One of the most important criteria for choosing a hunting rifle is the accuracy of the battle. Some models of shotguns use a very complex internal barrel geometry, which is due to a non-uniform diameter along the entire length. In such weapons, the barrels consist of two parts - a transitional cone and a muzzle narrowing of the gun. The expansion of the fraction depends on the latter. It is important to understand here that it is impossible to modify the factory drilling on your own, however, the accuracy of the battle when using various types of ammunition can be influenced using special nozzles.
There are several varieties of chokes, but it is impossible to single out their single classification, which would allow choosing the most optimal option. Therefore, when choosing a smoothbore gun, hunters have to focus on the factory markings. Let's try to figure out which chokes are best and what to look for when choosing them.
A bit of history
Chokes were invented in 1870 by American hunter and fur trader Fred Kimble. He wanted to achieve greater accuracy when firing shots, so he decidedexperiment with your weapons. In those days, interchangeable chokes did not yet exist (they were invented almost a century later), Kimble could only try to change the diameter of the barrel of his shotgun. And, as you might guess, he managed to achieve better results.
What affects the accuracy of fire?
Initially, Kimble tried to narrow the choke of his 10-gauge gun as much as possible, as a result of which the shot dispersion disappeared altogether. Frustrated by the unsuccessful experiment, the hunter returned the choke of his rifle to its original state and checked its performance. After all the measures taken, the accuracy of fire not only returned to its original level, but also became much better.
Careful studies of the work done have shown that the accuracy of shot expansion has improved due to the narrowness left after an unsuccessful experiment. Thus, Kimble came to the conclusion that chokes affect the lethality of weapons.
Invention of interchangeable chokes
At the same time as Kimble, or to be more precise, 4 years before him, the British gunsmith Marcus Pape, who is considered the unofficial inventor of interchangeable chokes, patented an innovative technology of that time with detailed calculations for the manufacture of small arms. New models of guns had a difference between the inner and outer parts of the barrel, equal to one unit of caliber, and the length of the transitional cone was 2.5 centimeters. It was then that interchangeable choke constrictions appeared,which quickly gained popularity around the world.
What to consider?
As mentioned earlier, today there is no single classification by types of chokes, so all information is conditional, and the only criterion when choosing a hunting rifle is the marking provided by weapon manufacturers. In this case, one important nuance must be taken into account: the declared parameters do not correspond to the expected accuracy of the shot flight of a certain shotgun model.
The following factors affect the accuracy of fire:
- type of ammunition used;
- barrel length;
- weapon caliber;
- correctly selected choke value.
If you want to get the highest accuracy, then when choosing a nozzle, you need to zero it. The thing is that, depending on the design features of the choke, the nozzle can both lower and increase the accuracy of shot flight. This is because different chokes have different cone-to-choke angles and lengths.
In the process of zeroing, an experienced hunter can choose the optimal nozzle, which will have minimal dispersion when shooting with various types of shot. In this case, it is also necessary to take into account the model of a shotgun, because if the choke will have high accuracy on one weapon, then on the other the results can be very disgusting.
Purpose and design features
All choke points currently in existenceday, are named based on their technical characteristics. The most common type of nozzles are six-pipe, with linear dimensions and shape. They also have a reinforced cylinder with a narrowing of 0.25 millimeters and an accuracy of fire of 45 percent. In this case, the dispersion indicator does not change regardless of the ammunition used. You can shoot with such a nozzle not only with buckshot and shot, but also with bullets of any type.
Marking hunting rifles
There are quite a few varieties of hunting rifles, but experts distinguish six main types. To distinguish between them allows the marking of the muzzle constrictions provided by the manufacturers of weapons. All values indicated in it are measured in millimeters.
Let's look at the most common types:
- C - cylinder, or bell. Has no notches. Permissible changes in choke diameter are within 0.2 mm. Provides good shot accuracy, increases the maximum firing range by 25 meters and allows you to use any type of shells.
- IC - pressure cylinder. These hunting chokes are notched. Permissible changes in choke diameter range from 0.15 to 0.25 mm. According to their characteristics, they are identical to type C, but they have a higher accuracy of fire.
- M - pay, the diameter of which can be from 1 to 0.5 mm. Unlike IC, it allows you to shoot only those bullets that freely pass through the bore.
- IM - enhanced pay. It has a notch and a choke, the diameter of which canbe in the range from 0.2 to 0.75 millimeters. The accuracy of the bullet flight is 60 percent. Great for shooting small shot at a distance of about 50 meters.
- F - choke. This nozzle has a choke with a diameter of 0.4 to 1. When using shots no higher than the "three", the accuracy of fire can reach 75 percent.
- XF - reinforced choke with a choke diameter from 0.5 to 1.25 mm. These models of hunting rifles, although they have an accuracy of 85%, are among the less common. Their main purpose is sport shooting, where shooting accuracy is very important. As for ammunition, this model is designed to fire only shots no higher than "seven".
We have covered the main types of guns, so let's now get to know which nozzles and choke tubes are best used in order to achieve maximum accuracy of fire.
Rare types of chokes
So, we have considered the most common types of choke. Let's now talk about the types of chokes that are less popular.
These include:
- LF - rifled chokes. Designed for professional hunters. The firing range can reach 150 meters, which allows you to hunt a large animal. When using a shot, the shooting efficiency drops significantly.
- OSCH - very strong choke. The choke calibers range from 1.25 to 1.45 millimeters. Designed for sports shooting,therefore, it is not used for hunting. It has excellent accuracy and accuracy of fire when using shots no higher than the "eight". Behaves very unpredictably when firing other projectiles.
If you are looking for a hunting bait, the types discussed above will not be the best solution, as they are more suitable for athletes.
Nozzle for "Vepr-12" 430 mm
Full choke attachment. It has a muzzle constriction of 1 mm. When firing small shots, accuracy can reach 75 percent. Using large shot and buckshot is not recommended, as the weapon will behave unpredictably. Moreover, the more shots fired, the worse the accuracy will be.
The advantage of this nozzle is a strong choke, which reaches 1.25 millimeters. Thanks to the choke, the accuracy of shot flight can reach 85 percent even when firing at long distances. Not intended for use with large shot and buckshot, because in this case the choke becomes simply unpredictable. It’s better not to load the bullet at all, it can simply break the barrel from it.
Choke - rifled, has unique design features that allow you to fire at ultra-long distances. The maximum firing range can reach 150 meters, which allows you to trade with a large animal. As for ammunition, it is recommended to use special bullets for shooting, since the efficiency and accuracy of fire is very strong from buckshot and shot.falling.
Nozzle for "Remington 870 Express Magnum"
The transitional cone at the nozzle for this model of the gun has a narrowing of about 0.5 millimeters, due to which the accuracy of the shot reaches 55 percent. If you don't know what choke to shoot your bullet with, this attachment is a great solution as it allows you to use any type of ammo. The gap between the main part of the barrel and the bullet body is 0.5 millimeters. The narrowing of the choke is 0.75 millimeters, which allows you to increase the accuracy of fire up to 65%.
Choke Tips
If you came to the store for a new choke, then the type of nozzle and its length are far from the only criteria that you should pay attention to when buying. Professionals also recommend taking into account design features, since the accuracy and accuracy of fire largely depends on the internal geometry of the barrel. For example, all experienced hunters know that short nozzles have more effective shooting compared to long ones, but if the transition angle is not chosen in them, the results can be completely opposite.
Producers
Nozzles for hunting rifles are produced by gun manufacturers themselves. The most famous among them are Beretta, Benelli, Browning and Fabarm. The quality of shotguns from these companies is known all over the world. As for Russian brands, many hunters speak well of guns from the Vyatka-Polyansky Machine-Building Plant and TOZ.
As it turned out, today there is a fairly large selection of chokes, and each of them has its own advantages. It cannot be said that one of them is better or worse. It all depends on what you need it for. As for the pricing policy, it is different. Its range depends on many factors, including the chosen manufacturer.
