Do You Need a Choke for Turkey Hunting?

Turkey hunting requires precise shooting to take down these large, wary birds. Many hunters invest in specialty turkey chokes to get the tightest shot patterns possible But is an aftermarket choke really necessary for turkey hunting success? Let’s take a look at when a dedicated turkey choke is recommended and when your existing choke may be sufficient.

Understanding Turkey Choke Basics

A choke is a constriction at the muzzle end of a shotgun barrel that controls the spread of the shot pellets. Tighter chokes produce denser shot patterns that maintain their integrity over longer distances. This is ideal for turkey hunting, where longer shots are common.

There are several types of chokes:

• Cylinder chokes have no constriction and produce the widest, fastest-spreading patterns. These are only used for close range shooting.

• Improved Cylinder and Modified chokes offer minimal constriction and are designed for shooting small, fast birds like doves or quail.

• Full chokes provide the maximum constriction from a factory choke producing tight patterns that reach out to 40 yards or more. Many turkey hunters find a Full choke sufficient.

• Extra Full/Turkey chokes are aftermarket specialty chokes with an extra-tight constriction for dense, long-range patterns. These are recommended when you need to reach out past 40-50 yards.

The best choke for you depends on your shotgun, ammunition, and realistic shooting distances expected when turkey hunting. Patterning your shotgun at various ranges reveals what choke and ammo combination is most effective for your needs.

When Your Existing Choke is Enough

Many shotguns marketed for turkey hunting include an Extended Range or X-Full choke tube. Shooting it side-by-side with aftermarket chokes shows how it stacks up. You may be pleasantly surprised!

Factory turkey tubes often produce excellent 40 yard patterns, especially with today’s advanced turkey loads like Winchester Longbeard, Federal TSS, or Hevi-Shot. If you’re comfortable limiting shots to 40 yards or less, your gun’s factory choke may perform beautifully.

Aftermarket turkey chokes truly shine past 50 yards, where factory chokes quickly lose pattern density. If you don’t foresee needing to reach out that far, save your money. An X-Full factory choke and premium ammo is likely all you need for most real world turkey hunting.

Any Full choke should kill turkeys dead at 30 yards with proper shot placement. Let your patterning results be the judge, not marketing claims. If your Full choke delivers lethal patterns inside 30-40 yards, go hunt confidently!

When to Consider an Aftermarket Turkey Choke

Here are instances when investing in an aftermarket turkey choke can really impact your hunting success:

You Consistently Need 50+ Yard Shots

If your hunting area offers wide open fields with distant birds, an X-Full factory choke reaches its limit quickly. Specialty chokes tailored for long-range competition shooting can effectively pattern out to 60+ yards. This additional reach lets you challenge distant gobblers that would be unapproachable otherwise.

Your Factory Choke Underperforms

While many factory turkey chokes excel, some barely outperform a Modified constriction. Patterning will reveal if your included choke lacks sufficient density past 30 yards with quality ammo. An aftermarket turkey choke brings the tight patterns you need to take full advantage of your shotgun.

You’re a Serious Enthusiast

Avid turkey hunters chasing multiple birds across states and seasons appreciate having an arsenal of chokes. Collecting a Full, X-Full, and specialty turkey choke provides options to tune their shotgun perfectly for each hunt’s conditions and preferred ammo. If turkey hunting is your passion, you’ll appreciate the patterns only a dedicated tube can deliver.

Shooting Light Payloads

Light loads like 2 3/4″ shells or low recoil ammo are sometimes used in youth models or as an alternative for recoil sensitive shooters. These can be very difficult to pattern effectively, especially at longer ranges. A specialty choke designed for light loads often makes a remarkable difference in shot stringency.

Shooting Smaller Gauges

The .410 bore and 20 gauge have less shot to work with than 12 and 10 gauges. Aftermarket chokes in smaller gauges produce patterns nearly on par with their larger cousins, helping you make the most of your lightweight gun.

The Best Turkey Choke for You

The choke that’s best for you depends on your preferred ammo, realistic shooting distances, shotgun gauge, and physical ability to handle recoil. Speak with fellow hunters about chokes that pattern well in your firearm. Shops specializing in shotgun sports are also excellent resources.

Be sure to match your choke’s constriction to the shot size you use – tighter bores work best with smaller shot. Pattern your gun and choke from multiple yardages to see exactly what it’s capable of. This hands-on testing removes the guesswork so you can hunt with total confidence in your equipment.

While aftermarket chokes excel for extreme long-range shots, don’t underestimate your existing Full or X-Full choke. Especially when paired with advanced turkey loads, factory tubes deliver lethal 40 yard patterns. Extend your effective range only as necessary for your hunting conditions. Let patterning results guide your decision, not marketing hype. With the right choke and ammo combination, you’ll be fully prepared to bag your spring gobbler!