935 on the way, choke question for the experts

[Holston]

Well the wife gave me some cash to buy a new shotgun, so I'll be going to put in an order tomorrow.

I plan on getting the supplies from Brownells to do a good deep cleaning, and probably a limbsaver to go along with it.

I've been reading all the posts on chokes I can but I think most of you are running chokes that wouldn't be the best for me.

I've seen some great patterns out at 40 yards, which is impressive, but it's got me a little concerned about too tight of a pattern on those closer targets. 

I'm looking for a recommendation on an "all around" turkey choke, instead of the extreme range ones I see most posting about here.   I'm hoping to find something with a little versatility that may leave a little more room for error on say, a 15-25 yard shot and still look decent around 40.

Thanks.

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

You would want a choke then around .690 to .710 for exit diameter. 

Jelly Head .690 would be a good choice.  Let me do some checking an I will let you know what I find. 

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

I know these chokes shoot.  I got one in a .680 and it's a great shooter.  But you are wanting a more open choke.  This one is .690.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=266805025

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

This is the same choke as above but cheaper.  You can buy it for $31 shipped.  It's been on there for a good while.  A lot of folks don't know how well they shoot.  They are Hevi-Shot approved.  I know because I called the company Flambeau that took over MAD and that's what they told me.  

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=266649043

[Holston]

Thanks.

And btw, I'm probably going to try some Hevi-13 #7 first.  Probably should have put the intended ammo in the original post.

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

Thanks.

And btw, I'm probably going to try some Hevi-13 #7 first.  Probably should have put the intended ammo in the original post.

Well let me show you what you can about expect with that ammo at 40yds with a .690 choke. 

This was with a .690 Jelly Head and 3.5" Hevi-13 #7's.  Now this is a 10" circle.  That's probably about typical results with that ammo. 

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

But now I'm gonna give you my advice.  That .690 choke up close at 15yds or 20yds is still gonna shoot pretty dang tight.  So the difference in the choke exit diameter of .690 vs .675 up close ain't gonna amount to that much difference.  I like the Star Dot chokes for the 835 .775 bores which is the exact same barrel as the 935.  Now you are correct at say 25yds is where you will start to see a more open effect pattern with the more open choke.  But you see it more at 25, 30, 35 and and out to 40yds in all likelihhood than you will see it up close.  Remember to aim small and miss small.  That's my advice to you. 

[Holston]

Do you have any pictures of a 20 yard pattern from the load/choke combo?

Thanks again for your time and help.

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

Well let me do some digging.  But I can tell you that any turkey choke from the 835 and 935 barrels shooting Hevi-13 #7's is going to be tight with a choke from .670 to even .700 up close out to 20yds.  And I do mean tight. 

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

This will give you an idea of what I am saying.  I don't shoot my turkey loads up close because to me the point is moot.  I would hate to see how tight my Star Dot would shoot at 25yds in a 10".  You probably wouldn't even be able to count the shot accurately for it would be too tight to do so.  I have a dot scope on my 835.  It's zeroed at 40yds.  And at 25yds it will hit about deadnut on whatever your aiming at.  

This is 15yds sighting in my dot scope.  This was with a Win Trap 1 and 1/8oz #8.  

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

And this was the .676 Star Dot choke at a tape measured 40yds.  

You can compare the 10" numbers with the one I posted above from the Jelly Head if you like.  Now this is the best this choke has shot.  But I very easily can get around 300 to 350 shot on typical 70 degree days with this choke and the good Hevi-13 #7 loads.  

[BHhunter]

Do you have any pictures of a 20 yard pattern from the load/choke combo?

Thanks again for your time and help.

Take a look at my post on my results with my 935. I did a couple 25 yard shots and posted the pics. I look at it as I always set up planning on a 25 - 30 yard shot. The 25 yard pattern I got with a SumToy .675 is tight, but there's still room for error.

[chatterbox]

PM sent

[beagler]

Rhino (.695) 

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

Holston,

I wanted to show you since I mentioned the MAD Max .680 choke and how it shot Hevi-13 6's out of my 835.  Now I bought this choke used from a pawn shop seller off of gunbroker for like $25 or so.  I only shot one shot just to see how it would do.  I don't think you will find a much better choke to shoot Hevi-13 6's.  But then again I really would need to shoot it some more.  But this is a good indication how it should do.  

Now this was a tape measured 40yds exactly.  

My Star Dot won't do that with that load.