Which Choke for trap?

IC is a "looser" choke - less pattern @ given distance.

I like this chart for choke selection.



It gives a good reference point for all types of shooting, keep in mind in trap @ the 16yd line, your typically shooting a clay @ approx 25 yards.

I used a mod choke in a Stoeger Long-fowler to learn with, great choice for 16, 17, 18 yards, but it's a little wide @ 19+, I've upgraded to a Verona 505LX SC now, and use a "lite full" briley choke for 16-25 yards, and 26, 27 get the full choke.

Hope that chart helps, but as always you need to pattern each choke with each type of ammo in each gun, as they are all different POA/POI.

NachO

Usually chokes are marked by notches on the top rim.

1 notch - Full - smallest constriction
2 notches - Improved Modified
3 notches - Modified
4 notches - Improved Cylinder
5 notches - Cylinder - Little to no constriction (.005 or less)

you will likely come across chokes labeled - Skeet 1, and Skeet 2, Lite Full, Extra Full, and Turkey chokes. It's best to check the manufacturer website for the constriction on these and I usually compare them to the ones listed above to figure out what 1/2 steps they are.


GL to ya! Keep shooting.

NachO

It has been my observation that you don't need as much choke or as large a shot size as many others use. For singles and the first shot of doubles I always use Imp Cyl and #9 shot (sometimes #8 if that's what I have in good supply). Same thing when shooting short yardage handicap except that I always use #8 shot. (A great combination for dove also.)

For the second shot of doubles I use Imp Mod choke and #8 shot. I went all the way to the 27 yard line with Imp Mod and #8 as well. I've never used 7 1/2 shot. I often practice with an extra full choke at handicap. Those puffs of smoke that used to be a target just build up your confidence. But when it counts I open up the choke just to give myself an advantage. And the smaller shot gives a denser pattern. I may not smoke the targets with this setup but they all look like puffs of smoke on the score sheet.

I haven't shot competition for several years due to vision problems (it's hell getting old) but those relatively open chokes got me this back when I shot seriously (plus a slew of belt buckles):



In my Brownings, I use Briley titanium chokes. I can't prove they put out better patterns but if nothing else, the extended length makes it easier to swap tubes.

On the subject of choke tubes, be sure you get them clean. When I was starting I just used Hoppes #9 to clean my barrels and chokes. Then one day I put the choke tubes in some Shooters Choice to soak. After a few minutes I pulled a plastic tube out of the chokes - it was like I had used the chokes as a mold to create a plastic cast of the choke. The buildup of plastic had to be substantially reducing my effective choke size.

Now I soak my bores down after each session and run a tornado brush down the tube. The semi-liquid plastic just oozes out the end of the barrels on the first stroke. I soak the bore by putting the Shooters Choice in a spray bottle from the hardware store (get the heavy-duty spray bottles or the solvent will eat the bottle itself). A few sprays down each barrel will leave a good supply of solvent in the bore. Then rotate and tilt the barrels to make sure all the insides have been covered. It doesn't really need to soak, just get it all wet and run the brush through.

This is going to sound crazy, but if you go to your local Chevy house and ask for some GM Top Engine Cleaner, it's basically the same thing as Shooters Choice for a fraction of the cost. It used to come in liquid form but I think it only comes in a spray can nowadays. I went many years using nothing but this solvent on all my guns. It strips even the worst copper fouling out of a rifle bore and won't harm any finsih on wood or steel.

I'm starting to up my average, being sort of new to Trap (6 months). I started with a Modified choke, and 1200fps 71/2's - Now that I've improved my skill a bit, shooting 3 or 4 times a week will put it on fast, I'm working with Briley Spectrum Lite-Full and 1200-1290 1oz 71/2's. I found this combo to work for me from 16 to 27, I only change the load as I move back. 1200's seem to work great until I hit the 22yd line then I move up to 1290's and those work well from 23-27.

I've steadily worked on making my self more consistent, and honestly I think that helped up my scores more than Equipment, or Loads. I try and do the exact same thing every single time, in an effort to eliminate as much shooter variance as I can. This has brought my average up from 18-20, to 24-25 in a short time. Getting over looking at the end of the shotgun was the hardest thing, I'm a Pistol/Rifle shooter and moving from aiming to pointing was quite a culture shock for me.

Tons of good advice in this post, but, I think the best advice is to find your "ritual" and maintain it, Footing, Gun Mount, Hold point, and Call. Make it all the same every time and the scores will go up as you put more rounds down range.

NachO