Someone please explain shotgun choke tubes to me.

Eh, close in its not really going to matter which one you use. As for it being ok, yeah, the large lead shot is just as soft as the small lead shot

Only time youd really have to think about it is when using steel shot. Then youd want to get a choke tube rated for steel shot. But lead shot and rifled slugs will go through your choke tubes just fine.

Thank you, Rob.

Question: Is it safe to shoot a slug in a shotgun that has a screw-in choke?
Answer: The answer depends on the choke tube that's screwed into the barrel. You can get rifled choke tubes designed to spin the slug (to be used with sabot slugs), or you can just use a cylinder or improved cylinder tube (for rifled slugs). It's perfectly safe to do with a shotgun that's in good repair, with proper ammo for that gun's chamber length. I wouldn't want to shoot many slugs through a tighter choke, but some modified chokes will do okay with slugs.
The tighter you go, the more pressure there is on the barrel and action, and the more stress is placed on the muzzle, which is thinner than the rest of the barrel anyhow... and this is especially true of newer guns, since their muzzles are threaded for choke tubes (the threading process removes metal from the barrel).
But with the right choke (rifled, cylinder, improved cylinder, or possibly modified) screwed or built into the gun, no problem.

Just my .02.....

Fuhgetabout slugs for HD unless your into recoil and over penetration! Go with a cylinder choke and lead shot for HD. #4 buck and larger at close range will get the job done. Then again, I would not want to be on the receiving end of #4 bird shot at close range. For HD, no need for magnum shells. Think, less recoil hence, faster follow up shots. Penetrating walls and windows (shot size) may be more of an issue than your choke size.

Do not go with a full choke with slugs or buckshot. Use anything below a full choke.

Also, this may seem obvious, but don't shoot anything down the barrel without some type of choke tube screwed in. Doing so will mess up the threads.