Choke for steel shot?

[CP]

I just talked to two different gunsmiths about chokes for steel shot and I’ve got to different answers.  Gunsmith A says there is no reason to use a choke tighter than IC for steel, gunsmith B recommends Mod or IM to get extra range out of the gun.  I’m way confused so I’m asking the real experts;

What choke works best for you for steel shot?

[Elliott]

it really depends on the pattern the shot produces, for example i was playing on using my mod. this weekend but when i patterned it there were a couple holes in the pattern so i threw in the full choke and at 40 yrds there was a real nice consistent pattern. and different loads of shot give different patters (so i have heard) so you should pattern each load you are planning on hunting with.

[Wayne1]

Every gun's diffeent..  Mine shoots best with an Imp/mod

[road.kill]

Mod  for me

[jordano]

For more decoying ducks like Puddle Ducks (Mallards, Wigeon, Pintail, Teal, Gadwall, Wood Duck) where you are taking closer, more passive shooting and the birds are trying to sit in the decoys I use a Modified choke, but when I am hunting Divers on the Columbia River, where they are flying by fast the majority of the time and are more pass shots a little farther away I use a Improved Modified inbetween a Mod and Full. I think it gets my pattern a little tighter a little farther away. but it is also a confidence thing on what you feel more comfortable with and what you shoot better with

[adam.WI]

Mod for me as well, if they are  decoying you should be able to get a solid bead so a poor open pattern is not needed. I wouldn't go much tighter than that without a lot of practice, (and the right loads)  full can be a very small pattern at 10 yards.

[h2ofowlr]

Modified is a good choke to go with if your shots are consistently outside 25 yards.  If they are right over decoys, open the choke up.  I use a tighter choke if pass shooting.

[ing]

When I'm hunting over deeks I'll use improved and modified in my red label, or just modified in my benelli or mossberg.  When I'm jump shooting them I'll stick with a modified cause it's usually longer shooting. Never used a full choke with steel.  I also shoot 1 1/4 to 1 3/8 oz BB's. I've noticed that BB and #2 shot out of a modified choke works great for shots out to 50 yards. 

[chim-chim]

Matters what I am doing but I have tried a mod and a full then went to a pattern master long range and it works for about all my needs love that choke

[T-Bone]

With a fixed choke or flush mounted choke tube avoid FULL or you could possibly do damage to the gun. In general, steel shoots one choke tighter than lead in such guns.

Each gun is different. I find MODIFIED shoots great in one gun and IC shoots better in the other. The second variable is the shell or load. You will need to pattern your gun to see which choke and load is best for it.