Choke (firearms)
Encyclopedia
In firearms, a choke is a tapered constriction of the gun barrel's bore
at the muzzle
end, almost always used with shotguns. The purpose is to decrease the spread of the shot in order to gain better range and accuracy.
The exit end of the choke is smaller by some dimension than the actual bore of the barrel. This difference is the amount of constriction. Generally the ranges for chokes will be 0.00-1.15 mm (0.00-0.045 inch), while the constriction for turkey chokes may be as much as 2.50 mm (0.10 inch). Choke is measured by the percentage of pellets in the charge that will impact inside a 30" circle at 40 yards (25 yards for "cylinder" and "Skeet1"). Although different choke manufactures have different identification of their chokes, the notches in the chart below are generally accepted.
In turkey shoot
s, a competitor may use his own shotgun (typically 12 gauge) however he likes, and most competitors employ turkey chokes in order to maximize the amount of shot striking the target. Some turkey shoots do not allow chokes for this reason.
A choke is designed to alter the distribution of the shot as it leaves the firearm. For shooting most game birds and clay pigeons, a desirable pattern is one that is as large as possible while being dense enough to ensure multiple hits on the target. Shotguns intended for defensive use often have cylinder or improved cylinder chokes for the widest shot pattern at typically short defensive range.
Caliber
In guns including firearms, caliber or calibre is the approximate internal diameter of the barrel in relation to the diameter of the projectile used in it....
at the muzzle
Muzzle (firearm)
The muzzle of a firearm is the end of the barrel from which the projectile will exit.Precise machining of the muzzle is crucial to accuracy, because it is the last point of contact between the barrel and the projectile...
end, almost always used with shotguns. The purpose is to decrease the spread of the shot in order to gain better range and accuracy.
The exit end of the choke is smaller by some dimension than the actual bore of the barrel. This difference is the amount of constriction. Generally the ranges for chokes will be 0.00-1.15 mm (0.00-0.045 inch), while the constriction for turkey chokes may be as much as 2.50 mm (0.10 inch). Choke is measured by the percentage of pellets in the charge that will impact inside a 30" circle at 40 yards (25 yards for "cylinder" and "Skeet1"). Although different choke manufactures have different identification of their chokes, the notches in the chart below are generally accepted.
| Choke | Constriction | Percent | Identification (Notches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cylinder | .000 | 40 at 40 yd 70 at 25 yd | IIIII notches |
| Skeet 1 | .005 | 45 at 40 yd 75 at 25 yd | |
| Improved Cylinder | .010 | 50 | IIII notches |
| Skeet 2 (light Mod.) | .015 | 55 | |
| Modified | .020 | 60 | III notches |
| Improved Modified | .025 | 65 | II notches |
| Full | .030 | 70 | I notch |
| Extra Full | .040 | 73 | |
| Turkey | .045 plus | 75 plus |
In turkey shoot
Turkey shoot
A turkey shoot is an opportunity for an individual or a party to very easily take advantage of a situation.A "turkey shoot" is also a shooting contest where frozen turkeys are awarded as prizes. The shoot is most commonly held, using shotguns aimed at paper targets about 25-35 yards away...
s, a competitor may use his own shotgun (typically 12 gauge) however he likes, and most competitors employ turkey chokes in order to maximize the amount of shot striking the target. Some turkey shoots do not allow chokes for this reason.
A choke is designed to alter the distribution of the shot as it leaves the firearm. For shooting most game birds and clay pigeons, a desirable pattern is one that is as large as possible while being dense enough to ensure multiple hits on the target. Shotguns intended for defensive use often have cylinder or improved cylinder chokes for the widest shot pattern at typically short defensive range.