Black Cloud Choke

[Sawbuck]

Was wondering if anybody has used either of the black cloud choke tubes and how they worked? I did a search, and it sounded like a few guys were going to try them last year, but didn't see any posts of how they worked out. I used both black cloud and kent shells last year and both patterned o.k. out of my nova with a modified choke. The faststeel shot a little higher than the black cloud and seemed to spread out a lot more. The black cloud shot a much more even pattern, but it was shaped like an X. My modified choke cracked halfway through the season so I ended up using my IC choke, which just amplified the the pattern issues that I mentioned above. I prefer the Black cloud simply because I never wounded that many with it, if I hit them they fell dead, with the faststeel I ended up both shooting and chasing way more. So anyway I was going to pick up another choke to replace my modified and didn't know if it would be better to by a factory replacement, or spend a few bucks more and get the Black Cloud long range choke. Any thoughts?

[h2ofowlr]

I have a black cloud long range Pattern Master in my Remington SP-10 and one of my Benelli SBE II's.  It seems to pattern good.  I shot about 2 cases through my shotgun.  I had tried #4, #2 & BB- 3-1/2" along with 3", #3, #2 & BB's.  I don't know if it's necessary to spend $65-$85 per choke.  I would e-mail Federal to see what guns and chokes they used and any recommendations, so your not wasting time and money on various chokes. 

[terrellwa]

I also use the Black Cloud Long Range choke and it works great with both my Browning Gold and my 870.  I just ordered another case of BC Snow Goose for this year.

[Mr56Jeep]

I gave up on all the PatternMaster, Strangler etc chokes for steel.  I run factory IC and shoot either Fiocci (BB or #2) or Black Cloud (BB or #2) shells depending on the range/game I think I'll be shooting.

It has taken one variable out of the equation.  I know what the shells do and I know what I can hit with them.

I'm not looking to make 50+ yard shots nor do I want to have ground duck upon retrieve.   

My     

[Sawbuck]

I gave up on all the PatternMaster, Strangler etc chokes for steel.  I run factory IC and shoot either Fiocci (BB or #2) or Black Cloud (BB or #2) shells depending on the range/game I think I'll be shooting.

It has taken one variable out of the equation.  I know what the shells do and I know what I can hit with them.

I'm not looking to make 50+ yard shots nor do I want to have ground duck upon retrieve.   

My     

Thanks for the info guys. I'm not looking to make long shots either, I just want a setup that I don't have to think about as much, adjust my shooting for. I am hoping that the black cloud choke will improve my pattern and eleminate the X shape it tends to have.

[h2ofowlr]

Terrella,

Skagit Arms in Burlington, WA just had a large shipment of the Black Cloud Snowgoose loads show up.  They stocked up on the 3", #2's and BB's.  They also have all the Black Cloud Shells along with the new Remington Shells. 

[terrellwa]

H2O,

Got mine from Rogers can't beat their prices with free shipping.  You shot the snowgoose loads last year right how did you like them?  I got the 3" 2's I figure will work for just about anything.  I am also looking for another case of shells for the decoying ducks perhaps some fast steel, I used BC for everything last year and it don't do so well on the close decoyed ducks.  What do you shoot for the decoyed birds? 

[ellensburgpo]

I have used the Blackcloud long range choke made by Carlsons the last two years. It patterns very tight out of my Nova. It was only like 40 bucks so it was not an unreasonable cost. I shoot 3" number 2's and have had good luck with the whole setup. It isn't an up close setup by any stretch though so keep that in mind, though if you do hit them up close there aren't any cripples. Basically you either miss them or you crush them with the long range choke at reasonable distance.

[AWS]

I'm shooting BC #4's out of my 20ga and use a IC or Skeet II tube works just fine fine for me, all my shooting is over decoys.  I leave the passers by to the next guy.

AWS

[Mr56Jeep]

I'm shooting BC #4's out of my 20ga and use a IC or Skeet II tube works just fine fine for me, all my shooting is over decoys.  I leave the passers by to the next guy.

AWS

Now thats my kind of shooting   

[h2ofowlr]

I tried a little bit of everything last year.  I have a case of the 3" BC #3's  I had good luck with the snow goose loads, only difference is speed from the normal stuff.  The Hevi-Metal seemed to have the best knock down kill load.  I didn't have to really waste any swatter loads when using it.  I would knock a bird down with the kent and it seemed like there were several times I had to swat them again or the dog chased them a long ways.  Many of these loads perform very similar if your on top of your shooting game.  If your making good shots, your killing the birds.  To test this theory I picked up a case of #2 Winchester 3" from Wal-Mart.  $9.89 per box.  I think I had just as many dead birds as I did with the $25 dollar a box shells.  If your shooting out past 60 yards, expensive is probably better if your shooting denser shot, like bismuth, tungsten, Hevi-Metal, etc.
I have shot two boxes of the new Remington loads and haven't found a choke combo yet that produced a good pattern.  I am sure there has to be one choke out there that is just right.

[WSU]

If you are shooting less than 35 yards, shoot cheap shells in BB, 1, or 2.  I buy 1 1/4 ounce cheap shells, and as long as they pattern well out of your gun, you will knock down most birds in the range as long as you do your job.  Using this load last year I had several limits in 10 or so shells, and one 8 shell limit (that damn last duck took 2 shots, I was pumped to get the 7 shell limit).

[scottcrb]

i am switching to the black clouds this year too and i shoot 3" #3's out of my benelli supernova. i sent carlesons a question about this and this is what shane carleson sent me back.

The Mid Range is a Modified constriction designed for 25-45 yard shooting.  The Long Range is a Full constriction and is designed for shots consistantly beyond 45 yards.  The Long Range is very tight for shots closer than 40 yards.
 
Thanks

Carlson's Choke Tubes

[drk9988]

Shooting past 40 yards or so isn't really that fun to me so I don't see a need for a long range choke.. Waterfowling is about tricking them to the point that they are almost landing in the dekes... On those special days when the circling seems more frequent black cloud with a Briley IC would immediately cancel the circling....

[Mr56Jeep]

Shooting past 40 yards or so isn't really that fun to me so I don't see a need for a long range choke.. Waterfowling is about tricking them to the point that they are almost landing in the dekes... On those special days when the circling seems more frequent black cloud with a Briley IC would immediately cancel the circling....

+1   

[Malardman]

I do have a Blackcloud X-range choke tube the reason I bought it is because I was shooting there ammo and it patterned like crap. The ammo patterns alot better if you use a choke made for it. Brileys,Carlsons,Patternmaster whoever makes on for BC ammo is the only way to shoot the stuff IMO.

[HoofsandWings]

In the latest Wildfowl issue, there was an article that pointed out that with open chokes like IC, steel bunches the pellets, but with a more constrictive choke, the pellets string out, so there is more chance of a bird flying into the trailing pellets.
BC chokes are usally in the M to IM category.

[YoungBuck]

Using Hevi-metal with a factory modified choke shoots just fine.

[h2ofowlr]

I do have a Blackcloud X-range choke tube the reason I bought it is because I was shooting there ammo and it patterned like crap. The ammo patterns alot better if you use a choke made for it. Brileys,Carlsons,Patternmaster whoever makes on for BC ammo is the only way to shoot the stuff IMO.

If you mic the chokes the Black Cloud modified are more open than a standard modified.   They have opened up there tollerance.