Shotgun: which choke?
Chokes are "choke holes", that is, constrictions or extensions of shotgun barrels. They affect the spread of the shot sheaf. Whether a high or a low scattering is better depends on various factors.
High scattering of the shot sheaf: A high scattering is advantageous if the distance to the target is short, and due to the low scattering a sufficiently effective coverage of the target is still achieved. In principle, this is achieved by widening the barrel.
Low spread: If the distance to the target is greater, the shot sheaf must be held together longer in order to still achieve an effective number of effective hits. For this purpose, the cross-section of the shot barrel is narrowed. The narrowing is approximately in the range of 0.1 - 1 mm.
Shot sequence: Double shotguns such as modern buck shotguns usually have one trigger and two locks. The recoil of the first shot tightens the lock of the second barrel and the second shot is released by pulling the same trigger. The advantage of this design is that both shots cannot accidentally release at the same time (called "doubling") On older shotguns, it is common that a double trigger with two trigger pulls was installed. This has disadvantages: First, the forefinger must change triggers between two shots, and second, double action can occur because both locks are cocked at the same time. Finally, the shooter can make a mistake with the trigger - because of the chokes, it is relevant which shot is fired first.
The first shot in a shotgun should be fired from the barrel with the greater spread. If the target is not hit with the first shot, it will move away from the shooter and the second shot will have to be fired at a greater distance. For this reason, hunting rifles have different chokes, usually a ¼-choke for the first shot, and a full choke for the second shot: The "higher" the number in front of "choke"-the tighter the choke and the more focused the shot grain.
Measurement of choke effect: The measurement of the effect of chokes on shotgun barrels is determined the shot on a sixteen test target. The target, which is fired at from a distance of 35 meters, has an inner circle of 35 cm diameter, which is divided into four parts. The outer circle surrounding this inner circle has a diameter of 75 cm and is divided into twelve fields. By shooting at the target, it is measured how many shotgun shells arrive at the distance in this circle of one meter diameter and where they hit the target. With a ¼-choke, about 55% of the charge hits the target; with a ½-choke, about 60%. A full choke brings about 75% of the shot charge to the target at the distance of 35 meters.
Choke bore in mm:
| Barrel Constriction | Lead shot | Steel shot |
| 0.000 mm | Cylinder | Skeet |
| 0,125 mm | Skeet (sk) | ¼ choke |
| 0.250 mm | ¼ choke (quarter choke) | ½ choke |
| 0.380 mm | ¼ - ½ choke | ¾ choke |
| 0.500 mm | ½ choke (half choke) | 1/1 choke |
| 0.625 mm | ¾ choke | - |
| 0.750 mm | ¾ - 1/1 choke (three-quarter choke) | - |
| 0.850 mm | 1/1 choke (full choke) | - |
| 1.050 mm | 5/4 choke (full choke) | - |
Hunting use
In hunting use, the size of the shot grain is the most important factor. Shots at small game (except roe deer) are mainly fired up to a distance of 35 meters. If, as is the case with old shotguns, it is not possible to screw in interchangeable chokes from the outset by means of a fixed choke bore, a ¼-choke and a full choke are generally recommended for hunting - but as always, the following applies: test for safety yourself!
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