What chokes do I need? | TSC Clay Shooting

[@douglasdunning6216]

The British call the muzzle chokes full,half,and quarter. Us Americans call them full,modified,and improved cylinder respectively.The British refer to the shotgun sizes as bore instead of gauge as here in the USA. Example: 12 bore in the UK 12 gauge in the US. It is just different terminology for the same thing.

[@Stathis10]

Douglas Dunning in Cyprus we are using the notches they have on them to number them 1 =full choke, until 4 = improved cylinder, and 5 has no notches on it and is cylinder

[@cagkant3778]

stathisko1 lol i am from cyprus too

[@precisionairguns5553]

Yeh, But the UK boys are correct though! 😜

[@ElectricBlaze164]

Oh thank you I was confused on the "half" and "quarter" parts lol

[@sailorgirlk1]

Interesting, we say gauge in Canada too.

[@johnh8197]

I’m form the USA and I really love Sporting Clays of all the Clay games. That’s mainly because I do a lot of upland bird hunting. So I use my field gun to shoot clay as well. My favorite and all-around combination is a Light Modified on bottom, Modified on top.

[@MrBigTexFyre]

I love how you catch the ejected shells. Cool!

[@delclark3230]

One of the first things I learned when I started, can't hit bugger all but at least I catch my ejected shells ok. :-)

[@gtrdline]

So proper: a shirt and tie with sweater for clay shooting. Makes me want to sip some tea and eat biscuits.

[@sarahager2277]

Good word, Mr. Whelehan. Thanx from Southern California!

[@dougpender2009]

Thanks for the advice on 1/4 and 1/2 chokes for clay shooting. Also very smooth how you caught the ejected shells in your hand, I will have to learn that!

[@TSCTheshootingchannel]

Thanks Doug!

[@ChrisCSeversonTUBE]

Just started using a new gun with auto eject. That catch is smooth as hell! New skill to learn!

[@keithhaynes8079]

love the the shooting channel, I had a problem with my gun, after watching your channel I had a slight alteration done . Now after 3 weeks I,m hitting more birds roost shooting and decoying and my clay pigeon shooting has vastly improved also will be back at the oxford gun company for some more Rio trap number 8 shots shortly. 73 years old shooter again many thanks.

[@TSCTheshootingchannel]

That’s great news - glad we’ve been able to help.

[@Voxac100b]

At 3.51 you nailed it. For the majority of sporting stands constant changing can wreck many a card.

[@macmccollum6064]

Great video. Chokes do have a purpose and it takes experimenting to determine the best size. Very disappointed in Weatherby's lack of choke choice for their shotguns. Weatherby won't even post a review on their website if there is a negative comment regarding their limited choke selection. When buying a shotgun, know your options.

[@robertfazekas4607]

Nice explanation, and sharp dressed, proper and elegant. Nice cartridge catch, I should practice it! Sorry about my English... Kind regards Robert

[@LittleMissLeared]

I use an artichoke.

[@270Rusty]

Bloody two years later but do you like a full artichoke or are you a lightweight? Have to say, I am an artichoke fan myself but I do find that the boiling process isn't good for the end of one's barrel.

[@adriantyler6911]

I find if you use 1/4 and 3/4 artichokes you end up with full artichokes

[@crazyduckhuntingfool]

And now you’ve got a banana barrel

[@sever427]

Do you pickle it?

[@henrywang9115]

@@sever427 nah, picked one has weak structural integrity, gotta get those fresh ones.

[@StudioComposer]

Interesting that no mention was made of shot size, or wad type. You can modify shot patterns for given choke sizes by switching cartridges - using 9 or 8 grain with fibre wads for closer targets, and 7-1/2 with plastic wads (if the ground permits plastic) for distance. Much more convenient than faffing around with switching chokes at different stands, as the presenter pointed out.

[@TSCTheshootingchannel]

Thanks, very good point. Shot size, wad, shot hardness, all make a significant difference to patterns - perhaps something we should cover in a future video.

[@KSL1972LLC]

Changing chokes for each position? Sounds like they need to carry 4 or 5 OU's in a golf bag...or perhaps take up golf.

[@alexgriffin8399]

KSL1972LLC or just have multi choke...

[@vincentmckenna281]

I use cylinder& quarter with 8s Fiocchi on small shoots more than enough

[@Lethal_Intent]

I use 3/8 and 3/8 Teagues for most things from skeet to sporting you're either on it or you ain't and that's all that matters when shooting clays, a chip counts! If you're doing high driven pheasants then you might want to consider something tighter for a clean kill.

[@mhrfarms]

I assume the target guns can be used for hunting?

[@paulwurdig3959]

Well since more and more grounds require lead-free ammunition, changeable chokes are a must!

[@tommyleemaddox1033]

Excellent.

[@anthonybarillari8844]

IC everything

[@TeapotDaz]

I believe choke changing just adds a level of complication.

[@MJSherwood]

Reminds me of golfers that change the loft of their driver mid round. Just another thing to feel like you're making a difference. When ultimately stance and form is more important

[@VisualPrecisionLtd]

A choke can't 'open' the pattern of shot, it can only tighten it i.e. 'choke' the spread. Cylinder choke is a misnomer as it doesn't actually choke at all, all the other chokes are constrictions of varying degrees, usually in 0.005" steps

[@tonyparrish5366]

What shot do you commonly use for Sporting Clays when shooting 1/4 and half? Thank you. Enjoy this shooting channel.

[@scottcrawford3745]

8 or 9 for Skeet, 7 1/2 for Trap is typical. Up close you want density... farther away you need energy, which is where the larger/heavier shot sizes hold up... If your targets are under 35 yards stay small.. once they start getting out there you'll want closer to game-sized shot. Those fellows shooting record-distance clays are up into the 5's and 6's.

[@atomiklan]

This was so proper lol

[@trailertrashtactics]

Great video, mate! I'm not British i just wanted to say that. Informative either way.

[@MyKonaRC]

FULL choke 24/7!

[@adamperre4852]

All day everyday except for when the odd slug gets shot

[@joshrepcen3576]

Very helpful video!!

[@CittizinKane]

Cheers for the video, good timing too on your talking, not too rushed or too slow, good pacing

[@TheConfederate1863]

Do you do the 1/4 choke in the top barrel ?

[@gedenirfiorese3523]

I’m new to this. Do you use 1/4 in the bottom barrel and 1/2 in the upper? Thanks

[@thebullmccabe1384]

Brilliantly explained

[@bill-qv3er]

We don't use the designation of quarter, half, etc. in the US.

[@garyashe3863]

I used 1/4 choke on pigeons, in the auto, and improved and full cylander for English skeet, or decoying corvids, i only used half choke on ducks/pheasant/partridge......

[@Steven-wz7sh]

Nice catch!

[@delclark3230]

Top advice, I generally shoot sporting and use 1/4 (IC) & 1/2 (Modified) and don't muck about changing chokes. I sometimes shoot Skeet but do struggle. perhaps next time I will change the chokes to Cylinder and skeet before I go and see if it helps.

[@jert93]

improve cylinder at bottom barrel??

[@garyK.45ACP]

Something I see in the British shoots that you almost never see here in the USA is shooters carrying their guns in a case around the course. Most shooters here will carry the gun in a case in the vehicle to protect it, but uncase it and leave the case in the car at the course or field. Most fields and courses have racks to hold your gun when you are not shooting. You also seem to dress the part. For us, it is a casual sport, shorts and Tee shirts or casual button shirts. A loose fitting button down shirt, un-tucked, is better to cover the handgun which a lot of shooters/gun owners here carry all the time. Sometimes I just drop a .380 pocket pistol in my shorts so it doesn't interfere with my shell bag. Nice video. My wife and I carry a full range of choke tubes with 2 skeet and 2 Imp. Cylinder (1/4 choke) and one of each of the rest from Cyl.-Full. we use extended chokes to eliminate the need for a tool to change them.

[@adriantyler6911]

Why do you need a handgun at a clay shoot when you have a shotgun in your hand? Bit sad that need to carry the handgun at all to feel safe. How do you enjoy the day?

[@garyK.45ACP]

@@adriantyler6911 I carry a handgun ALWAYS. I do not take it off and leave it somewhere when I am shooting another gun. Be it a shotgun or rifle or another of my handguns. That would be irresponsible. When it is attached to me, it is under my control. I do not leave guns lying about unattended. It is not at all "sad" that I have the FREEDOM to carry a handgun everywhere I go. I enjoy every day of my life. Armed.

[@brianonthego]

All this information would make erfect sense if I was in the UK...but I'm not. In America...which choke works best for Trap shooting?

[@PothocketsFPV]

I use either improved modified or full

[@richardgallagher647]

great video. what chokes would you use for game shooting?

[@charlessmith4242]

Richard Gallagher, Depends on what and how you are hunting. If you are shooting driven birds in the U.K you will know approx. the range at which your shots will be taken. If you are hunting in. the U.S. etc.,or "rough shooting" as the english call it where you walk up your game,choke constriction depends on a number of variables. If you are hunting Bobwhite Quail in open type terrain imp. cyl/mod. would be a good choice. If you are in wooded or pine trees skeet/skeet would be appropriate, same goes for Ruffled Grouse and Woodcock. Hunting pheasants, chickens Sharp tailed Grouse,huns, chuckars,Scaled Quail etc. can require a lot more choke depending on hunting conditions. These birds have a tendency to run and/or flush at greater distances especially pressured or late season birds,and if there is wind involved any bird getting up at an extended distance will quickly be out of range. Big tough birds like pheasants can take a lot of killing. That's why I recommend tight chokes and large shot size like no.4or5's. If they flush close you have time to wait them out before shooting. The smaller birds can be taken with smaller size shot like n.7/12 or 6's with mod. Imp. mod or full chokes. I recommend the 12ga.,16ga.,or20ga.The smaller gauges for closer shots and smaller birds. P.S. The above comments are direct at wild game not pen raised birds that have not learned how to fly like wild birds! And if your after wild pheasants use a12ga. with large shot(no number6s they cripple more birds in my experience) Just be sure your gun/choke choice gives adequate pattern densities at the distances you are attempting. Hope that gives you a starting point. Good hunting!

[@clivenewton7609]

On the U.K. game shoot I go to most guns also use 1/4-1/2 as most shots will be well within 30-40mt. IMO it’s more about the cartridge. However, there are certainly shoots that would require a tighter choke in the second barrel!!👍

[@mallardcutter7209]

Most of the time I shoot 1/4 and 3/8 for sporting. Occasionally I will switch up to 3/8 and 1/2

[@Voxac100b]

SPLAK the bird. S see it P pick it up L lock on A ccelerate K ill and dont get too hung up on chokes.

[@yunassaxer7119]

great!

[@pj4433]

Hi, new to sporting clays I’ll have to watch the rest of the series. I’ve been using half and 3/4 because I usually take so long for the second Clay if there are two it’s a long way away. This seemed to help but might be my imagination. Does this make sense? I need to practice and shoot quick I know.

[@TheConfederate1863]

i'm new in this world but can you tell me if they are called the same with a beretta ?

[@scottporter4871]

Quarter and half,,, which barrel for which choke in an Over & Under?

[@united6569]

Which ever barrel shoots first (often the bottom one) gets the 1/4 because the bird you go for first will be closer. Then once you get onto the second bird it will be further away so you put the 1/2 in the top barrel. That's the norm but everybody's different.

[@jamesl949]

I have just bought a new gun with 5 chokes, For the last 35 years I have shot with an side by side with fixed chokes. I only do rough game shooting, what chokes would you recommend?

[@welditmick]

How about the same as your sxs

[@Neuigkeitenessen]

Hello, i have I question what do you think for Trap and Skeet 3/4 and upper 1/2 Chokes ?

[@WildernessMedic]

Yeah. Chokes don’t make wider shot patterns… They only to choke it down... hence the name...

[@jaycee7342]

So what does quarter and half equate to in terms of Full, Imp. Mod, Mod, Imp. Cyl., and Cyl.?

[@mekt0r]

IC = 1/4, mod = half, IM = 3/4 For sporting clays around here we generally run mod and improved modified. Lot of those birds get out there a ways or start out quite a ways out. Need that extra reach to get them. There are some stands where they are closer to you or come right for you but we generally don't bother with changing out chokes for it.

[@jasonclark950]

Do you use quarter choke bottom barrel and half choke top for sporting clays? Cheers

[@TSCTheshootingchannel]

Hi Jason, yes the normal way would be to have the more open choke in the bottom barrel - that's the one that usually fires first. If you come to a stand that requires a tighter choke for the first shot, to save changing your chokes round you can use the barrel selector (if your gun has one) to fire the top barrel first. Remember to switch it back after shooting that stand. Hope that helps.

[@barchetta7559]

whats your opinion on the beretta cynergy ou 30" barrel for trap. I value your opinion. Thanks

[@bikeronnie]

Liam, where did you get that choke key from?

[@DG4String]

bikeronnie I saw one on Amazon today - search Browning Choke Wrench

[@veryoverworked]

That's a very basic view of chokes. If you understand statistics and probability, you'll understand that chokes are important to scores. If you're a dead-on shot every time (very rare) you can happily go round a shoot with full and full and blow everything away, but most shooters aren't this good, so changing chokes will enable them to hit more clays when outside of the centre of the pattern (note I said 'hit' not 'break'). No mention was made of how much face the clay was showing, just reference to distance. Trying to hit a 50yrd battue whilst it's on edge requires a much tighter choke than the same clay when it turns on its side at the same distance. A very basic video.

[@tannerpender7063]

what shotgun are you using The gun is at like 45 seconds in the video

[@aaronsspatcositevideos8463]

What’s a quarter and half ?

[@TSCTheshootingchannel]

These are the chokes sizes David was using

[@mallardcutter7209]

1/4 =Imp cyl 1/2 =modified

[@jeffreyelliott622]

So basically you use a full choke and modified choke in whatever over/under shotgun you shoot !!!! Correct !!!

[@g.rustann4536]

This I assume is for lead shot?

[@TSCTheshootingchannel]

+G.Rustan N That's correct - it's virtually unheard of to use anything else for clay shooting in the UK. The same principles would apply with, for example, steel, but the degrees of choke needed would be different for steel pellets.

[@stonefly514]

Waste of time. I use open and improved cylinder. Always find it funny when people change their chokes and still can’t hit the target.

[@roberthillier7884]

Your not shooting clays at long range then are you

[@vastaiko]

Are the extended chokes better from the flush or it is just a marketing trick ?

[@rifflenut1484]

vastaiko It is most usualy to twist in and out with your fingers

[@270Rusty]

Whether they work or not from a pattern point of view, I just watched a vid about gun fit and balance by Ben Husthwaite that explains how to add weight to the screw hole under the butt plate/ pad to restore or improve the balance of the gun, and why. Okay, two years on, but hey - I've only just seen this and hopefully others might find the info useful...

[@chainsawdom1]

So if you had a browning b535 sporter with quarter and half chokes which barrel would have what choke please

[@spency787]

The accepted ‘normal’ is to have the more open choke in the barrel you shoot first, therefore in your case the 1/4 would go in the bottom barrel. The thinking is that if you miss the bird with your first shot it will be further away by the time you shoot your second shot and thus need a tighter choke in the second barrel. Hope this makes sense?

[@vincenzopetrocco5349]

Hi,can you please tell me what choke is best on a bottom barrel and top barrel for general sporting shooting? Thanks

[@TSCTheshootingchannel]

Hi, normally the bottom barrel of an O/U will fire first (unless you have a selective trigger and have chosen to fire the top barrel first). It depends on various factors, but many shooters (in the UK at least) would use 1/4 in the bottom barrel and 1/2 in the top. That's a good combination to start with, and change if you feel the need as you gain experience.

[@bartram33]

Spot on. if you're moving on to trap, then 1/2 for bottom and 3/4 for top

[@jerseyrock1969]

I use cylinder and skeet all the time shooting sporting I just put a 7 1/2 in if its a far away bird, but most of the time I just use blackgold 9,s and I do a lot better than most at my club that's for sure.

[@Cattandbikes]

so quarter is Modified and half is improved cylinder ?

[@rifflenut1484]

Johnny Catt I would say you have it backwards.

[@jopmarsy1539]

Half is modified, 3 notches on the choke, quarter is improved cylinder, 4 notches on the choke.

[@Roastarex]

2:49 should I make sure it's unloaded at this point lol

[@270Rusty]

Ah, baaaaaaad feeling....

[@manojnegi6630]

What is the range of this type shotgun

[@270Rusty]

The range of any shotgun is pretty much limited by the terrible ballistic efficiency of the round shot. Bigger shot will carry further but there are less pellets per shot, so max distance then starts to depend on target size and whether the pattern is dense enough to give a reasonable chance of hitting it with enough pellets to give an acceptable result and whether the shot delivers enough energy to the target to do an acceptable amount of damage. You can increase the number of pellets on target by using a tighter choke, but that makes it more challenging to hit the target - or you could use a bigger cartridge (bigger gauge, or longer case), which allows the use of more pellets of bigger shot that will also deliver more energy at a longer range, but will also generate more recoil. Muzzle velocity will definitely also have an effect but again, round shot gives up velocity and energy very quickly, and the use of steel shot makes that even more of a challenge. This type of shotgun can fire a solid slug, which I personally have used successfully on medium game in a smooth bore out to around 80m - where I found accuracy to become the biggest challenge. Using shot, my personal experience (with 70-75mm cartridges, and mostly lead shot) doesn't extend to driven shoots etc, I don't like shots on passing birds at more than 40m (and I'd always prefer much closer), and then, quail can present much, much closer shooting opportunites - I've nailed them occasionally at around 10m (which I don't like because they get badly shot up and we eat what I shoot).

[@johndoon3326]

Didn’t know the queen still allowed her people to own guns!? 😂😂🇺🇸💪🏼

[@stephenmac3105]

Didn't know the U.S still allowed mass shootings 😂😂🇬🇧🖕

[@leeenfield3404]

Half and half. .. for everything except slugs. Then open

[@viske00]

Buyed a new O/U shotgun today and we talked an hour. He said 1/4 and 1/2 is also used in trap and DTL when using STEEL shot. When changing to lead shot he said to use 3/4 and 4/4. Here we have to shoot steel on almost every range...

[@produckandgoose]

patternmaster

[@rogerandlyndabeall3840]

Why so many clothes we shoot in shorts and tee shirt, and thongs.

[@TSCTheshootingchannel]

This is England!

[@cagkant3778]

Roger and Lynda Beall I go to clay shooting with my school uniform

[@tinksthemetalg1945]

Lol!!!! Thong's

[@HALWG51]

I'm waiting to see the women shoot in thongs! LOL

[@paulbonar6155]

Lol, its Thong footwear also called flip flops. But thong bikini would be unfair as too distracting and gives wearer shooting advantage

[@veryoverworked]

As quoted.... 'the chokes either narrow the spread of the shot or open the spread of the shot'. No they don't. Cylinder (True), does nothing, the choke walls are parallel, all other chokes are constricted and therefore tighten the spread of shot. There is no choke that ever opens the shot pattern!

[@DaleWesley]

Browning makes a spreader choke that opens up the pattern far earlier than a cylinder choke would. I've tested it at my range and my patterns are much wider at 25 yards than they are with any other choke.

[@jamescooper7272]

As an American I had a lot of trouble understanding English.

[@YfshvscChsvhahfa]

Martinez Brenda Garcia Melissa Anderson Sharon

[@Panda74gofaster]

Wow. You are English....

[@johnmarkharris]

“In my opinion…” yea, those guys changing chokes every stand are stupid 😁

[@thelastminuteman7513]

I learned something today. If your British you can't have a gun or a knife or freedom, unless of course your rich and elite then it's ok but peons don't have rights.

[@TSCTheshootingchannel]

Doesn’t really work like that. Are you in the uk?

[@grendelgrendelsson5493]

Russian Bot I have four firearms (my daughters have two each and my wife has three) a collection of knives ranging from an antique Bowie to the first fixed blade knife I ever owned and a collection of bayonets ranging from a 19th century Yatagan to an SA 80 bayonet. I am not rich and elite and I am not a peon. So piss off you ignorant turd.

[@siegfriedv.hammerstahl7919]

Choked just for a joke..

[@baderhaider1557]

🇰🇼