Over / Under Shot Guns - school me on proper choke set-up

[Bugle 'Em In]

I jumped into the world of O/U Shotguns (Benelli 828U) this year for upland game. My primary hunting is pheasant...both early and late season.

What I'd like comments on is:
- what chokes are you installing and in what barrel?
- is your bottom or top barrel your first shot?

Thanks for any / all advise you can share!
*Photo of this past Saturday's mixed bag.

 

[Birdbander]

After years of use I found out a year or so ago that I'd been doing it "wrong", although I'm not changing. I shoot the top barrel first which has the more open choke tube of my choice.

Bought my first SxS shotgun this year which has two triggers and again, I'm in the wrong. Left barrel/rear trigger first.

I may get lambasted but I think its more important to use a shotgun in the way that feels more comfortable to each individual, providing you're getting the results you would like, over the "proper" way.

 

[Ben Lamb]

After years of use I found out a year or so ago that I'd been doing it "wrong", although I'm not changing. I shoot the top barrel first which has the more open choke tube of my choice.

Bought my first SxS shotgun this year which has two triggers and again, I'm in the wrong. Left barrel/rear trigger first.

I may get lambasted but I think its more important to use a shotgun in the way that feels more comfortable to each individual, providing you're getting the results you would like, over the "proper" way.

What a maroon.

Standard is bottom bbl first, top second. But it's really what @Birdbander says.

Single selective triggers usually strike the bottom first. But you can switch that around w/ the selector.

On chokes: more open for the first shot, more restricted for the second. I shoot SK1 & LM for my ruffed grouse gun. Mod & full on prairie grouse.

 

[cwitherow]

Bottom first
Pheasant hunting: 16 gauge #4 shot bismuth.
Mod/Imp mod all season.
Hunting over a pointing dog. If they start getting jumpy I might switch to a full on top.

 

[morley.tyler]

Single selective triggers usually strike the bottom first. But you can switch that around w/ the selector.

On chokes: more open for the first shot, more restricted for the second. I shoot SK1 & LM for my ruffed grouse gun. Mod & full on prairie grouse.

This is correct. The only qualifier I'd add is a question. Pointers or flushers? Pointers get more open chokes, as you'll have closer shots, Flusher's will be tighter for longer shots.

and yes, bottom bbl 1st is the standard

 

[Triggw]

The reason bottom-barrel-first is the "standard" is that conventional wisdom says shooting the bottom barrel produces less muzzle rise, because it's better aligned with the shoulder. If that's really true, it would let you get on the second shot earlier. Whether it's really true, or at least significant, isn't clear.

 

[Keep'er Movin]

You can make this even more complicated by not only choosing different chokes, but also different loads in each barrel. Lighter payload on your first shot, something with a bit extra on your second. I can't say that I personally do this, but I do know a few who swear by it.

 

[Ben Lamb]

The reason bottom-barrel-first is the "standard" is that conventional wisdom says shooting the bottom barrel produces less muzzle rise, because it's better aligned with the shoulder. If that's really true, it would let you get on the second shot earlier. Whether it's really true, or at least significant, isn't clear.

I can miss with both bbls pretty fast.

 

[Bugle 'Em In]

I can miss with both bbls pretty fast.

I can relate to that statement, esp after last weekend.

I am setting first shot up "wrong"...I'm new enough w/ this gun that it won't hurt me to switch to the bottom barrel being my first shot. Going to Improved (bottom barrel, 1st shot) & Modified (top barrel, 2nd shot).

 

[Bugle 'Em In]

Another question:
Is lead coated shot (with either copper or nickel) considered "steel shot" or lead? I know my full choke says..."No Steel Shot".

 

[MTLabrador]

I’ve always shot top first, bottom second. Usually improved cylinder/modified or modified/improved modified if I’m shooting a little further.

 

[Sawtooth]

Usually skeet first bottom barrel, than improved cylinder second on top. I am hunting chukkar over a pointing dog and pass on shots that aren't pointed. Later in the season I might go improved than modified. Gun is a 20 ga.

 

[406dn]

Another question:
Is lead coated shot (with either copper or nickel) considered "steel shot" or lead? I know my full choke says..."No Steel Shot".

No copper or nickel plated shot is still considered lead shot.

I shoot the bottom barrel first. Bottom barrel is choked modified, the top full. I also like coarse shot for pheasants, so I shoot 5 shot, maybe 6 shot if huns seem likely. This is in a 12 gauge Beretta 686

 

[shrapnel]

If you can’t do it with IC and Modified, it isn’t the fault of the gun…

 

[406dn]

If you can’t do it with IC and Modified, it isn’t the fault of the gun…

That would be wrong.

The better shot a person is the tighter they can choke the gun. It would be more correct to say if you can't hit birds with tight chokes, it is not the fault of the gun.

The consideration is whether the tight choke tears up birds. My experience is it very rare to tear up a bird with modified in the first barrel. I can't ever remember tearing up a bird when shooting a second shot.

 

[Mallardsx2]

I shoot double Full's out of my .410 Citori lightning.

If I shoot a more open choke than that I get holes in my pattern and I drive myself insane.
I would rather miss, for sure, than miss because of a hole in my pattern at 30 yards....

I know that's not a major problem for the bigger gauges with 2X the pellets.

 

[shrapnel]

That would be wrong.

The better shot a person is the tighter they can choke the gun. It would be more correct to say if you can't hit birds with tight chokes, it is not the fault of the gun.

The consideration is whether the tight choke tears up birds. My experience is it very rare to tear up a bird with modified in the first barrel. I can't ever remember tearing up a bird when shooting a second shot.

Nice try Smokey, but you aren’t going to find many hunting guns choked full/full..

 

[406dn]

Nice try Smokey, but you aren’t going to find many hunting guns choked full/full..

When I came of age every shotgun on the shelf in North Dakota was choked full. So, in essence full/full/full.

Also I said modified in the first barrel, not full. If I was routinely tearing up birds with modified choke, I'd use IC. Since it is rare that it happens, I use modified in the first barrel.

And, if a gun was choked full and full, it is not the fault of the gun, when you miss.

 

[shrapnel]

When I came of age every shotgun on the shelf in North Dakota was choked full. So, in essence full/full/full.

Also I said modified in the first barrel, not full. If I was routinely tearing up birds with modified choke, I'd use IC. Since it is rare that it happens, I use modified in the first barrel.

And, if a gun was choked full and full, it is not the fault of the gun, when you miss.

Good enough, but in Montana, we shoot at birds in the air…

 

[buffybr]

When I came of age every shotgun on the shelf in North Dakota was choked full. So, in essence full/full/full.

Also I said modified in the first barrel, not full. If I was routinely tearing up birds with modified choke, I'd use IC. Since it is rare that it happens, I use modified in the first barrel.

And, if a gun was choked full and full, it is not the fault of the gun, when you miss.

Is that a North Dakota joke?

I shot Registered Skeet for about 10 years, and other that an occasional bird hunter that only came out to the practice range to shoot a round just before bird season opened, I never saw a serious Skeet shooter shooting a full choked gun.