Choosing the right turkey choke for your Remington 870 is crucial for a successful hunt. A poorly chosen choke can lead to inconsistent patterns and missed opportunities, impacting your harvest rate significantly. This guide will walk you through the key factors to consider when selecting a turkey choke, ensuring you make the best choice for your hunting style and firearm.
Understanding Turkey Choke Tubes
Turkey hunting demands tight patterns at extended ranges. Unlike other shotgun applications, where a wider spread might be desirable, turkey hunting necessitates precise shot placement. This is where the choke tube plays a vital role. A turkey choke restricts the shot's spread, creating a concentrated pattern for maximum effectiveness. The Remington 870, a popular choice among turkey hunters, offers the flexibility of interchangeable choke tubes, allowing you to optimize your setup for different situations.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Choke
Several factors influence the selection of the optimal turkey choke for your Remington 870:
1. Choke Constriction: The Tightness Factor
Choke constriction is measured in terms of how much the bore is narrowed. Tighter constrictions (e.g., extra-full, full) create tighter patterns, while less-tight constrictions (e.g., modified, improved cylinder) result in wider patterns. For turkey hunting, you'll generally want a full or extra-full choke. However, the specific best choice depends on other factors like shot size and your hunting range.
- Extra-Full: Delivers the tightest pattern, ideal for longer ranges (40 yards and beyond), but requires precise aiming.
- Full: A good balance between pattern density and shot spread, suitable for various ranges, offering more forgiveness than extra-full.
2. Shot Size and Choke Tube Compatibility
The shot size you use significantly interacts with your choke choice. Smaller shot sizes (e.g., #4, #5, #6) generally benefit from tighter chokes, while larger shot sizes might perform better with slightly less constriction to avoid excessive deformation. Always check the manufacturer's recommendations for your specific choke and shot size combination.
3. Hunting Range and Terrain
Your typical hunting range influences choke selection. Longer ranges necessitate tighter chokes for maximum impact, while closer-range shots may benefit from slightly less constriction to provide a broader effective pattern. The terrain also plays a role; dense cover might require a slightly wider pattern to compensate for obstructed shots.
4. Brand Reputation and Reviews
The brand of the choke tube plays a considerable role in its performance and longevity. Reputable brands invest in rigorous quality control, ensuring consistent patterns and reliable performance. Reading reviews from other hunters provides valuable insight into a particular choke's effectiveness in real-world hunting scenarios.
Popular Turkey Choke Brands for Remington 870
Several reputable brands produce high-quality turkey chokes compatible with Remington 870 shotguns. Researching and comparing different brands based on user reviews and specifications is crucial to finding the ideal match for your hunting style and needs. While we can't endorse specific brands here, looking at user reviews on reputable hunting forums and websites can provide valuable data.
Conclusion: Choosing Your Perfect Turkey Choke
Selecting the best turkey choke for your Remington 870 involves careful consideration of multiple factors. Experimentation at the range with various choke tubes and shot sizes is essential to determine which combination yields the best pattern for your firearm and hunting style. Remember to always practice safe gun handling and follow all relevant hunting regulations. By understanding the nuances of choke constriction, shot size, and hunting conditions, you can dramatically increase your success rate in the turkey woods.
