Aftermarket choke tubes (opinions)

[Fieldp66]

I am fishing for opinions on aftermarket choke tubes. Do you use them or not? Why or why not? What do use if you use them? I have only ever used the factory chokes in my guns and I am curious if you have seen a noticeable difference when using aftermarket chokes. I will be hunting with a SBE I this year if it makes a difference in your opinion. 

[carpsniperg2]

I have played with a lot of chokes and some of my guns shoot factory chokes better then aftermarket chokes. Kinda depends on the gun and what it likes.

[Bmcox86]

I don't really notice a difference but I use extended chokes in my guns, just easier to change and do a quick tighten every once in a while, cabelas always has berretta and benelli chokes in the bargin cave

[mossy8352]

Depends on what you are hunting for just like what is the best bullet?

[Fieldp66]

I don't really notice a difference but I use extended chokes in my guns, just easier to change and do a quick tighten every once in a while, cabelas always has berretta and benelli chokes in the bargin cave

Good point on the bargin cave. After you mentioned it I remembered I always see them in there too.

[h2ofowlr]

I never used to use after market chokes prior to about 99'.  I killed just as many critters back then as I do now.  Do you need them, NO.  Can the right one improve your pattern, YES.  Is it that noticeable to some, probably not.  What amounts to a nice pattern on paper, still requires a good shooter pulling the trigger.  If you can't figure out leads, you have poor follow through, take to long of shots and lack practice, your probably wasting your money. 

I have a box full of chokes from $5 to $120 chokes.  I like the $15 choke the best.  I picked up several of them and stuck them in a bunch of my guns, so I shoot the same choke for most, unless shooting trap or sporting clays.  My two 10 gauges I have a Kick's high flyer / pattern master both extended range.  Just shoot mod, out to 45 and your good to go.  If your a pass shooter at further distance, you may want to look at some choke options.  I did some choke patterning at 60 yards.  You see big differences at that distance.

[JJD]

I used one in a gun I used to have, because it would not pattern with the factory tubes.  After market tubes improved it a little.  Getting rid of said gun solved the problem completely.

My current guns pattern just fine with the factory tubes, so why spend dollars attempting to fix a problem that does not exist? 

[Fieldp66]

h2ofowlr thank you for you response. I am an average shooter at best and I 100% agree with you comment on practice. I know what will benefit me the most is grabbing a buddy, the old red thrower and a box of clays.

[sakoshooter]

If you've never shot a Patternmaster for waterfowl, you don't know what you're missing.
First, this is not a forgiving choke. It shoots full or tighter patterns with only a IC constriction. The 5 raised spots inside slow the wad just enough to take it out of the equation totally. Because of this, the wad is not busting thru the middle of your shot string stretching it out and dispersing some of the pellets. The pattern stays short and tight. Benefit is much more shot on target. I've been shooting one for many years in a couple different guns. I never even take it out of my SBEII any more. Oh yeah, I've patterned just about every load out there thru it. They're all good with some great except Blind Side and Black Cloud which require their wad to hold the pattern together.
http://www.patternmaster.com/

[scottcrb]

i started shooting the Carlson black cloud choke tube a few years ago when i started shooting the black clouds, it is slightly tighter than my factory modified which is nice for later season birds that are weary or you don't get as good of shot opportunities plus it is an extended choke so its nice to be able to tighten it and remove it easily . i like  it. might just be a confidence thing too though. and the carlsons tubes are a bit cheaper than some of the others.

[KB88]

My belief is this, shoot your factory chokes on paper at all yardages you will consistently be hunting at with different loads you will be hunting with. Some shot sizes will shoot differently at different yardages. I currently hunt with a plain cabelas brand choke in modified, and I can reach out and swat birds with 1's for pass shooting.

Also try different ammo, for not all ammo is treated equal.

[mossy8352]

For my turkey and coyote use I have Carlson chokes and they get it done. Personal choice for me but they do have a good reputation.

[Stilly bay]

I never used to use after market chokes prior to about 99'.  I killed just as many critters back then as I do now.  Do you need them, NO.  Can the right one improve your pattern, YES.  Is it that noticeable to some, probably not.  What amounts to a nice pattern on paper, still requires a good shooter pulling the trigger.  If you can't figure out leads, you have poor follow through, take to long of shots and lack practice, your probably wasting your money. 

I have a box full of chokes from $5 to $120 chokes.  I like the $15 choke the best.  I picked up several of them and stuck them in a bunch of my guns, so I shoot the same choke for most, unless shooting trap or sporting clays.  My two 10 gauges I have a Kick's high flyer / pattern master both extended range.  Just shoot mod, out to 45 and your good to go.  If your a pass shooter at further distance, you may want to look at some choke options.  I did some choke patterning at 60 yards.  You see big differences at that distance.

The only thing I will contribute is that Benelli's factory chokes throw a pretty nice pattern to begin with.

[BigGoonTuna]

every gun is different, and some chokes that work great in one gun might not be worth a damn in one of the same make and model.

my 20 gauge benelli tosses excellent patterns with the factory tubes, whereas my 12 gauge 870 factory chokes are inferior to just about every aftermarket choke i've tried.

i'd really like to try some different chokes in my SP-10, i've heard good things about the "terror" tubes but unfortunately they're gone now.

[hdshot]

I never used to use after market chokes prior to about 99'.  I killed just as many critters back then as I do now.  Do you need them, NO.  Can the right one improve your pattern, YES.  Is it that noticeable to some, probably not.  What amounts to a nice pattern on paper, still requires a good shooter pulling the trigger.  If you can't figure out leads, you have poor follow through, take to long of shots and lack practice, your probably wasting your money. 

I have a box full of chokes from $5 to $120 chokes.  I like the $15 choke the best.  I picked up several of them and stuck them in a bunch of my guns, so I shoot the same choke for most, unless shooting trap or sporting clays.  My two 10 gauges I have a Kick's high flyer / pattern master both extended range.  Just shoot mod, out to 45 and your good to go.  If your a pass shooter at further distance, you may want to look at some choke options.  I did some choke patterning at 60 yards.  You see big differences at that distance.

I had about the same responce as well until last year.  I started with the Pattern Master mid range and really liked it.  Don't know why maybe just hitting the target better for cleaner kills with more head shots.  But who cares dead is dead.  But last year started hunting with a guy and after about 3 or 4 hunts he started asking about my choke.  Then the next hunt he had one and I found myself asking him about it because it seemed the shooting was getting a little better on the other side.  I could never see myself going back to factory.

To answer the question, try a pattern master 1st and like it, you won't care about the others. If you hate it, no need to try the others.       

[sakoshooter]

One of my hunting partners finally bought a Patternmaster choke this year. His call to me on opening day was: I've never hit them so hard. I just laughed and told him - I told ya so, LOL.
Again, not a very forgiving choke but when you're on - you're definitely on.

[Patarero]

  

Had a patternmaster in my 870 for ~8 years.  You have to be dialed in to use this choke though, also avoid any shots closer than 5yrds....duck burger

[frazihunt]

In the past couple of years i've experimented with several different choke tubes including patternmaster, carlsons, and kick's. I shoot a sbe II and the one that works the best in my gun is the kick's high flyer but like everyone else says they all work different in different guns so until you get out there and try a few you wont know which one works the best for you.

[Duckwacker]

I use kicks high flier in my sbe II it was night and day I've got some on order for my nephew's m2 20 gauge.

[TwoSixFourWins]

SRM Terror by Wad Wizard.

[ebitzan]

Depends what you want, if you want just an all around tube stick with your factory stuff. If you want a tube that will take their heads off at long range get a patternmaster extended.

[Skagit_Hunter]

Tubes are like Ford V Chey. You can take two exact same guns, Put the same tube in them. And get very diff results. Don't buy the hype. Waste your money or pattern factory tubes. If you need to shoot 3.5 and a extended tube, Your prob doing something wrong. Or a sky buster.

[Dadbear]

I tried lots and eventually went back to my factory Rem choke tubes. Better on paper and in the field.