theautobahn Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 I picked up a used Benelli M2 that had been worked on for 3 gun. It has the factory chokes, plus an extended LM (geez, now I'm wondering if it's IM). I left that choke in the gun for the last few matches, but with few exceptions, our local matches have shotgun targets at 25 yards or less. Knockdown steel, stationary clays, and sometimes pigeon flippers. I'm wondering if I should open up to IC? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonytheTiger Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 I've made it through this season on 95% cylinder. The other 5ish percent was for spinners and distant heavy set poppers. The previous season I hadn't patterned my shotgun and didn't really know what spread the various chokes had, so I had no confidence in it and ran LM a lot. I noticed I was missing close clays and steel way too much and decided to do my homework. To say it paid off is an understatement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theautobahn Posted September 19, 2016 Author Share Posted September 19, 2016 13 hours ago, TonytheTiger said: I've made it through this season on 95% cylinder. The other 5ish percent was for spinners and distant heavy set poppers. The previous season I hadn't patterned my shotgun and didn't really know what spread the various chokes had, so I had no confidence in it and ran LM a lot. I noticed I was missing close clays and steel way too much and decided to do my homework. To say it paid off is an understatement. They're just fun matches (but I am a wee bit competitive). There's only three matches left in the series this year, but next year I'll get serious about getting some more extended chokes and truly patterning them. All I did this year was make sure that the one I was using shot to POA/POI. But I agree with you - I think I'm switching it out for the IC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somebrains Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 (edited) I shot a local like that last weekend. IC was fine except when I Miked a buck target....I blame that on some cheapie Rio 00 haloing 1 of 4 paper at under 15yds. If I really cared, I had a pack of Flitecontrol in my trunk. I know my slug hold using an IC, and everything fell down. Guys running Mod or tighter got into trouble on their timing moving thru a lane too fast. I didn't have that issue. Aerial clays it wasn't an issue bc I don't spend anytime on trap or skeet, so I'll blame my indifference instead of a choke. Edited September 19, 2016 by somebrains Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunther Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 light mod is the way to go, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Snyder Posted September 20, 2016 Share Posted September 20, 2016 KurtM recommended a LM at either one of the North Carolina Tactical matches, or first of the Ft Benning 3 gun matches.. It's still in the Benelli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somebrains Posted September 20, 2016 Share Posted September 20, 2016 Guess I'll go buy one and try it. I know my slug hold with IC, time was ticking down to my 1st shotgun only match at my local, didn't realize everything I'd need wasn't in the 5-pacl of chokes I already had until I Miked a buck target. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
target4fun Posted October 5, 2016 Share Posted October 5, 2016 If your shots are all close Id shoot open. Many local matches mean shooting out of a pistol bay, if that is the case usually open is the way to go. But until you go out and pattern your gun you really dont know. Another variable you can play with is shot size. You can change chokes or leave in one choke and change ammo. Or a combo of the two, I would find something that is simple and you have tested the pattern of each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somebrains Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 13 hours ago, target4fun said: If your shots are all close Id shoot open. Many local matches mean shooting out of a pistol bay, if that is the case usually open is the way to go. But until you go out and pattern your gun you really dont know. Another variable you can play with is shot size. You can change chokes or leave in one choke and change ammo. Or a combo of the two, I would find something that is simple and you have tested the pattern of each. Saturday practice with #8 and 7 1/2 IC wasn't the way to go. I was catching it not taping and resetting while adjusting my caddies. I was trying out different brand shells and it was a major pain btw runs just keeping shells on my belt. With the #6 I was using for my local match I could beat everything down with an IC. Next time I'm going to set off by myself and pattern shot. I should grab a plate rack and sort some things out in a different bay. Our practices can be chaotic with everyone trying to turnaround as many runs as they can, while individually focusing on some such problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
target4fun Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 Yeah best way is actually not on steel but buying a roll of butcher paper. draw a circle (same size of your largest target) example 8 inch circle then clay size target in center of that. Then test your pattern and recording your: distance to target, choke size, shot size, ammo brand. Easy way to do this is to write all that data on bucher paper in a good spot after you take the shot. Next take pictures of all the combination if you use the same 8 inch circle and clay the scale will make it a bit easier when looking a pictures on a future reference. Then at a match you can scroll to the picture and work the shotgun for your hardest shot. Hope this helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric4069 Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 (edited) I'm doing fine with IC most all the time in my M2, I do bring along a Mod choke also which I could change to for long steels or spinners but have not had to do so. Eric Edited October 6, 2016 by eric4069 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mveto Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 I run a LM right now but may switch out to an IC, most of the shooting I do at matches is about 15-17 yards. I'm hoping that I won't have to aim as hard with the IC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somebrains Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 IC is easy, but I have been feeling sloppy on something like 8 steels in a row. I'm going to choke down and set myself up a simple practice run this weekend and tighten up. It's really noticeable on a pipe sitting on an i beam that won't go down b/c you walked so far past it or aren't hitting it square. IC I kinda take everything for granted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mveto Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 18 hours ago, somebrains said: IC is easy, but I have been feeling sloppy on something like 8 steels in a row. I'm going to choke down and set myself up a simple practice run this weekend and tighten up. It's really noticeable on a pipe sitting on an i beam that won't go down b/c you walked so far past it or aren't hitting it square. IC I kinda take everything for granted. That's the reason I have not switched yet, every time I think I want an IC I read another post just like yours and I say to myself "I do fine with a LM, why switch" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosiershooter Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Find your local trap range. They should have a grease board you can pattern on. Just step off your distance and shoot. You can see you pattern density with different chokes and different distance. With that said I carry 3 chokes. Skeet, IC and LM. Not much you can't do with all of those. And my slugs all hit an AC zone at 50 yards using the same hold.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somebrains Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 (edited) 17 hours ago, mveto said: That's the reason I have not switched yet, every time I think I want an IC I read another post just like yours and I say to myself "I do fine with a LM, why switch" I swear it's a laziness issue in my case. I'll start to hose and either Mike or a steel won't go down BC my focus has gone from neutralizing the target to running the trigger as fast as I can. I've seen other guys intentionally run a diffuser choke that will splash other plates. I'm at the point where I want to know 6 steel drop in 6 shots, rather than hope they drop in "surprise me". I was using 1300fps #6 with an IC my last local match. My gun would not cycle reliably with 1145fps 7 1/2 until I used a reduced power recoil spring. 7 1/2's IC is too loose. I'll revisit big patterns later using bigger, hotter shot if I see another novelty target group like 10 2" eggs on a table. I really appreciated the extra power with a loose choke. I have the same problem with rifle & pistol, if I concentrate on making good hits then my times are lower. If I'm speed racer, not so much. Edited October 8, 2016 by somebrains Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hump Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 I use a skeet and a LM. The sleet will knock down steel out 20yrs and the LM is my go to for spinners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FortesInFide Posted October 31, 2016 Share Posted October 31, 2016 Any one else have experience using a Diffuser choke? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul-the new guy Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 (edited) On 10/30/2016 at 9:23 PM, FortesInFide said: Any one else have experience using a Diffuser choke? Me, not in a Benelli but in a 1301C and it flat works. I use it at least 90% of the time Edited November 1, 2016 by Paul-the new guy youtube link added Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul-the new guy Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 This was also a Diffuser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul49 Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 Great shooting "New Guy"! Reviewed the Beretta website Optima Choke HP constriction options and didn't see one called "Diffuser". Is there another name for that choke? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul-the new guy Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 7 hours ago, Paul49 said: Great shooting "New Guy"! Reviewed the Beretta website Optima Choke HP constriction options and didn't see one called "Diffuser". Is there another name for that choke? It's a briley choke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somebrains Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 If I see one really cheap I'd get it. As it is the quarterly shotgun match at the range 45mins from my home range is next weekend. A diffuser choke costs the same as the Walmart 7.5 I was going to pick up on the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceMan Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 I have shot a couple all steel matches this year and my first 3 gun match. I started off with an IC at the steel match and it wasn't enough choke to knock down everything and that made for a rough day. I switched to a modified and I ran that at another steel match and my first 3 gun match and it knocked everything over no problem. Its a small 3 gun match so no slugs are needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somebrains Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 On 11/4/2016 at 5:53 AM, SpaceMan said: I have shot a couple all steel matches this year and my first 3 gun match. I started off with an IC at the steel match and it wasn't enough choke to knock down everything and that made for a rough day. I switched to a modified and I ran that at another steel match and my first 3 gun match and it knocked everything over no problem. Its a small 3 gun match so no slugs are needed. Practicing on a plate rack with cheapie Federal bulk 7.5# I ran my usual IC and splashed the plates to either side. When debugging my gun with STS and AA's IC was fine. Pattern first, then go setup steel and play.....I need to follow that every time I change to a different batch of shells. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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