Chapter 3: Know Your Firearm Equipment
Shotgun Choke and Shot String

When a shotshell is fired from a shotgun, the pellets leave the barrel and begin to spread or scatter. The farther the pellets travel, the greater the spread of the group of pellets (shot) both in length and diameter. This spread is called the shot string. To control the shot string, shotgun barrels have a choke, which will affect the shot pattern when the shot string hits the target. Read more about how to pattern a shotgun.

• Your distance from the target determines the choke you need. The choke of a shotgun determines shot string only. It has no bearing on shot speed (velocity) or distance (range). That is, the choke does not alter the shotgun’s power—it just controls how tight or spread out the pellets will be at a specific distance.
• The spread effect of the most common chokes is illustrated on the following page, showing how many pellets will hit within a certain area at different ranges.
  • Cylinder choke is an unconstricted barrel. The shot string spreads quickly.
  • Improved Cylinder choke has a slight narrowing. It allows the shot string to spread fairly quickly. This is a good choice for quail, rabbits, and other upland game at relatively close ranges.
  • Modified choke has moderate constriction. The pellets stay together longer, making the shot string denser and more useful at longer ranges. This choke is used often when dove hunting and when using steel shot to hunt for ducks or geese. There is also an Improved Modified choke that is slightly tighter than Modified.
  • Full choke has tight narrowing. The shot string holds together even longer, so it's good for squirrels, turkey, and other game shot at 40-yard and longer ranges. Turkey hunters sometimes use Extra Full or Turkey choke for even denser patterns at long range.

Remember ... The choke of a shotgun determines shot spread only. It has no effect on shot speed (velocity) or distance (range).