Turkey Choke Recommendations

[retrieverman]

I've got a Beretta 686 Onyx 20 ga and am wanting rig it up as another option for turkey hunting. 
From searching on here, Indian Creek seems to be popular for 20 ga, but at this point, I'm open to all suggestions.
Do y'all shooting double barrels do different constrictions or both the same?
I've killed a few turkeys but am still a newbie.  I appreciate any help you can pass along.

[BandedSpur]

Recommendations depend on what shell you plan to shoot and whether you intend to use an optic. I shoot a 686 12 gauge ultralight and handload TSS 9s (1&5/8oz) for the long barrel and 1&1/4 oz TSS 9s for the short barrel. I also use a B-Square cantilever mount for a Burris FF III red dot.

For a single barrel gun, I want a 50/50 pattern, e.g. 250/10" and 250 in the 10-20" circles to provide some wiggle room. For an O/U, I want the "long" barrel tighter than that. Mine with a Sumtoy .675 does 350/10 and about 180 in the 10-20" circle. I am currently using a flush factory full in the "short" barrel. If you want more wiggle room with the "short" barrel you can go to a modified or even more open or shoot lead in that barrel. Your gun will likely shoot closer POIs between the two barrels if you shoot the heavier load in the bottom barrel. In most cases, the lower barrel will shoot to a lower POI than the top barrel if the loads are the same just due to the geometry of O/U guns.

Indian Creek is a solid choice as is Sumtoy. Most guys are shooting .555, .562, or .570 in Indian Creek or .562 or .570 in a Sumtoy in 20 gauge. All of those will shoot killer patterns with TSS.

Good luck!

[retrieverman]

Thank you!

[mountainhunter1]

Some good information offered by Bandspur. As far as the chokes, yes IC is good. I also like the Patternmaster Code black Turkey (.565) and the their Anaconda Gas over Constriction (.570). If staying with Indian Creek, I would start with a .570 for the long barrel.

But, for the money, the Precision Hunter by Trulock will do anything that the above will do. I have them all and can say that from experience. And the Trulock cost a good bit less and it is a made in America product. For the long barrel, if using the Trulock, go with the .575 or the .585. I personally prefer the .585, but both are excellent.

For the short barrel, stay more open with either the IM or maybe the Full. 

[ChesterCopperpot]

Some good information offered by Bandspur. As far as the chokes, yes IC is good. I also like the Patternmaster Code black Turkey (.565) and the their Anaconda Gas over Constriction (.570). If staying with Indian Creek, I would start with a .570 for the long barrel.

But, for the money, the Precision Hunter by Trulock will do anything that the above will do. I have them all and can say that from experience. And the Trulock cost a good bit less and it is a made in America product. For the long barrel, if using the Trulock, go with the .575 or the .585. I personally prefer the .585, but both are excellent.

For the short barrel, stay more open with either the IM or maybe the Full.

I'm with you 110% on the Trulock precision hunter chokes. I've had incredible patterns out of every gun I've run them in. Currently run them in three set ups. I do not run the ported ones as I personally don't care for ported chokes. On the double I run a .575 on my long barrel, and I actually run a straight cylinder (.620) on my, "oh $hit," barrel. The times that I worry about a choke being too tight are inside of 20, and at 15 and in it's a bad scenario. For that reason I personally want that open choke to be as open as possible. I run that .620 cylinder and Golden Pheasant #7s with a slight holdover on my red dot. I've been really pleased with that. I also make it a point to tape up the trigger on that cylinder barrel so that there's never any confusion, and so you can physically feel the difference in the heat of the moment.


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[mountainhunter1]

Some good information offered by Bandspur. As far as the chokes, yes IC is good. I also like the Patternmaster Code black Turkey (.565) and the their Anaconda Gas over Constriction (.570). If staying with Indian Creek, I would start with a .570 for the long barrel.

But, for the money, the Precision Hunter by Trulock will do anything that the above will do. I have them all and can say that from experience. And the Trulock cost a good bit less and it is a made in America product. For the long barrel, if using the Trulock, go with the .575 or the .585. I personally prefer the .585, but both are excellent.

For the short barrel, stay more open with either the IM or maybe the Full.

I'm with you 110% on the Trulock precision hunter chokes. I've had incredible patterns out of every gun I've run them in. Currently run them in three set ups. I do not run the ported ones as I personally don't care for ported chokes. On the double I run a .575 on my long barrel, and I actually run a straight cylinder (.620) on my, "oh $hit," barrel. The times that I worry about a choke being too tight are inside of 20, and at 15 and in it's a bad scenario. For that reason I personally want that open choke to be as open as possible. I run that .620 cylinder and Golden Pheasant #7s with a slight holdover on my red dot. I've been really pleased with that. I also make it a point to tape up the trigger on that cylinder barrel so that there's never any confusion, and so you can physically feel the difference in the heat of the moment.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You are right, and I personally prefer a more open choke for that very close stuff as well, but not knowing how or where this gentleman hunts, and with the evolution of TSS, it seems a lot of guys idea of "Oh crap" is becoming more like 20-25 yards. Most just seem to shoot the bird much earlier now knowing what their gun will do with this modern shotshells.

But knowing where you hunt and how an older Tom can use that steep mtn. terrain to make even the best look silly every once and a while, you definitely have the better set up. Hunting that same terrain, all I know is that it is a crazy feeling to have them inside of five yards, and having to just close your eyes so that they cannot see you blink - and HOPING he will walk back off to about 15 or maybe 20 yards to let you get back into the game. A skeet or cylinder choke with that Golden Pheasant is perfect for those moments. And those are the birds that I personally never forget and that make me want to go back and do it all over again tomorrow.