Choke selection and shot size

[RACKER]

Im getting back into waterfowl hunting again this year after a long time away.With steel shot now I was wondering what is the best choke to use.I am gonna be using a remington 11-87 semi auto in 12 gauge.Ive been told to use improved cylinder or modified for steel.I am so used to using full choke.Oh and it will be mainly for geese.And as far as shells go there are so many options now.Its great to hear from you guys what brands you use that have been the most effective for you in the field.So much advertising about speed and different types of shot that one gets lost in all the hype.I appreciate any info from hunters that are using what works for them in the field and not a logo on their truck window.Thanks and good luck for all of you in the field this year.

[Ranch11]

Our group mainly uses #4 shot, 3", with a modified choke.
Couple guys bought the black cloud choke and use the federal black cloud 3" #4 shot.
Works very well.

[gloszz]

I personally use the mod choke that came with my mossberg 500 and go with a 3" shell in either BB or #2. I also use an extended range choke for snow geese with a #2 as I have problems bringing them into range haha.

I buy the challenger ammo when it's on sale but my gun patterns Score ammo really well.

[Pixel Shooter]

big fan of tru-lock choke in a skeet II . deadly with all my berettas and have a great reach, patterns great at 40yards. prefer 1 shot if I can get it with geese otherwise BB or 2's, whatever I can get my hands on lol

[RACKER]

Thanks for the info so far. It's exactly what I'm looking for.

[Twobucks]

Go one or two sizes bigger than you used to with lead and remember that steel runs out of energy a lot faster than lean/bismuth/tungsten. You have to be close - 40 yards is a long way with steel.

[Salavee]

Originally Posted by Twobucks

Go one or two sizes bigger than you used to with lead and remember that steel runs out of energy a lot faster than lean/bismuth/tungsten. You have to be close - 40 yards is a long way with steel.

Steel shot at 1650 fps seems to compare more than favorably with the same shot charge weight in lead at 12 -1300 fps, At least that's been my experience.

[covey ridge]

Originally Posted by Pixel Shooter

big fan of tru-lock choke in a skeet II . deadly with all my berettas and have a great reach, patterns great at 40yards. prefer 1 shot if I can get it with geese otherwise BB or 2's, whatever I can get my hands on lol

I use a light modified in my berettas. I think LM is the same as skeet II. If I was limited to one choke that would be the one

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by covey ridge

I use a light modified in my berettas. I think LM is the same as skeet II. If I was limited to one choke that would be the one

I use a light mod as well, but mine is a Briley. If I go any tighter in my gun with the Kent Fasteel, the pattern becomes less uniform.

[Dean2]

I just bought a used left hand Beneli SB2. It came with a Pattern master extended range BenelliCrio/Barreta choke. I patterned it the other day and it puts 100% of 6,8, and 4 shot into a 20" circle at 40 yards. That is way tighter than even a full choke normally does, It does the same with #2 steel shot. Interestingly the choke has NO constriction, it is basically a cylinder choke, It accomplishes these tremendously tight patterns by stripping the wad off of the shot column as it leaves the barrel.

I shot a couple of rounds of trap with it and it completely smokes the clays all the way out past 50 yards with #8 target loads. (I intentionally let some of the birds get way out before shooting them). I will be really interested to see what this choke does on birds with steel. It patterns a whole bunch tighter than the factory modified or IC chokes.