Fixed chokes or choke tubes?

[Gil Martin]

Just curious what you good folks prefer. I have shotguns with fixed chokes and others with choke tubes. I have been well pleased with using fixed chokes over the years. Tubes are nice, but once installed tend to remain in place. I have never seen a hunter change a choke tube in the field. The local gunsmith does a good business removing stuck choke tubes. So what do you prefer? Thanks. All the best...
Gil

[gold40]

Like you, I use both fied chokes and tube guns.

If one owns/uses multiple shotguns, fixed chokes are not much of a handicap.

A "one gun" person probably needs choke tubes.

Clay bird shooters have more need for tubes.

Shooting Sporting Clays is where tubes are especially helpful. the shots on some courses vary from 10 yards out to 45 yards. I've used everything from straight cylinder to full choke on a single round of sporting clays.

Tubes are also a big help in moving from a skeet course to trap.

Some days I'm tempted to sell all my other shotguns and use my browning Gold Hunter for everything. I shoot it better than any other shotgun. With 5 tubes, I could shoot anything from quail to geese, and clay birds as well. But I sure would miss my vintage SxS's and Citori.

[buckhunter]

With the exception some older guns I have tubes in all of mine. I hunt a lot with a shotgun so I get to use pretty much all of them from skeet to full. Really beat purchasing a lot of different barrels.

[fabsroman]

I prefer choke tubes. I use a SBE for most of my hunting, and during early dove season I use IC, after a couple of weeks I move to M, and on waterfowl I use a Patternmaster Xtra Full choke. I shoot sporting clays with a Beretta Teknys Gold Sporting and I change tubes a decent amount. Depends on the target. I used to use a Beretta 682 for both skeet and sporting clays and I changed chokes in that too. For trap, I use another 682 and I use Mod for 16 yard and full for handicap.

In the end, I would rather have choke tubes than fixed tubes because it allows me to change things up on the course or in the field. All my tubes are stored in a tackle box and I take it with me whenever I go hunting or shooting.

[popplecop]

First of all if you use a SxS or an O/U you have the choice of 2 chokes no matter what. I guess I'm in gold40's camp, a number of shotguns to choose from so no problem. Choke tubes do have there place and I do change them in my waterfowl SxS depending the load I'm shooting ie, ducks over decoys, geese etc. My old Sweet 16 has a mod. choke and if I could have only 1 choke that's what it would be, never have felt handicapped with it.

[fabsroman]

Agreed. If I could only have a single choke, it would be modified. Hunted doves with an o/u for a couple of years and used modified tubes in both barrels. Worked just fine for me. When you do not have double triggers on a double gun, it is pretty tough to switch the barrels on a bird.

[gold40]

I hunt mostly upland birds, a few bunnies, and sometimes squirrels. Also like to shoot skeet for practice.

If I had to use only one choke, it would be Improved Cylinder.

JERRY

[6.5s4ever]

If I am hunting my choice of choke used naturally is going to be determined by what I am hunting for. So being able to change choke tubes is a great advantage. If I have fixed chokes in the gun such as an over/under then I simpley select the barrel I want to fire first. Now in target shooting Trap/ Sporting Clays I feel choke tubes are a must ! Gotta have them if I am going to do my best.

[Adam Helmer]

Gil,

Good post. I have a dozen shotguns with fixed chokes because they are older guns and about the same number with choke tubes. I prefer choke tubes and I do change chokes in the tube guns on the line at Sporting Clays. I also change tubes afield depending on terrain and situation.

If your local gunsmith makes a living removing stuck choke tubes, them local "Dutchies" need to buy a $2 tube of gun grease and lube the threads of the tubes. Wotever.

Adam