Here’s a quick guide so you know what those choke and choke tube names mean in the gun shop.
It should be noted that a traditional 12-gauge barrel has an inside diameter of 0.73”. Chokes are determined or categorized by (1) the deviation or constriction measured in inches from 0.73” and/or the number of shot pellets falling within a 30” circle at 40 yards measured as a percentage of the total pellets in the particular shot charge, e.g. 100 inside/200 total count or 50 percent.
The most common chokes and their uses include –
| Choke Name | Constriction | Percentage @ 40 yards | Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cylinder or Cylinder Bore | 0.00″ | 30-35% | Home defense shotguns; Foster-style slugs |
| Improved | 0.10″ | 40-45% | Home defense; upland birds in heavy cover; trap/skeet; waterfowl over decoys with steel |
| Modified | 0.20″ | 50-55% | All-around choice; trap/skeet; waterfowl with steel non-toxics; upland birds in all types of cover |
| Full | 0.35″ | 70-75% | Late season upland birds, e.g. pheasants and prairie grouse; turkeys with high-tech ammunition, e.g. Winchester’s Long Beard XR; buckshot for deer; pass-shooting waterfowl |
| Extra Full | 0.40″ | 75% + | Turkeys with lead or softer non-toxics; not advised for steel shot |