Chokes

[Fuzrat]

3/8 is the size (between 1/4 and half) and its an orange band so my berreta shooting missus tells me

 

[tonky70]

Ok thanks i had a 1/2 and 1/4 but the 1/2 broke so I'm running 1/4 and 3/8 now hope this is a good combo

 

[Fuzrat]

will do you fine fella Just leave em in and forget about them (apart from when you clean it)

 

[tonky70]

I intend to leave them alone . that's it now chokes sorted good cartridges awesome gun just got to get myself sorted .

 

[leskerrxx]

I use 1/2 & 1/2 and been told, quite forcefully, to leave them alone until I have mastered everything else, concentration etc.

 

[Westward]

Half is too much on the close stuff and not enough on the really hard. The trouble with accepting the limitations of any given choke means you're not utilising everything at your disposal.

My engineering brain tells me you're right Hammy but the Shooting Times article does tend to show with test results that 1/2 gives away very little if anything at close range and can be better than a really tight choke at long range.

I love a good mystery

 

[Hamster]

What a lot of us forget is that 1/2 is only one increment over 1/4, which in turn is considered an open choke! In my experience a lot of shooters who routinely ignore the advantages of paying attention to their ammo/choke, i.e those who just live with 1/4 & 1/2 come what may, tend to belong to an illustrious but stagnant group. This is not to belittle anyone or poke fun but it is true.

It can't be an accident that with very few exceptions the better shots tend to err on the side of caution and shoot tight, these are people who have subconsciously found out that 1/4 doesn't ruddy well break everything, as hip and dandy as the quip sounds (again not being confrontational but can't help it).

To those who screw in 1/2 for keeps I'd say if you're not good enough to detect the advantages of a really tight choke for the distant targets, then you're probably not good enough to shoot 1/2 at a 15 yard rabbit. In short you're costing yourself targets both ends.

If guns had a switch that could alter patterns at the press of a button, then I'd bet almost everyone would soon learn to utilise the benefits. In truth it only takes maybe 45 seconds to get properly prepared by making sure you're playing to your own strengths. I can live with tight on most targets but I have also proved to myself beyond reasonable doubt that incomers and very close rabbits need all the help I can get, either that or I shoot 40k shells a year so my muscle memory overcomes my talent. Personally I believe the whole choke thing is much overlooked, probably because being seen changing is almost like admitting defeat and not very macho, certainly not as macho as shooting a Perazzi with F&F just like George :wink: . The times I watch people ignore even the use of the barrel selector on their guns and go on to fire the wrong barrel at the wrong target 4 or 5 times in a row .

 

[VicW]

To those who screw in 1/2 for keeps I'd say if you're not good enough to detect the advantages of a really tight choke for the distant targets, then you're probably not good enough to shoot 1/2 at a 15 yard rabbit. In short you're costing yourself targets both ends.

Hamid, what would you suggest, 3/4 or full? As I said I use 1/2 now in my one barrel.

Vic.

 

[Darkside]

What a lot of us forget is that 1/2 is only one increment over 1/4, which in turn is considered an open choke! In my experience a lot of shooters who routinely ignore the advantages of paying attention to their ammo/choke, i.e those who just live with 1/4 & 1/2 come what may, tend to belong to an illustrious but stagnant group. This is not to belittle anyone or poke fun but it is true.

Personally I believe the whole choke thing is much overlooked, probably because being seen changing is almost like admitting defeat and not very macho, certainly not as macho as shooting a Perazzi with F&F just like George :wink: .

I'm sure I read an interview from George were he says he now changes choke for realy close stuff..........

 

[GlenPresley]

1/2 is perfect Vic. I was using 1/4 and 1/2 at the weekend but steel patterns tighter though so that was more like 1/2 and 3/4. Was not my own gun though.

Perfect choke combo.

If I had multi choked guns of my own then my choice would be 1/2 and 3/4 nowadays.

All my guns are 3/4 and Full fixed as that's all I have ever know and I don't think it has cost me targets before just me shooting crap!

Glen.

 

[EdSolomons]

I saw george twiddling chokes years back at the British at Doveridge. I think on close rabbits it is a real disadvantge shooting tight purely because they tend to jump when you dont want them to! On airbourne stuff its not a problem if you are confident you can put it in the right place.

 

[GlenPresley]

Mmmm maybe! but a close rabbit to me is one of those silly things they throw 10yards away, then you can have any choke you like the pattern will be the size of a clay! .!!!!

This year I have missed one rabbit! ........better get that cylinder choke out! Can't change chokes all the time on Fitasc and Sporting so your a bit foooked then!

Glen.

 

[GlenPresley]

Sporting = Compac Sporting I meant!

 

[ExSCA]

I'm sure I read an interview from George were he says he now changes choke for realy close stuff..........

Maybe this interview : http://shootclay.co.uk/2011/07/30/interview-george-digweed-mbe-19-times-world-champion/ (by me )

Quote:

My gun is 100% standard, full & full chokes, because I firmly believe if you can’t hit it with full chokes and a White Gold 7.5, then it can’t be killed! Last year, I asked Perazzi to make me a spare set of barrels because some FITASC targets were being set that were about 15-25ft away. Every target needs respect, but I felt that after shooting in Austria where I missed 3 or 4 of those and lost a shoot by 2 targets, that I was handicapping myself by having full choke. So Perazzi made me an exactly matched set of barrels, same weight etc. but with 3/8 & 5/8 chokes.

 

[Will Hewland]

Right thats it. Perazzi will get my order tomorrow. Do they do them so that they fold and fit in my shooting bag?

CSC3

 

[Hamster]

Top stuff Matt, really intelligent interview. I do like to read what George has to say and respect to him for dispelling the myth that Full can do no wrong.

 

[Hamster]

Hamid, what would you suggest, 3/4 or full? As I said I use 1/2 now in my one barrel.

Vic.

Actually VicW I would recommend 1/2 as a fix for a semi any day . Don't get me wrong as I'm not having a go by any means, life is a compromise and with a single barrel gun you have to have a compromise and let's face it most layouts can be shot with that combo no problem.

The main point of my prolonged post though was to open up meaningful debate, I do get a bit weary of the old 1/4 will break em all or if I miss with a Full then it's my fault cliches (no offence Glen) because in truth neither is actually true. Horses for courses, choke for solid breaks, open up if your pattern won't have had a chance to develop and don't leave anything to chance as one's own limitations are enough of a handicap.

 

[VicW]

Thanks Hamid for your reply.

When I had a gun with fixed 1/4 chokes I was surprised at what you could break with it but there were certain limitations.

Edge on going away midis seemed elusive for example which was explained when a friend,who can occasionally see the shot cloud, said the clay was passing through the pattern.That was at about 35-40yds.

I don't have that problem with 1/2 choke.

I'm not a choke changer,as I see it it is one thing less to worry about or.more likely,to blame if I miss birds.

I might buy a 3/4 choke to experiment with.

Vic.

 

[tonky70]

So what is the best combo to have and stick with

 

[Hamster]

So what is the best combo to have and stick with

No definitive answer I'm afraid as it does depend on skill level. To begin with 1/4 and 1/2 will help rather than impede you, once you get better and arrive at a stage where shot placement is more of a given than pattern density, then tighter as in at least 1/2 and 3/4 most of the time will be better. This is as much to do with concentrating the mind, reading breaks and gaining confidence from smoke trails as anything else.