Chokes And Patterns — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

Education Menu

• Expand Angler Education
• Expand Archery
• Expand Becoming an Outdoors-Woman
• Expand Boater Education
• Expand Classroom Resources
• Expand Get Outside
• Expand Hunter Education
  •   Hunter Education
  •   Print a Certification Card
  •   Firearm & Hunting 101 Courses
  •   Instructor LOGIN
  •   Instructor Resources
  •   Become an Instructor
  •   Target Talk - Hunter Education News
  •   Texas Hunting Accident Reports
  •   Student Resources
  •   Bowhunter Education
  •   FAQ
  • Expand Shooting Sports
  • Expand Hunter Education Instructor
  • Expand Opciones en español
  •   Know your doves
  •   Hunter Ed Online Course
    •   Online Course
    • Expand Chapter 1 - Intro to Hunter Education
    • Expand Chapter 2 - Firearms and Ammunition
      •   Chapter 2 - Firearms and Ammunition
      •   Common Firearms
      •   Shotguns
      •   Handguns
      •   Sights and Safeties
      •   Ammunition
      •   Rifle Ammunition: Bullets
      •   Shotgun Ammunition: Shotshells
      •   Chokes and Patterns
      •   Shot for Game
      •   Firearms Cleaning and Maintenance
      •   Next Chapter - Shooting Skills
    • Expand Chapter 3 - Shooting Skills
    • Expand Chapter 4 - Hunting Skills
    • Expand Chapter 5 - Primitive Hunting
    • Expand Chapter 6 - Hunting Safety
    • Expand Chapter 7 - Responsible and Ethical Hunting
    • Expand Chapter 8 - Preparation and Survival
    • Expand Chapter 9 - Wildlife Conservation
    • Expand Chapter 10 - Texas Regulations
• Expand Project WILD
•   Texas Buffalo Soldiers
•   Education
•   Texas Children in Nature
• Expand Water Education
•   Outreach and Education Staff Directory
• Expand Pollinator BioBlitz

Chokes and Patterns

Common Chokes

Chokes slightly narrow the muzzle of the barrel to influence the shot stream and deliver a desired pattern. Chokes don't make the shot go farther. Their purpose is to deliver an effective density of shot at a particular distance. For game such as quail, where shots are usually at relatively short range, you may choose a choke like an improved cylinder. For turkey, where you anticipate that shots may be at a larger range, you might choose a full choke.

Many shotguns have interchangeable choke tubes so shooters can adjust the choke to the situation.

You should “pattern” your shotgun to find out how it performs with various loads and chokes at specific distances. This entails shooting single shots at individual targets at the distance you anticipate you will be shooting at game. Write on the target the load of the shells, the type of choke and the distance that you fired. By comparing the targets and counting the average number of pellets that will cover a lethal area on the target, you will find out what combination of shotshell and type of choke will deliver the best results. It is a lot of work but you will gain a better understanding of how your shotgun performs. You will discover that most shots must not be taken beyond 40 yards, because by the time the shot arrives, it has spread too far and “holes” will occur in the pattern.

« Previous: Shotgun Ammunition: Shotshells Next: Shot for Game »