Turkey hunting is a thrilling experience that requires strategy, patience, and the right gear to be successful. One piece of equipment that is essential for effective turkey hunting is a choke tube, also known as a turkey choke. But do you really need one? The short answer is yes – having the correct choke installed in your shotgun can make all the difference when attempting those 40+ yard shots on a weary tom.
What is a Turkey Choke and Why Use One?
A turkey choke is a constricted choke tube that is designed to provide dense, tight pellet patterns at longer ranges. The constriction focuses the spread of the shot, preventing fliers and increasing the number of pellets that will hit the vital areas of the turkey’s head and neck. This gives hunters a much better chance of cleanly and humanely harvesting a bird, even at extended distances
Standard choke tubes that come with shotguns, such as modified or full chokes, can certainly work for turkey hunting However, they are optimized for wingshooting birds in flight, not for the tight patterns and increased range needed for turkey hunting Dedicated turkey chokes provide significant advantages
- Tighter overall shot patterns
- Increased effective range – commonly 50+ yards
- More pellets in the head/neck area
- Reduced cripples and unrecovered birds
- Ability to use smaller shot sizes
- Consistent performance as the turkey choke wears in
For turkey hunters wanting to extend their effective range, get cleaner kills, and reduce cripples, a specialty turkey choke is considered essential equipment alongside calls, decoys, and camo.
Choosing the Best Turkey Choke
There are many turkey choke tubes on the market to choose from these days. Top brands like Carlson’s, Indian Creek, Trulock, and others all make quality options. Here are some tips for picking the right one for your shotgun:
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Gauge – Make sure to get a choke made specifically for your shotgun gauge. Most are made for 12 gauge, with fewer options for 20 gauge and other gauges.
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Constriction – .665 to .690 is common for lead and copper plated lead shells in 12 gauge. Tighter constrictions like .665 work well for 20 gauge. For tungsten super shot (TSS), constrictions around .650 to .660 are optimal in 12 gauge.
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Length – Longer tubes in the 24-30 inch range extend the choke’s effect down the barrel for improved patterns. These are especially helpful on short barreled turkey guns.
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Ports – Ports along the side of the choke can help reduce recoil and improve shot patterns. However, they must be cleaned regularly to prevent buildup.
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TSS Specific – If shooting expensive TSS loads, a TSS specific choke designed for these dense pellets is recommended.
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Struts – Internal struts help keep the shot uniform and can tighten up patterns. Not necessarily required, but an added benefit.
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Brand Matching – Many chokes are tuned specifically for certain turkey loads like Winchester Longbeard, Federal TSS, etc. These “brand matching” chokes take the guesswork out.
Installing and Using Your Turkey Choke
Once you’ve selected the right turkey choke for your shotgun, proper installation and use is key to getting the most performance from it. Here are some useful tips:
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Always ensure the choke, barrel threads, and o-ring seal are completely clean before installation. Debris can cause the choke to loosen or pattern poorly.
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Lightly tighten the choke with your fingers before using the choke wrench for final tightening. Overtightening can damage threads.
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Be sure to pattern test at various distances with your chosen shell/choke combo to confirm sufficient density and range.
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When firing, concentrate on keeping your cheek firmly on the stock for consistency. Don’t lift your head to check the shot.
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Stick to straightaways whenever possible, avoiding overly choked shots at steep angles or directly overhead.
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Maintain proper shotgun maintenance by cleaning the ported sections thoroughly to prevent carbon buildup.
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Consider numbering chokes and barrels to keep choke/barrel pairings consistent.
Turkey Chokes Are a Key Piece of Equipment
Do You Really Need An Aftermarket Turkey Choke?
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When fellow turkey hunters I know buy a new turkey gun, the first thing they ask me with what choke they should get for it. I usually answer their question with a question. “Maybe,†I say, “Have you tried the one that came with your gun?†They haven’t. Checking out your factory choke is a good place to start. So, let’s start there.
Branded Chokes Can Save Time and Trouble
If you favor a particular load, like Winchester Long Beard, it makes a lot of sense to get a branded choke like this one.
The shortcut is to let someone else do your homework for you and buy a choke tested with a specific shell. You can buy a Long Beard choke, or a Federal TSS choke, for instance, and be fairly confident it will shoot really well with those loads. Those may or may not be the absolute best chokes for that load in your gun, but they should be close, and they’ll have been shot with those loads a very great deal. They also may or may not work great with other loads, to boot.
Choke-maker George Trulock describes testing branded TSS chokes by shooting 25 to 30 loads through each of a variety of tubes decreasing in constriction by .005 increments, until he found the right dimensions. And he waited for the barrel to cool between shots and only shot on days of similar ambient temperature and barometric pressure. Most of us would go broke shooting that much TSS, even if we had the time and patience to shoot that way. As a bonus, Trulock says, he holds his branded chokes to somewhat tighter tolerances than usual. So, if there’s a brand of ammo you want to shoot at turkeys, this is good way to go.
Bird Hunting Tips – Choosing Choke Tubes
FAQ
Do I need a choke to turkey hunt?
The full choke comes with the most severe and impactful restriction and effectively shoots squirrels, turkeys, and other game from 40 to even 70 yards since the pellets hold together even longer. For even denser patterns at a distance, hunters may use an extra full or a special turkey choke.
Are turkey chokes worth it?
Even a factory Full choke might perform satisfactorily with premium ammunition like Long Beard or TSS. So long as your gun-choke-and-load combination puts 100 pellets into a 10-inch circle (or close to it) at the maximum range you’d let yourself shoot, you’re set. Save money.
What is the purpose of a turkey choke?
- The choke is inserted into the tip of the shotgun barrel.
- The choke constricts the pellets as they leave the gun.
- This constriction allows the pellets to be more tightly grouped and carry more energy.
- The result is a denser shot pattern at longer ranges.
How far can you shoot with a turkey choke?
Moving to a full choke will give you a . 695 choke diameter; you’ll get more energy and a tighter pattern, allowing lethal shots out to 35-40 yards. Moving to an extra-full choke pushes your limit even farther. A lot of birds are killed by hunters at 40-50 yards plus with specialty extra-full turkey chokes.
Should you use a full choke for turkey hunting?
When it comes to turkey hunting, it’s best to use a full or extra-full choke to achieve tighter shot patterns and longer range, increasing the chances of a successful harvest. What is the best choke for turkey hunting? A full or extra-full choke is best for turkey hunting to achieve tighter shot patterns and longer range.
How tight is a Turkey choke?
Although it may seem like a small amount, it is quite restrictive when you consider how much shot must squeeze through the narrow tunnel. A full choke is about.030 inches tighter than cylinder, and turkey chokes are 30 thousandths more tight than full chokes. Yes, numbers. You don’t need to know the numbers or do the math.
What size shotgun should I use for turkey hunting?
Shot sizes ranging from #4 to #7 are commonly used for turkey hunting, with larger shot providing more power and range. Do I need to pattern test my shotgun for turkey hunting? Yes, pattern testing your shotgun with different chokes and ammunition is crucial to determine the most effective combination for turkey hunting.
Should you shoot a Turkey with a TSS choke?
Most of us would go broke shooting that much TSS, even if we had the time and patience to shoot that way. As a bonus, Trulock says, he holds his branded chokes to somewhat tighter tolerances than usual. So, if there’s a brand of ammo you want to shoot at turkeys, this is good way to go.
Do Turkey choke tubes look the same?
Choke tubes are an important improvement for hunters today. With spring turkey season coming, there is talk about tips and tricks and the best gear available to increase your chances of success. No, choke tubes do not all look the same. A turkey choke tube can increase your shotgun’s ability to do what it does best.
What shot should I use for turkey hunting?
Lead shot is traditional for turkey hunting, but using non-toxic shot can be required in some areas to protect the environment. What shot size should I use for turkey hunting? Shot sizes ranging from #4 to #7 are commonly used for turkey hunting, with larger shot providing more power and range.