What shotgun choke is recommended for trap shooting? I think for Skeet they use a wide open choke. But I don't know what works best for trap.

I shot a round earlier this week using a modified choke on my 870 12 ga. Missed my first three shots but hit 19 of the next 22. I didn't think that was too bad for somebody who doesn't really shoot trap. But I still don't know why I can't hit anything with my shotgun while hunting.

I use modified. I suggest getting a couple different ones and patterning with the loads you use to see what has the best pattern at the yardage you plan to break targets.


Also, don’t forget to follow through when shooting. Have fun shooting

I always liked a full when I shot a 870 trap with a 34" barrel. The best gun I ever shot from the 16 yard line had a improved modified choke in it. It wasnt tight enough after you got back to the 22 yard line or farther.

Mod, IM and Full. On the 16 the mod is fine if you go back a ways the IM is better further back. If your a shooter then the full will smoke the clays back to the 27 and if you get into Oakly the full is your friend also.

I always had the notion to shoot the full during practice so you won't miss much with the modified during competition at the 16.

Modified is fine for the novice. 1oz 8 shot at 1145 will do everything you need to get started. Best thing to do is go to a pattern board and understand where the shot hits in relation to your point of aim. Most 870's shoot flat(center of pattern where the bead is) when this happens you have to shoot over the bird As it is rising.

From my experience at the range most traps are shot choke doesn't matter

we shoot mods... imp mods for annie oakly and full for handicap

chokes and loads work different out of different guns no hard fast rule that says your full is a more concentrated pattern than someone else improved modified

the most important thing is actually to pattern any gun you use at the range you plan to shoot them at.

different houses fly different find that sweet spot in a birds flight where it is most consistent estimate that distance.

have your chokes patterned every 10 yards with the ammo you use the pattern is too large when you can find a place you can slip a clay through the pattern .

patterning is also important because different guns and loads shoot to a different point of aim. there is this idea that all field guns shoot low so cover the clay with the bead , this is not true I have seen 2 of the same make and model shotgun shoot differently one high one low and it can even vary by person we all get a little different cheek weld.

if you know where the gun shoots and how it patterns then it is a matter of you staying consistent.

also some times we just find an ammo that doesn't pattern as well.

I guess I’ve always shot full just because thats what I practice for hunting and it just comes naturally for me.

I was given a long handicap choke from a friend of mine in the lower 48. It’s what he used. I don’t shoot trap but that choke was great for head shooting geese

I always used full choke.

Dan

I've used a modified choke for singles and short 'caps for years. I also shoot full choke guns for singles and 'caps. I'm a lucky guy, because I like shotguns and have many to choose from.

I always shot improved modified. Single targets.

I shot trap in high school, I started out with a Remington 870 with a modified choke, the last year and a half I used a Marlin goose gun bolt action with a 36" barrel and a full choke. That gun was kind of a novelty, everyone loved seeing it. The joke was that the barrel was so long I didn't need to shoot, I could just reach out and knock the clays out of the sky with the barrel.

As big Leo used to say anything with full in it.