Understanding Choke Tubes: The Best Choice for Turkey Hunting

If you’re an avid turkey hunter or are just starting to get into the sport, one of the most important considerations is what type of choke tube to use. But with so many options available, how do you know which one is the best for turkey hunting? This blog post aims to demystify this topic and guide you towards the ideal choice.

First, let’s understand what a choke tube is. A choke tube affects the spread or pattern of the shotgun pellets as they leave the barrel. The common types of choke tubes include improved cylinder, modified, improved modified, full, extra full, and turkey¹.

12 Top Turkey Hunting Chokes

TRUGLO HEAD BANGER TG188X Winchester/Mossberg 20 GA Long Range CNC-Machined Heat-Treated Steel Turkey Choke Tube

Hunters Specialties Strut Undertaker Lead-Based Non-Ported 20 GA Turkey Hunting Choke Tube Compatible with Remington...

Primos Hunting TSS Mobil .410 Turkey Hunting Choke Tube 69424

Primos Hunting TSS Invector .410 Turkey Hunting Choke Tube 69422

CARLSON'S Long Beard Turkey Choke Tube Remington Remchoke 12 Gauge 70120

TRUGLO Gobble-Stopper Xtreme Gun Choke Tube Combo - Includes Universal-Fit Fiber Optic Sight, Benelli/Beretta Mobil...

Carlson's Browning Invector Plus Long Beard Ported Turkey Choke, 12ga

Carlson Extended Extra Full Turkey Choke Tube Remington 12 Gauge Shotguns, 19585

Hunters Specialties 00666 Undertaker Choke Tube

CARLSON’S Choke Tube Beretta Benelli Mobil 12 Gauge Flush Mount Replacement Stainless Choke Tubes, Turkey, Silver

CARLSON’S Choke Tubes 12 Gauge Compatible for Beretta Benelli Mobil [ Turkey | 0.680 Diameter ] Blued Steel |...

Carlson's Choke Tube Beretta Benelli Mobil 12 Gauge Extended Turkey Choke Tube, Black

When it comes to turkey hunting, a tight choke is typically preferred because it allows the hunter to shoot at longer ranges². This is crucial because turkeys have excellent eyesight and can detect movement from a considerable distance, so getting close can be challenging.

Among the various types of chokes, the cylinder, improved cylinder, modified, and full chokes are commonly used³. However, for turkeys, hunters often lean towards a full choke or an extra full choke with a tight constriction, which proves effective for shots taken around 40-70 yards away⁴.

Some hunters may stick to their old shotgun with a fixed modified choke, while others prefer an extended extra-full choke⁵. There’s also a special “Turkey Choke” designed specifically for turkey hunting. You may also see Super-Full/Extra-Full chokes mentioned for turkeys, especially for shooting at further distances⁶.

For those looking to tweak their setup in 2023, the Indian Creek Black Diamond Strike Turkey Choke has been rated as the best overall, with Carlson’s Long Beard XR Turkey Choke also being a popular choice⁷⁸.

In Conclusion

While the choice of choke can depend on personal preference and specific hunting conditions, the consensus among turkey hunters tends to favor the tighter constrictions of full and extra-full chokes. This allows for longer-range shots, which is particularly useful when hunting wary turkeys.

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