General question for the group, when shooting sporting clays (O/U in this case) what chokes do you typically run and when/for what reason (if ever) do you swap them out for a particular station?

Back when I shot SC, I used my Ruger Red Label O/U with improved cylinder & modified or improved modified & modified.

I have been a lifelong IC shooter. I use it in field guns almost exclusively (I use cylinder for pen raised quail and Mod for waterfowl) and, therefore, I shoot it for sporting clays, too. I use a SK choke for skeet. If I'm shooting an OU, I'd shoot IC under Mod or maybe under LM.

I do not switch chokes on certain stations for a couple of reasons. 1. I am not a competitive shooter and really only do it for fun. 2. When I start thinking about chokes, I miss birds. Even switching and shooting the Mod barrel first on a certain station because of the presentation of the clays tends to get in my head and I miss birds.

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:
If I'm shooting an OU, I'd shoot IC under Mod or maybe under LM.

Years ago shooting an autoloader I was mostly using IC; this time around I was planning on shooting IC under LM so glad to hear you’ve had success with this combo.

It totally depends on the course. On most it seems that IC/Mod does it, but not on all.

There's a SC course around here that has very few shots under 45 yards and perhaps a quarter of the shots are 75 yards+. At that one, I use Mod/Full

quote:

Originally posted by SigM4:
General question for the group, when shooting sporting clays (O/U in this case) what chokes do you typically run and when/for what reason (if ever) do you swap them out for a particular station?

Years ago shooting an autoloader I was mostly using IC; this time around I was planning on shooting IC under LM

In my experience, for recreational sporting clays courses, IC and LM chokes pretty much do the job. But it depends on the course and the setter.

Tournaments can be a different matter. I've shot stations with a really fast crossing bouncing rabbit maybe 5 yards away, followed by an edge-on battue going the other way. Cylinder or skeet chokes were optimal here.

I've shot stations with fast and high-angle outgoing birds, with the throwers at least 20 yards down range. Mod, IM, and full chokes were used by the various competitors, and the hits were still challenging.

Yes, I do change chokes on certain stages, however I tend to shoot the majority of a course with just two chokes. In my early years of SC competitions, I generally shot IC/LM. As I attained AA and Master Class, I changed to mainly LM/M.

The bottom line is that pointing shotgun in the right place at the right time is way more important than the chokes used.

I am shooting a Browning CXS and generally an IC & Mod. But it depends on the course (the time that you have to see the target, range to target....). I have started using a Light Full and Mod and it seems to be working pretty well for me.

If I a runningva pump or auto loader I will usually use a Mod.

For the most part I don't change chokes once I start shooting. I will use the same chokes all day long. Naturally there are exceptions to this

I've found that most guns have too much choke. Cylinder and Improved Cylinder get me through most courses. If you miss, its not likely the chokes fault.

I shoot sporting clays at least once a week (LOVE retirement!), and generally use Light Modified in both barrels. On longer shots or those where the target is edge on, I'll go with Modified or even Improved Modified. For incoming/close in shots, I find that Light Modified works just as well as Skeet or IC.

It really depends on the course for me. Skeet & IC on a shorter course, IC & Mod on a longer one.

When I used to shoot every Sunday it range from spreader all the way to turkey choke if the course was still set up for a tournament. But mostly I just shoot between cylinder and imp mod.