There’s a bit of black magic involved in picking the best turkey choke for your setup. That’s because there are three major variables involved in how a turkey setup patterns: the gun, the load, and the choke. Changing any one of these three variables could significantly impact patterning performance. Because of this, there really is no single best turkey choke.
So how, exactly, do you get started finding the right after-market choke without blowing through a bunch of money on chokes and ammo and testing them all through your gun? Luckily, after-market choke makers and ammo manufacturers have done extensive testing on almost all the gun/choke/load combinations out there. We interviewed a bunch of them, and their expertise will help you decide which is the right turkey choke for your gun and your hunting style. We’ll also give you options for which load to pair with your choke.
As an avid turkey hunter, I know that having the right gear can make all the difference between a successful hunt and an unsuccessful one And when it comes to equipment, nothing is more important than having the best turkey choke for your shotgun The choke is a critical component that controls shot pattern density, directly impacting your accuracy and ability to harvest a bird.
Through extensive research and hands-on testing I’ve become well-versed in choosing the ideal choke. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share everything I’ve learned to help fellow hunters find the perfect turkey choke for their needs.
What Factors Should You Consider When Selecting a Turkey Choke?
With so many choke options on the market, it can get overwhelming trying to determine which one is right for you. Here are the key factors I evaluate:
Your Typical Shooting Distance
This is crucial, as chokes are designed for specific ranges. If you mostly take close shots under 40 yards, a more open choke like improved cylinder may suffice. For longer 40+ yard shots in open fields, a tighter full choke is better.
Shotgun Gauge
The choke must match your shotgun gauge. Most turkey guns are 12 or 20 gauge. There are chokes made specifically for each.
Shot Pattern Density
The choke constriction will affect the concentrated density of your shot pattern. Tighter chokes increase pattern density, but too tight can be ineffective at close ranges.
Choke Construction and Design
Sturdy materials like stainless steel and quality engineering, such as ported or lengthened chokes, ensure reliability and enhance performance.
Your Shotgun Make and Model
Chokes are threaded differently for different shotguns. Always verify compatibility before purchasing.
Top-Recommended Turkey Chokes
Based on my extensive field use and testing of various chokes, here are my top picks:
Carlson’s Long Beard XR Choke Tube
Best Overall Turkey Choke
This choke consistently delivers tight shot patterns out to 60 yards, even in dense woods or brush. It has an extended parallel section for superior shot concentration. The durable stainless steel construction holds up season after season. For Remington shotgun owners, this is an outstanding choice.
Primos Tight Wad Turkey Choke
Best Value Turkey Choke
Despite its affordable price, this choke still provides excellent performance. It excels with lead turkey loads, achieving dense 40-yard patterns. The chrome alloy and specialized wad restrictor design make this a great option for Remington 870 owners on a budget.
Patternmaster Anaconda Long Range Turkey Choke
Best for 50+ Yard Shots
The Anaconda has an ultra-tight constriction of .660 designed for reaching out to those distant birds. Using high density loads like TSS or Hevi-Shot, this choke maintains lethal patterns beyond 50 yards. The titanium-infused stainless steel ensures lasting durability.
Indian Creek Brawler .665 Turkey Choke
Best Versatile, Multi-Purpose Choke
While designed for turkeys, the Brawler has enough constriction to be effective on other game like deer, predators, and waterfowl. The ported, lengthened tube also helps manage recoil. It’s a great all-around choke suitable for most 12-gauge hunting scenarios.
Carlson’s Dead Coyote Choke Tube
Best Specialized Predator Choke
I’ve had amazing success using this choke for calling in turkeys. The mid-range constriction is perfect for quickly downing wary birds that hang up just out of range, while avoiding overly tight patterns that cause misses. It also performs fantastically on predator hunts.
How to Pattern Your Shotgun with Different Turkey Chokes
One of the best ways to zero in on the right choke for your gun is to test them out on a patterning target. Here is a quick guide to patterning your shotgun:
Purchase several choke tubes
Start with a variety like IC, Mod, Full, and specialty turkey chokes.
Select your typical turkey hunting ammunition
Use the specific loads you plan to hunt with.
Set up patterning target at desired distance
30-40 yards is typical. Use a large sheet of paper or commercial patterning target.
Fire 3 test shots with each choke
Keep all other variables like stance, aim point, and ammunition consistent.
Assess performance and pattern density
Measure shot concentration and count pellet strikes on target.
Compare results across chokes
Determine which produced the best density and uniformity for your needs.
Consider additional factors
Felt recoil, shot stringing, and personal preference.
Following this process allows you to see firsthand how your shotgun performs with different chokes. Then you can confidently choose the right one to take afield.
Frequently Asked Turkey Choke Questions
Over the years, I’ve been asked plenty of questions by fellow hunters about turkey chokes. Here I’ll try to answer some of the most common ones:
Is a turkey choke necessary or can I use a regular choke?
While you can harvest turkeys with a regular full choke, a dedicated turkey choke specifically designed for tight patterns will greatly increase your effective range and accuracy. The additional constriction makes a big difference when targeting a turkey’s small head and neck at longer distances.
Do chokes designed for lead shot work with tungsten super shot (TSS)?
Typically yes. But extremely tight chokes, like .665, may pattern too tightly with dense TSS loads, especially at close range. That’s why it’s important to pattern your particular ammo through any choke you’re considering.
How many chokes should I buy?
At a minimum, having a quality full choke designed for lead turkey loads is recommended. But it doesn’t hurt to add a couple others like an improved cylinder for closer birds, and an extra full turkey choke for long shots. This provides flexibility across more hunting scenarios.
When should I use a more open choke?
In heavy cover when birds may burst through brush suddenly at close range, a more open choke like improved cylinder allows you to swing and shoot instinctively without worrying about a dense pattern missing at 20 yards.
How long does it take to change chokes?
With some practice, you can change chokes in 30 seconds or less. Quick and easy swaps allow you to adjust for changes in hunting conditions or distances.
Final Thoughts on Selecting the Ultimate Turkey Choke
As you can see, there are several important considerations when choosing the best turkey choke. The right choke maximizes your shotgun’s capability to put tight, lethal patterns on target at common turkey hunting distances. While it takes some upfront research and testing to find your ideal choke, the effort pays off with more birds in the bag during hunting season.
Whether you want an all-around performer, a specialty long-range choke, or an option suitable for other game, there are fantastic turkey chokes built to match your needs and budget. Use this guide to narrow down the top choices, pattern them extensively with your preferred ammunition, and go with the one that performs best.
Best Turkey Chokes: Reviews & Recommendations
- Best with Apex TSS ammo
- Gauges: 10, 12, 20, .410
- Compatible with all lead and hybrid heavy loads, shot sizes No. 2 to No. 10
- MSRP: $90
- Wide variety of constrictions for most popular guns
- You could have trouble with availability, many SKUs are sold out
Based in Frohna, Missouri, Indian Creek is a well-respected name among serious turkey hunters. Across the board, Wall says that Indian Creek’s Black Diamond is the best turkey choke for pairing with APEX ammo. He recommends going with a .665 constriction for the best performance with Apex’s 3-inch, 2-ounce loads for optimal performance from 25 to 60 yards.
For shooting gobblers specifically at longer ranges, Wall suggests bumping up to a 3.5-inch load (assuming you don’t care about recoil) and opening up the choke constriction a little to .670 or .675.
“The best setup I’ve seen yet is we’ve got a Mossberg 835 with an Indian Creek .675 choke in it. With our 3.5-inch No. 9 APEX loads we’re averaging 500 pellets in a 10-inch circle at 40 yards,” Wall says.
But for his own hunting, Wall chooses to shoot a 20-gauge with an Indian Creek choke. He recommends a .562 constriction for optimal patterns from 25 to about 60 yards.
- Best with Federal Premium Heavyweight TSS
- Gauges: 12, 20, .410
- Compatible with TSS No. 7s and No. 9s
- MSRP: $59-$62
- Scott Carlson designed this choke specifically for use with Federal’s Heavyweight TSS load
- Might be too tight of constriction for some loads
“We have found that Federal Heavyweight 12-gauge loads pattern best out of a .650 or even .640 choke,” said Scott Carlson, owner of Carlson’s Chokes. “But a load like Apex, it will shoot better from a more open choke, like a .675.”
Because Carlson specifically designed these chokes to run with Federal’s TSS loads, they typically come in tighter constrictions than the Indian Creek turkey chokes. For example, the Beretta/Benelli Mobil has a super-tight .640 constriction. Federal and Carlson choke fans will be happy to hear that Federal’s Heavyweight TSS 3-inch No. 7s/9s blended round was one of the best penetrating loads in our test of top turkey loads.
Finding the Right Choke for TSS
Tungsten Super Shot (known as TSS) has taken the turkey hunting world by storm. But to get the most out of a TSS load, you need to shoot it through an optimized choke. Interestingly, some TSS loads will pattern well with tight .640 or .650 constriction (12-gauge). Other TSS loads will like a .665 or even a .675 constriction.
Many people tend to over-choke their turkey guns when shooting TSS, which blows out patterns.
“If you try to over constrict [TSS] only so much of the shot will be able to get through in such a time, and so it just kind of creates a backup,” said Nick Charney of Apex Ammunition. “The shot is hard so it can’t give, and just starts leaking out. As soon as the pellets get free [of the barrel] there is so much force behind them that they start spraying everywhere.”
Wad technology, shot cushions, how the shot is loaded, shot size, the physical makeup of the pellets themselves, and even barrel fouling all factor into how a payload performs when it passes through the constriction of a choke. The diameter of the forcing cone matters too. The larger the back boring (you can measure this with a bore gauge), the more open choke you should be able to shoot for best pattern results. For instance, Mossberg 12 gauges, like the 935 or 835, generally have a slightly larger forcing cone diameter than Benellis or Berettas, so they should shoot a 2-ounce payload of TSS No. 9s better with a .675 choke. The Italian guns (Berettas and Benellis) typically shoot best patterns with more constriction. But the brand of shotshell plays a factor too. —Joe Genzel
Apex patterns at 40 yards. Left to right: Remington 870, Benelli SBE III, Browning BPS. Joe Genzel
Here’s one more complication: A “good pattern” means different things to different types of turkey hunters. Hunters who chase turkeys in the woods and don’t shoot beyond 40 yards won’t want as tight of a pattern (100 to 200 pellets inside a 10-inch circle at 40 yards is fine performance). If you’re shooting a 12-gauge, you should be able to achieve this kind of performance out of a factory full choke, especially if you’re using TSS.
But turkey hunters looking to shoot to 50 yards and beyond will want to choke their guns for tighter patterns (more than 200 pellet strikes inside a 10-inch circle at 40 yards using TSS). Interestingly, that doesn’t necessarily mean a tighter constriction if you’re shooting TSS (more details on this below). The trade-off is that those super-tight patterns make it easier to miss a bird at close range.