Shotgun Chokes for Waterfowl [and possibly Pheasant]

[JDeko]

So I ordered my Stoeger Uplander SxS and it comes with one Modified and one Improved-Cylinder choke. I'm wondering if I should buy a Full or Improved-Modified choke for it or if Improved-Cyclinder would be good enough? I'm mostly planning on hunting Canada Geese as they pass by on their way to bed, they get as close as they would over decoys but aren't going feet down. If things go well I'd like to try going on a pheasant hunt, so if any chokes could pull double duty for that it would be good to know.

[coobie]

So I ordered my Stoeger Uplander SxS and it comes with one Modified and one Improved-Cylinder choke. I'm wondering if I should buy a Full or Improved-Modified choke for it or if Improved-Cyclinder would be good enough? I'm mostly planning on hunting Canada Geese as they pass by on their way to bed, they get as close as they would over decoys but aren't going feet down. If things go well I'd like to try going on a pheasant hunt, so if any chokes could pull double duty for that it would be good to know.

I would also buy full and extra full for water fowl.

[cmr19xx]

Agree with coobie. You're going to want full for waterfowl. IC and modified are fine for pheasant, grouse and any preserve hunting you would do.

[Cletus]

I do all of my duck and goose hunting with a MOD choke. My friend only shoots them 'feet down' uses an IC.

The reason every hunting gun comes with an IC and MOD choke is because they work for everything... at a reasonable distance.

[Roundballer]

I think that you should go out and pattern what you already have, then try and determine how much you want to tighten up the pattern.

[10x25mm]

Are your modified and improved chokes rated for lead or steel shot? Most lead rated modified chokes throw a tight, full choke pattern when you run steel shot through them. Most lead rated improved cylinder chokes throw a modified choke pattern when you run steel shot through them.

If your chokes are lead rated, ask the distributor whether they can be used with steel shot. Some have walls too thin for steel shot and you have to use extended choke tubes with steel shot.

If your chokes are lead rated and safe for steel shot, you are well set for upland shooting with lead shot and most duck/goose shooting with steel shot.

[Moleman-]

I've always used an improved modified for steel as we were told with steel shot to use the next size down choke from what you're using for lead.

[JDeko]

Yeah, only the Modified and Improved Cylinder are steel-safe.

[Jackam]

I've always used an improved modified for steel

I've killed hundreds of geese with Modified/steel 2

I've killed three dozen pheasants with Modified/lead 5

And what you are attempting to do with the geese is called "pass shooting."
My first three or four years waterfowling was done at the Shiawassee State Game Area, pothole C, where everything was pass shooting as the birds were flying out of the federal refuge into the state game area. It was a blast.

After that I learned how to call them and be where they want to be. SO much more exciting when the landing gear comes down and you're inundated with geese. I remember shooting my first triple, making my dog sit while one by one, the shots rang out and a goose would fall. What an amazing dog.

You may want to go Full choke for pheasant, depending on whether you are at a pheasant farm with a dog that works close, or in the wild with a dog that tends to typewriter out a bit.

[Outdoorman]

I have cracked full and extra full chokes with steel shot. Be Careful!!! Steel shot don't constrict like lead shot does.


Full chokes and steel shot don’t mix, except when they do. Full and steel damage barrels, except when they don’t. Full chokes and steel produce blown patterns, except when they don’t. Full chokes and big pellets – BBB and T – really don’t mix, except when they do. Figuring out where the truth lies is difficult. Here it is. Most of it, anyway.
https://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs...hoke-and-steel