Sporting Clays, which choke to use?

[Hatchdog]

On Saturday I’m going to be shooting a Sporting Clays event for the first time ever. For those of you who know, what choke should I use. I’m shooting a semi-auto 12 ga and I have available IC, mod, imp mod, and full.

I’m expecting to have a great time but be somewhat humbled too. I don’t consider myself to be a great shotgunner, I’m shot some trap but this is another game entirely.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

[PBSnooker]

Depends on the course. Some are short,easier targets. Others are further out. The short one i use a skeet choke or ic. The longer shots, mod or im.

[Hatchdog]

Thanks PB, I think I’ll use my mod to start and change it out if necessary. Shoot is in the morning and it’s going to be fun.

[JEBar]

overall improved modified works really well at medium and longer ranges in our Remington semi auto .... at shorter ranges skeet choke seems to work better .... on of the advantages of an over and under is having two choke to where you can adjust simply by which barrel you use .... that said, I'm old school and prefer our Remington 11-87

[Hatchdog]

overall improved modified works really well at medium and longer ranges in our Remington semi auto .... at shorter ranges skeet choke seems to work better .... on of the advantages of an over and under is having two choke to where you can adjust simply by which barrel you use .... that said, I'm old school and prefer our Remington 11-87

Me too I guess as I’m shooting my Browning Silver Hunter field semi today. When these annual shoots were at the trap range I picked up a Browning BT-99 (used) single barrel trap and it improved my scores considerably. I went from shooting in the low 80’s with the semi to my best of 94 with the BT-99. This is with shooting just one match per year with a couple of 25 bird practice rounds.

Today’s the day and I’m getting pretty pumped to get to the range and find about this Sporting Clays thing.

[PBSnooker]

Again, I wish Henry would build an o/u.

[Vaquero]

Well how was the Sporting Clays Hatch?
I've done it a couple times, mostly used a 20 1100 with the mod. choke.
Once five of us did a round using the sub calibers,
Three of us used 410's and two used 28 ga., now that was fun and interesting.
I shot around 50% which wasn't bad and according to the owner, pretty good.

RP

[Rifletom]

Little late here, but, Imp mod seems to work for me, altho I'm not much of a shotgunner[yet!].

[Hatchdog]

Well how was the Sporting Clays Hatch?
I've done it a couple times, mostly used a 20 1100 with the mod. choke.
Once five of us did a round using the sub calibers,
Three of us used 410's and two used 28 ga., now that was fun and interesting.
I shot around 50% which wasn't bad and according to the owner, pretty good.

RP

The Sporting Clays shoot is history. I had a great time and enjoyed the challenge and as expected didn’t score very well. Interesting format, every station was a double with some with the first bird released on command and the second bird released when the shot is fired. Other stations had both birds released at the same time which got real exciting. One guy on our team hit both birds with one shot on a double release. I found that my reactions have slowed considerably and a few times I wasn’t able to get the second shot off. It seems like most our targets were on the close side but some were out there and on a couple of passing shots the birds were fast, fast, fast. And as I recall these fast birds were the second birds making it even more difficult. Despite the challenge it was lots of fun and I’m going back! Event was at Landt Farms in Nine Mile Falls.

[JEBar]

glad you had a good time .... years ago I'd of really enjoyed firing such a course but age has put such things in the past ..... now days shooting trap is about my limit

[Vaquero]

Understandable Jim, a lot less walking.
But no where near as exciting, heck I can pretty much do that here in the back yard.
And plenty of room in the field next door to the house.

RP

[pennsylvaniapete]

Hey guys, I am a NSCA (National Sporting Clay's Association) member and was Master Class shooter when I was younger. I am now a AA class shooter.

If you have any other questions pertaining to Sporting Clay's shooting that you need advice on...let me know!

[JEBar]

But no where near as exciting,

RP

at 75 I find many things to be exciting today that wouldn't have passed the muster a few decades ago ..

[Vaquero]

Hey guys, I am a NSCA (National Sporting Clay's Association) member and was Master Class shooter when I was younger. I am now a AA class shooter.

If you have any other questions pertaining to Sporting Clay's shooting that you need advice on...let me know!

CoooL, your ga., and choke preference? for the average course

RP

[Hatchdog]

Hey guys, I am a NSCA (National Sporting Clay's Association) member and was Master Class shooter when I was younger. I am now a AA class shooter.

If you have any other questions pertaining to Sporting Clay's shooting that you need advice on...let me know!

Thanks, will do. Any chance you can take 25 years off my aging and give me my reflex’s back?

[Vaquero]

RP

[pennsylvaniapete]

I shoot all gauges: 12/20/28/.410
I also shoot semi-auto and over/unders.

I am 75, so I prefer my auto for 12 gauge events.
Most courses present targets from 25 yards to 50 yards.
Light modified is a great choke to use. If targets are are inside 25 yds, skeet choke is good.
If targets are outside 45 yards modified choke is good.

[JEBar]

I am 75, so I prefer my auto for 12 gauge events.

do you prefer 7 1/2 or 8 shot

[pennsylvaniapete]

7 1/2 for most disciplines. Regular sporting, Super Sporting, 5-stand, and FITASC.
9’s for skeet.

[pennsylvaniapete]

To clarify my above post.

7 1/2 for 12 gauge disciplines….
9’s for skeet in all gauges….
8’s for the sub-gauge events….