Quote from: kdsberman on April 22, 2015, 08:49:22 PM
Hey guys, although different guns like different chokes/ammo, is there a rule of thumb as far as constriction/shot size/ounces? For example, I shoot Nitro H517 4x5x7 through a Jellyhead .690. This is a 2 7/16 oz load. I get great patterns with it. If I shot that same shell through my .676 Star Dot, would it be too much load for that constriction? So when I pattern my Star Dot i just bought, should I maybe slim down to a 2 1/4?
Or.. do certain shot sizes like tighter/more open constrictions?
Thanks guys
That's a really great question and one that is often asked...and debated.
It's really all about the "internal geometry" of the choke tube. Each designer has his own idea of what "internals" work best. That can be wad stoppers, ports, no ports, different angles of the taper or length of the parallel section for example. If one exit diameter was perfect, every choke maker would only make his chokes with that exit diameter.
Having participated in the design of several chokes, I know that each of us have an idea of what works best. I've also "picked the brains" of some of the most successful gun makers in the world, having spent hours with the design engineers of some great guns at the SHOT Show, the Grand and have spent hours in personal conversations with them for the last 30+ years.
It's really all about the particular internal design and what works best with that design. That's the reason you may see a choke with a .640 e.d. and a choke with a .675 e.d have very similar patterns. The designers that work for the major companies spend years perfecting the chokes that they offer. They are tested in all the different thread types before they ever hit the market. Premium quality chokes are made from bar stock steel that is hardened before and after fabrication.
I've been fortunate enough to meet and get to know so many of the major choke designers from most of the commercial makers. They are good people who understand what makes a choke tube perform. They also understand that other designers have different ideas that also perform. You'll never hear them trash another designers idea or product. Nor will they knowingly allow someone purportedly representing them to do that. All of them that I know are true gentlemen.
Lastly, most turkey chokes have been made to perform best with shot sizes between #5 and #7 shot since those have been the most popular sizes for the last couple of decades. Lead shot is pretty forgiving and shooters of #4 lead shot have been able to see relatively good patterns with the WLB shells.
The new generation of shells with different sizes of shot like the 3rd Degree shells from Federal, containing both lead and tungsten-based shot and the "New" Magnum Blend shells with #4, #5, #7 shot, from Hevi-Shot, are very interesting. I expect that we'll see some specialized chokes for those shells, just as we have for the WLB shells.
I hope you found this somewhat helpful.
Thanks,
Clark
*edited for spelling and clarification
