopes on the market are all sufficient at basic daily hunting and range shooting.

Where they differ comes down to the slight intricacies of the manufacturer and how the scopes handle themselves once mounted.

You experienced shooters should go with the Bushnell Trophy Shotgun Scope, while I strongly recommend the Simmons scope for anyone who hasn’t used a scope before or is new to shooting. It is the most basic of the three

Conclusion

Overall, the best shotgun scope in this entry-level class is the Simmon Prohunter Prodiamond Shotgun Riflescope. Its versatility, high level of magnification, and ease of use make it a no contest for those not willing to break the bank on their shotgun scope.

Mount it securely and do a test run at the range before bringing it into field, and you will find a pleasant, replicable experience each time you hunt – no matter the location or time. If you have enjoyed this article, please share on social media so that we can get more hunters to put thought into their scope selection.

If you are using a shotgun, please consider buying the best gun safe for the money to store it.

Feel free to leave a comment – I’d love to get a conversation going

What is the Correct Way to Shoulder a Shotgun

An accurate shot begins with a proper mount and shoulder of the shotgun. As you progress as a hunter, from beginner to a more experienced shooter, certain patterns will begin to take form. One of the most important of these patterns is finding the best way to shoulder a shotgun.

What Is The Correct Way To Shoulder A Shotgun
Mesa Tactical

How to Shoulder a Shotgun

Experienced shooters have their shouldering skills down to a science. It takes almost no effort to get the butt of the gun into the pocket and stance ready to go. I’ve been using the same shouldering stance since I started shooting, and I’m going to walk you through I there today. Let’s get started.

1. It starts with the feet

Just like in football, good footwork is incredibly important in shooting. The shoes that you wear should be well broken in field boots, or other active wear that are comfortable and flexible. Start by placing the feet about shoulder width apart. A little more than half of your body weight should be on the front foot, with knees bent and ready for action.

I usually draw a reference to bowling when describing the foot placement to people. I know this sounds weird, but hear me out – when bowling, it is important to position your body in a way that drives the ball toward to the pins you are aiming at. The same thing is true in shooting. Aim your back foot towards the target (as best you can).

  • Make sure your feet are loose and agile, should you need to shift. We’ll talk about this more in the next section.
  • Stand up straight at first, and then loosen yourself down into position with knees bent. This will keep you from standing to firm, standing to far forward, or not being ready to react and shift.
  • Don’t tense up. Part of accurate shooting and the correct way to shoulder a shotgun is to be loose and ready.
  • Here is a great quick video on shouldering a shotgun.

2. Body movement and flexibility

In shooting, it is important to keep all body movement symmetrical to the gun and to the rest of the body. The gun hits the pocket at a 45-degree angle. Your eyes peer over the top of the shotgun at the same angle. The back of the head is perpendicular to the spine.

Once in position, all movement should come from the hips. Twisting and turning from there will allow you to keep the gun level and your aim on point. Be careful that you aren’t shifting your back around while in position. I always like to keep my knees bent slightly, for that extra bit of added pop. If I need to do any height adjustment, it comes from the knees. I never lift my toes or ankles up off the ground – it is important to keep the feet level, flat, and comfortable. Toes should be able to jiggle but the feet shouldn’t actually move.

Any shift required to hone in on a target should be initiated by a twist of the hips. I encourage you to do a bit of stretching before heading to the range or out in the field. This will ensure that you are loose and won’t pull any muscles should you need to move slightly to zero in on a target.

3. Find the pocket

Let’s start here by lifting the right arm. If you aren’t already familiar with the pocket between your shoulder blade and neck, feel around until you find it. Before ever trying to fit your gun to the pocket, take a block of wood, a book, or some other firm object in your opposite hand and try to fit it into the pocket.

Once it’s in there, move around a bit. Find the positioning with the least pushback. Try to move your shoulder around in circles and ensure that the object doesn’t just slide right out or cause any discomfort.

When the gun is in there, it should have no problem staying there with the small bit of applied pressure from the other hand. The National Shooting Sports Foundation does a great job of showcasing fitting the gun to the shoulder, and realizing that you don’t have a gun fit problem, in the below video.

4. Consistency

Face should connect with the same spot on the gun each time. You want your eye to be right over the center of the rib, providing a clean line of vision. This shouldn’t impact either the comfort level of the gun in the pocket or the accuracy of the shot. In order to have consistency, you’ve got to have comfort.

This is a repeating theme that you’ll find in each of the tips I’ve provided here. The best way to shoulder a shotgun is also the most comfortable way to shoulder a shotgun. There shouldn’t be much pressure on the shoulder before the shot. During the shooting process, the movement of the gun should trigger a similar reaction from the body. It should be a slithering snake-like process.

The gun fires, the body reacts and moves with the shot, and then the posture is reset post-shot.

After the shot, you shouldn’t have pain the shoulder, wrist, or elsewhere. It should be as though not much has happened – the main thing going through your body should be excitement at making a great shot from the pocket.

Conclusion

Mitch Barrie

When asking yourself, ‘What is the best way to shoulder a shotgun,’ the correct answer is to find the pocket and then get yourself comfortable. These steps should help you to establish a solid, actionable stance that will increase both your accuracy and your comfort. Whether at the range or in the field, shouldering the shotgun correctly is as important as using the right ammo. Do some practice in your garage, and if necessary, have your gun personally fitted to you. Any gun shop can make this happen easily.

If you enjoyed this article, please share on your social channels. Education is key to top performance when shooting. Go ahead and post a picture of you in your shooting stance down below in the comments. I can’t wait to see what you’re shooting!

Do You Own a Shotgun? Let’s Find How To Aim A Shotgun

Finding the right stance and getting comfortable with aiming is something that all new shooters have to go through. It’s a fun process – it allows for a bit of personalization and flare to come into the sport.

When I first started hunting with my dad and uncle and a kid, it took me several times of going to the range and trying out new positions. Once I became comfortable, I began honing my aim.

While much of it is about feeling, there are some general guidelines to follow. Here are some tips for how to aim a shotgun.

Learning the Proper Stance

Spend any time hanging out at a gun range and you’ll likely see some interesting stances. Some stand straight and tall, others do weird things with their arms. My favorite is the old guy who stands with his feet super far apart – maybe he’s worried about knocking himself over when he takes a shot?

  • The best stance that will allow you to aim your shotgun easily is to put your feet between armpit length and shoulder-length apart. Much further than that and you’re lowering your line of vision and not optimizing for the best balance points. Closer together and you’re liable to blow yourself over on kickback.
  • Just over half of your weight should be on the front foot. Not too much, because you want to remain balanced and stable. But enough that your momentum is slightly forward. If too much is on the back foot, you’ll find that you shoot over the top a lot because you’re leaning back when the shot is taken.
  • Stand at a 45-degree angle to the target. This allows for comfortable and proper shotgun positioning.
  • I always recommend shooters do a bit of rocking back and forth. Lightly lift the toes in the process. This familiarizes you with the stance.
  • This video here goes over the basics to know how to aim a shotgun.

Finding your ‘Point of Aim’

Here is where a shooter can put a bit of their personal vibe into their shooting stance and shotgun aim.

Now you’re in your stance and working on the rocking motion. If you haven’t already been doing so, hold the gun in a shooting position during the rocking process. Notice where you feel most comfortable during the rock.

Likely, it will be right about where 55-60% of the weight is on the front foot. Once you’ve identified this position, STOP!

That is your natural point of aim. The object with this term, as it relates to how to aim a shotgun, is that this is the angle where you’ll shoot the target. This is where the bullseye will be directly in front, or where the clay will be broken by your bullet.

It’s important to remember that you’re not shooting a rifle. Don’t stand fully sideways with the gun near the shoulder. I prefer to have the stance a bit more open here.

Keep it flexible and position your head

When aiming your shotgun, the goal is to be able to shoot in more than one direction without becoming uncomfortable or urged to reset yourself. Make sure you are able to comfortably position your head above the barrel and hone in on the line of site.

  • I urge shooters to rock a bit every time they get settled into the stance. Come to the same final position the same way every time. Eventually it will be a habit.
  • Don’t pull your head off the stock. The shot should hit wherever the eyes are pointed. If you find yourself looking down at the barrel, or left-to-right or vice versa, focus on keeping your eyes and head positioned correctly.
  • Keep your feet planted when turning, and move with your upper body. Going back to the whole flexibility thing, following and aiming at a moving target should be an easy thing to do. It shouldn’t require you to jerk yourself around in a circle.
  • Don’t close your eyes. Train yourself to keep both eyes open during the shot. Depth perception is as important as anything else in relation to how to aim a shotgun.
  • Work on the mount and positioning on the shoulder. It shouldn’t be a painful thing when you pull the trigger. Slide the gun back and forth until you’re able to find a comfortable position.
  • Here is some advice on leading your target.

Conclusion

Aiming a shotgun is really about making the gun a part of your body. If it isn’t a natural stance, you’re never going to feel comfortable as a shooter. The right point of aim for you is the one that allows the most flexibility without compromising any sturdiness or power. Remember the rocking motion. I’ve been hunting for over fifty years now and still rock into my stance every single time.

COMSEVENTHFLT

Consider the best shotgun scope for your shotgun, it will help you have perfect shot with your shotgun!!!

If you’ve enjoyed this article, I urge you to share it on social media to help others get accustomed to finding the best possible stance and aiming their shotgun correctly. Feel free to leave any tips here in the comments, I’m always game for upping the ante a bit!

Featured Image via Torrey Wiley 

Which Shotgun Choke is the Most Open?

Which shotgun choke is the most open? For those of us in the firearms community, the term ‘pattern’ is something that arises frequently. This refers to the column of round shot pellets leaving the barrel of the gun. As they move further away, they begin to spread out. Towards the end of the shotgun’s range, targets will be missed by the pellets as they spread further apart.

The shotgun choke is the response of gun designers in their attempt to combat this effect. Choking means that the bore is restricted, which will keep the pattern closer together for longer distances.

Which shotgun choke is the most open?

The most open shotgun choke is called a ‘cylinder.’ The easiest way for you to analyze this is to look at the muzzle end of the barrel. You’ll notice that with cylinder chokes, there actually isn’t any constriction at all. The diameter of the choke is the same as the inside of the shotgun barrel. There is the lowest amount of bore reduction.

Restriction is essentially non-existent here, which causes the pattern to spread out much more so than with higher restriction chokes.

The tightest kind of shotgun chokes are called ‘extra tights.’ These are basically the opposite of a cylinder choke. Restriction of the pattern’s spread is maximized, for increased long-range target accuracy.

For larger game, tighter chokes can help with targets on the move and further away. But for me, it’s been many years since I’ve used a tight choke. I don’t do much other than duck hunting anymore. I’ve got a buddy who is a diehard fan of turkey hunting, and he prefers to use a tight choke. Here is a great video explaining shotgun chokes with visuals.

If you are using a shotgun and want to go deer hunting, choose the best scope for shotgun for deer hunting, and you will not regret it.

Why do I want to use a looser choke?

The biggest advantage to using a looser choke is seen particularly by duck hunters. With waterfowl, a super tight choke can have two effects when using steel pellets (lead pellets were outlawed by the federal government for waterfowl hunting in the nineties):

  • Potential damage to the barrel. Steel can damage the barrel because it isn’t as malleable as lead. It doesn’t cooperate as well with tight chokes.
  • It can harm the meat on the animal. Obviously, if you’re hunting for food, you don’t want the meat to be tarnished by the shot.
  • I really like the way these guys explained why they use certain chokes on duck hunts.:

So, to prevent these two things from happening, waterfowl hunters began using more open chokes. Hence, the rising popularity of the cyclinder.

I first began to prefer an open choke shortly after the regulations took place in 1991. By the following season, I began noticing severe distress to the barrel of my shotgun. This began to have a great impact on my hunting, so I started using the cyclinder choke.

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Ever since, I’ve been working on ways to maximize my shooting accuracy with the most open choke, and have gotten a lot better. It takes an immense amount of practice, but at the end of the day I have better meat resulting from my increased shooting skill level. All without damaging the barrel of my gun.

The bottom line

When selecting the best choke for your shotgun, the most important factor is to consider what type of game you are hunting. For turkeys and larger game birds, a tighter choke is going to be the better option.

For those of us duck hunters, the cyclinder is the most open shotgun choke and therefore the best for us. I always recommend heading to the range and spending ample time on the patterning board prior to hitting the field. Notice how the pellets strike the target, and adjust your shooting technique as necessary.

Many new hunters don’t realize the advantages of using an open choke on their shotgun when waterfowl hunting. I’d appreciate it if you shared this article on social media so that more new hunters can learn of the pros and cons of different chokes. Do you have any techniques you’d like to share? Go ahead and leave them here in the comments, and we’ll get a discussion going.

Featured Image by Keith Riley-Whittingham

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