Shotgun Chokes and Barrel length
Years back I picked up a Rem 870 Wingmaster for cheap as it had it's barrel replaced with a 18"+ home defence barrel. As that was what I wanted at the time I was content. Now, I am shooting more skeet with the kids and am looking to pick up a long barrel for it.
The Carlson's 24" VR barrel offered by Cabela's is the top of my list because it is offered new for $169.00, so my question is weather or not this is a decent barrel for mostly skeet and a little quail shooting. Or should I save my money for a longer barrel from a better manufacturer?
Also can someone direct me to a good desertation on when and where to use different chokes. I understand that skeet is usually the widest patter and that Full is the tightist and the industry stand is the modified. But, when and why you might change from one to another is what confuses me to some estent...
The Carlson's 24" VR barrel offered by Cabela's is the top of my list because it is offered new for $169.00, so my question is weather or not this is a decent barrel for mostly skeet and a little quail shooting. Or should I save my money for a longer barrel from a better manufacturer?
Also can someone direct me to a good desertation on when and where to use different chokes. I understand that skeet is usually the widest patter and that Full is the tightist and the industry stand is the modified. But, when and why you might change from one to another is what confuses me to some estent...
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Your best reason to change chokes is distance to target. The closer you expect the target to be, the more open the choke.
Skeet shooters can get by with cylinder choke (none) through improved cylinder (there is even a skeet 1 and skeet 2 between C and IC)
"16yd" trap shooters can use a modified, while the "handicap" trappers use full.
In the field, again you go with the expected shooting distance plus throw in the "toughness" of the game and size of the target (turkey chokes are extra full, due to the small size of the head).0 -
If your current bbl takes screw in choke tubes I just change the choke. If bubba just cut off a longer bbl it will not be much good sporting purposes but it could made to take screw in chokes. I did that for my 870 Express 20 inch bbl. Have 5 choke tubes and I like the one marked #2 Skeet the best, works with all my loads shot, buckshot and lyman sabot slugs.
I would bet at the club you could try an 870 with a longer tube and more choke, just by asking around.0 -
Distance to target...as stated...is the key! I think the 24" barrel would work quite well for your intended use. 0 -
When applied to range the only difference you will see between an 18" barrel and 24" will be 6". Where you gain the added range is in the choke and load being fired.
Where barrel length comes in is how the gun handles. A longer barrel will feel different from mount on to follow through after the shot.0 -
Thanks for the info, I've ordered the barrel and expect that it will do well enough. 0 -
Personnally I love 24" shotgun barrels, usually use full choke unless shooting slugs. I've never found the short barrel to be a disadvantage, but many a time have found the short barrel gave an advantage the longer barrels could not. 0
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