11-87 choke suggestions?

[Jbird22]

Just goes to show you how different guns/barrels can be. The JH .665 shines in my 870 SM 23". It's too dang tight if you ask me. The Ventilator did horribly in my 870 SPT 26" while the TG SSX .643 and Kick's .655 both shot pretty good, not fantastic, with 3" #6 THUGS. I'm gonna test those same 3 chokes in my 870 SM 23" with the THUGS for the heck of it but so far I'm VERY un-impressed with the Ventilator.

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

Just goes to show you how different guns/barrels can be. The JH .665 shines in my 870 SM 23". It's too dang tight if you ask me. The Ventilator did horribly in my 870 SPT 26" while the TG SSX .643 and Kick's .655 both shot pretty good, not fantastic, with 3" #6 THUGS. I'm gonna test those same 3 chokes in my 870 SM 23" with the THUGS for the heck of it but so far I'm VERY un-impressed with the Ventilator.

Have you tried a Haymaker .670 yet in your Rem.  I have one, but I haven't shot it yet.  But I bought it with high hopes from the report I have from VaTurkey in his Benelli.  Ricky pretty much said it's the best choke he has shot.

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

Just goes to show you how different guns/barrels can be. The JH .665 shines in my 870 SM 23". It's too dang tight if you ask me. The Ventilator did horribly in my 870 SPT 26" while the TG SSX .643 and Kick's .655 both shot pretty good, not fantastic, with 3" #6 THUGS. I'm gonna test those same 3 chokes in my 870 SM 23" with the THUGS for the heck of it but so far I'm VERY un-impressed with the Ventilator.

And what loads are you talking about.  I haven't seen a Ventilator choke not shoot well in a 870 with Hevi-13 #7's. 

[Jbird22]

Just goes to show you how different guns/barrels can be. The JH .665 shines in my 870 SM 23". It's too dang tight if you ask me. The Ventilator did horribly in my 870 SPT 26" while the TG SSX .643 and Kick's .655 both shot pretty good, not fantastic, with 3" #6 THUGS. I'm gonna test those same 3 chokes in my 870 SM 23" with the THUGS for the heck of it but so far I'm VERY un-impressed with the Ventilator.

Have you tried a Haymaker .670 yet in your Rem.  I have one, but I haven't shot it yet.  But I bought it with high hopes from the report I have from VaTurkey in his Benelli.  Ricky pretty much said it's the best choke he has shot.

Nope, I haven't bought any new choke tubes in a few years. I'd love to try a Haymaker and Indian Creek. As far as HTL is concerned though, I just don't see a choke beating my JH .665 in a pellet count. It's actually too tight for the majority of areas I hunt. I backed off and went with a Rem SF Hevi approved to open my pattern up a bit. I'm still getting 170's in a 10" @ 40 yds with H-13 3.5" 2.25 oz #6 (good lot #'s).

[Jbird22]

Just goes to show you how different guns/barrels can be. The JH .665 shines in my 870 SM 23". It's too dang tight if you ask me. The Ventilator did horribly in my 870 SPT 26" while the TG SSX .643 and Kick's .655 both shot pretty good, not fantastic, with 3" #6 THUGS. I'm gonna test those same 3 chokes in my 870 SM 23" with the THUGS for the heck of it but so far I'm VERY un-impressed with the Ventilator.

And what loads are you talking about.  I haven't seen a Ventilator choke not shoot well in a 870 with Hevi-13 #7's. 

3" - 1-7/8 oz - #6 Federal Turkey THUGS ... never felt the need to run a Hevi through it being I had 2 other chokes I was plenty satisfied with.

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

Just goes to show you how different guns/barrels can be. The JH .665 shines in my 870 SM 23". It's too dang tight if you ask me. The Ventilator did horribly in my 870 SPT 26" while the TG SSX .643 and Kick's .655 both shot pretty good, not fantastic, with 3" #6 THUGS. I'm gonna test those same 3 chokes in my 870 SM 23" with the THUGS for the heck of it but so far I'm VERY un-impressed with the Ventilator.

Have you tried a Haymaker .670 yet in your Rem.  I have one, but I haven't shot it yet.  But I bought it with high hopes from the report I have from VaTurkey in his Benelli.  Ricky pretty much said it's the best choke he has shot.

Nope, I haven't bought any new choke tubes in a few years. I'd love to try a Haymaker and Indian Creek. As far as HTL is concerned though, I just don't see a choke beating my JH .665 in a pellet count. It's actually too tight for the majority of areas I hunt. I backed off and went with a Rem SF Hevi approved to open my pattern up a bit. I'm still getting 170's in a 10" @ 40 yds with H-13 3.5" 2.25 oz #6 (good lot #'s).

No offense, but I can consistently get that and more with the Ventilator and only the 1.75oz #6 Hevi-13 loads. 

[Jbird22]

Just goes to show you how different guns/barrels can be. The JH .665 shines in my 870 SM 23". It's too dang tight if you ask me. The Ventilator did horribly in my 870 SPT 26" while the TG SSX .643 and Kick's .655 both shot pretty good, not fantastic, with 3" #6 THUGS. I'm gonna test those same 3 chokes in my 870 SM 23" with the THUGS for the heck of it but so far I'm VERY un-impressed with the Ventilator.

Have you tried a Haymaker .670 yet in your Rem.  I have one, but I haven't shot it yet.  But I bought it with high hopes from the report I have from VaTurkey in his Benelli.  Ricky pretty much said it's the best choke he has shot.

Nope, I haven't bought any new choke tubes in a few years. I'd love to try a Haymaker and Indian Creek. As far as HTL is concerned though, I just don't see a choke beating my JH .665 in a pellet count. It's actually too tight for the majority of areas I hunt. I backed off and went with a Rem SF Hevi approved to open my pattern up a bit. I'm still getting 170's in a 10" @ 40 yds with H-13 3.5" 2.25 oz #6 (good lot #'s).

No offense, but I can consistently get that and more with the Ventilator and only the 1.75oz #6 Hevi-13 loads. 

No offense taken. This stuff isn't a contest to me like it once was. I found a combo that suits my needs and that's all that matters to me. It produces a nice even pattern in both the 10" and 20" @ 40 yds. There's not a gobbler around that will escape it if I do my part.

As far as my JH .665 and that same round is concerned, it'll beat my REM SF by 40-50 pellets in the 10". The only problem is that it doesn't leave enough wiggle room for my liking in the 20".

Maybe one day my curiosity will get the best of me and I'll run a Hevi through my Ventilator but as of now I have no desire to.

[Swamp]

Mine has the 28" barrel and I'm planning on shooting lead. I refuse to pay the outrageous prices for hevi shot. I have 3 boxes of the 3" #6s thugs a box of 3" win xx #5s to try when I decide on a choke.

[pdaugherty]

Try the HEVI-Shot .662 choke with the #6 3in 2oz HEVI13 and the Rhino .660 with the #7 3in 2 oz HEVI13

[FL-Boss]

I agree JBIRD ...  I'm all about great "real world" hunting patterns now... no so much about the 10 circle.   I know the whole 10in thing is a sport for some folks and that's great.  I have a 11-87, 23in and JH .660 shooting HEVI #7.  The pattern is great.. I got over 270 yesterday.  But I'm concerned about the shooting birds at 25 yards or less... cause the reality is that is where most the shots are taken around Florida woods.

I may try something a little more open... like JH .665

[allaboutshooting]

Mine has the 28" barrel and I'm planning on shooting lead. I refuse to pay the outrageous prices for hevi shot. I have 3 boxes of the 3" #6s thugs a box of 3" win xx #5s to try when I decide on a choke.

You picked a great barrel length in my experience. That barrel should get you some excellent patterns. I would recommend that you "deep clean" it before you take it to the range. Even brand new barrels benefit from that process. It helps to remove any left-over "gunk" from manufacturing and allows you to really see just how your barrel looks on the inside. My Remington barrels have all been very slick.

Whatever choke you choose and whatever shell works best for you in your gun, good luck this spring in the turkey woods.

Thanks,
Clark

[Swamp]

thanks Clark I upgraded form a mossy 535 with a 24" barrel only shell that shot decent out of it was the thug 3" 6s. How was your 11-87 on recoil with 3.5s? If you shot any 3.5s.

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

I agree JBIRD ...  I'm all about great "real world" hunting patterns now... no so much about the 10 circle.   I know the whole 10in thing is a sport for some folks and that's great.  I have a 11-87, 23in and JH .660 shooting HEVI #7.  The pattern is great.. I got over 270 yesterday.  But I'm concerned about the shooting birds at 25 yards or less... cause the reality is that is where most the shots are taken around Florida woods.

I may try something a little more open... like JH .665

I can tell you the difference between a choke that is even .655 vs .675 ain't going to be much when it comes to wiggly room at say 20yds.  And in a lot of cases the more open choke will in fact shoot tighter. 

[allaboutshooting]

thanks Clark I upgraded form a mossy 535 with a 24" barrel only shell that shot decent out of it was the thug 3" 6s. How was your 11-87 on recoil with 3.5s? If you shot any 3.5s.

I only shoot 3.5" shells to evaluate something new. I shoot 3" shells on a regular basis but the 11-87 is a very soft shooting gun. I replaced the factory recoil pads on both guns with Limbsavers and for bench work and in competition, I also put a Shooter's Friend recoil pad over that. Recoil is the enemy of accuracy.

Thanks,
Clark

[stevefulmer]

I have used the 1187 for over a decade..with a 24" barrell.  My best pattern came from the Indian Creek and Jelly Head did well too.  This was after I ditched the 3.5" shells and went with 3" shells.  My gun would not pattern the larger shell.  Good luck.