Grouse hunting season, which starts around August twelfth and goes on until tenth December, is when every hunter is in their best spirits.
Nonetheless, it is an expensive hobby. But if you know how to maintain your guns and have confidence in your hunting skills, it is all fun in the end.
However, many of us make mistakes that are very easy to avoid. Hunting for upland games like grouse can be very tricky, and you cannot just pick up any rifle and ammo and go ahead.
One of the most trivial mistakes is choosing the wrong kind of choke to be screwed at the end of the hunter’s gun.
There’s a wide variety of chokes available in the market, and it can get confusing. We have compiled a list of different chokes based on various aspects.
After you’re done with the article, it will be easier for you to choose the right kind of choke for your rifle come hunting season.
Best Choke For Grouse Hunting – Reviews & Recommendations for 2023
- Carlson’s Browning Invector Plus 12-Gauge Sporting-Clay Choke Tube
- Kick’s Chokes Gobblin’ Thunder Choke Tubes
- Carlson’s Remington 12-Gauge Sporting-Clay Choke Tube
- BlackMaxx Waterfowl Choke Tube
- PatternMaster Code Black Turkey Choke Tube
- Indian Creek Black Diamond Strike Choke Tubes
- Patternmaster Choke Tube
- Browning Midas Choke Tube
- Carlson’s Long Beard XR Turkey Choke Tube
- Cabela’s Turkey Choke Tube
Best Overall: Carlson’s Browning Invector Plus 12-Gauge Sporting-Clay Choke Tube
Our team firmly swears by the Carlson’s Browning Invector Plus 12-Gauge Sporting-Clay Choke Tube. Only available for 12 gauge models, this is one of the best models out there right now. It allows quick and easy removal.
This choke tube is made of 1704 stainless steel and is silver. It is built with precision machining to pattern better than any other chokes available in the market. It has a 25 percent larger parallel section than any standard choke.
Pros
- It has a lifetime warranty from the manufacturers.
- Its 25 percent larger parallel section gives consistent patterns.
Cons
- Only available for 12 gauge models
Runner-up: Kick’s Chokes Gobblin’ Thunder Choke Tubes
If you are going turkey hunting, then The Kick’s Chokes Gobblin’ Thunder Choke Tubes is the way to go. It fits most of the 10-ga and 12-ga guns. It is available in color black and is durable and affordable.
The Kick’s Chokes Gobblin’ Thunder Choke Tubes has ports that reduce muzzle jump and recoil faster – making it easier to shoot in a constant stream.
The directional angle of the ports reduces side blast prevalent. Moreover, its sharp angle stabilizes the wad, making separating the wad and shot column faster.
Pros
- It is very affordable
- It fits most of the guns available on the market
- It is not noticeable when being used
- It is capable of improving patterns up to 20 percent
Cons
- The shooter needs to be well versed with the gun to use this for maximum benefit.
Best Value for Money: Carlson’s Remington 12-Gauge Sporting-Clay Choke Tube
If you are under a budget, this choke is the best investment. Carlson’s Remington 12-Gauge Sporting-Clay Choke Tube is used for the Remington model. It is a 12-gauge sporting clay choke tube.
It is made from 1704 stainless steel, and it is available in silver. It has a 25 percent larger parallel section. Moreover, the design of the product makes the removal easy and quick. The constriction laser on end allows easy reference. It has a lifetime warranty.
Pros
- Its 25 percent larger parallel section throws consistent patterns.
- It has a construction laser for easy reference.
Cons
- They have discontinued the .730 constriction model
Meanwhile, here are some other alternatives if you still haven’t found the one that suits your needs.
Alternative: BlackMaxx Waterfowl Choke Tube
The BlackMaxx Waterfowl Choke Tube is designed to deliver consistent performance, and it is one of the most stable models in the market right now.
Whether you have a steel, lead, TSS, HEVI-shot, or copper-plated lead shot, this one fits them all like a glove. It is made of 17-4 heat-treated stainless steel and gives a corrosion-resistant black oxide finish. The product has a lifetime warranty. Moreover, it has knurled surface that helps with the installation.
Pro
- It is compatible with steel, lead, TSS, HEVI-shot, or copper-plated lead shot.
- The installation is wrench-free.
- The knurled surface gives a good grip on the choke.
- The product is durable.
Cons
- The .730 model is not usually available.
Alternative: PatternMaster Code Black Turkey Choke Tube
The PatternMaster Code Black Turkey Choke Tube is a beautiful steel choke in bronze. It is explicitly designed for attempting headshots on turkeys from a maximum range. It has a non-reflective bronze titanium coating.
The product is made of 17-4 stainless steel. The choke uses PatternMaster’s was stripping technology which gives consistent patterns. The tubes are extended out of the muzzle and have a unique canoe porting which allows faster follow-up shots. The shooter can use it with ammunition such as lead, copper, lead combination, Hevi-Shot, and FLITECONTROL wads.
Pros
- The canoe porting reduces muzzle jump.
- Short shot strings make it easier to shoot at more considerable distances.
Cons
- It cannot be used with shotgun slugs or steel shots.
Alternative: Indian Creek Black Diamond Strike Choke Tubes
The Indian Creek Black Diamond Strike Choke Tube is the proud three-year record holder of Still Target World Record. It has 30 parallel ports, which help reduce recoil and stop wad rotation.
Pros
- The installation requires no tools and can be done by hand.
- It increases pattern density by 40 percent.
- The parallel port helps in stopping wad rotation
Cons
- It is not budget-friendly.
Alternative: Patternmaster Choke Tube
The Patternmaster Choke Tube provides consistent patterns of 100% in 20″ at 40 yards with 3″ mag. 00 buckshot. It can produce deadly wing-shooting designs with both nontoxic and lead shots.
Pros
- It slows down the wad to produce tight patterns.
- It consists of a long-range tube with two rows of ports to reduce barrel jump.
Cons
- You will need to shell out a reasonable amount of cash for this.
Alternative: Browning Midas Choke Tube
The Browning Midas Choke Tube is available in black and gold. The black comes from a coating of black oxide, making it durable. It is perfect for the clays shooters and hunters who need to change the chokes fast while in the field.
It is to be used with 12-gauge shotgun barrels. It has a high-resolution RMS finish and is built on minimum gap geometry. Moreover, the choke tube is extended out of the barrel.
Pros
- The RMS finish reduces the wad-plastic buildup.
- Extended choke tubes for easy no-wrench removal.
Cons
- You cannot use it for long-range shots.
Alternative: Carlson’s Long Beard XR Turkey Choke Tube
The Carlson’s Long Beard XR Turkey Choke Tube is specifically designed to pair with the Winchester Long Beard Turkey shotgun shells. It is because they have the Shot Lok Technology.
This powerful combination makes the lead shot round for tight long-range patterns, and it provides deadly headshots over 50 yards of distance.
Pros
- It is capable of delivering nearly perfect round shots.
- It provides super-tight, long-range patterns
Cons
- It cannot be used with a steel shot
Alternative: Cabela’s Turkey Choke Tube
The Cabela’s Turkey Choke Tube is built to be consistent in its performance with the latest advanced shot technologies. Whether you are using TSS, lead, copper-plated lead, or HEVI-shot, the Choke Tube pairs with everything.
Made of 17-4 heat-treated stainless steel, it is corrosion-free and has a black oxide finish. The extended surface gives a good grip. The product has a lifetime warranty.
Pros
- The grips are designed to have a wrench-free installation.
- It delivers highly consistent patterns.
- The 18 linear ports significantly reduce recoil.
Cons
- You need to check with which models the choke is compatible.
Best choke for grouse hunting FAQ
How many types of chokes are there?
There are four significant chokes types: modified, cylinder, improved, and complete. All of them have compatibility with different models.
Apart from these, many other modified chokes are available in the market. It depends on your needs and how capable you are of handling ammo.
Cylindrical Choke
These are mainly used for open-range shooting as they have no constrictions in their flight patterns. If you are in a restricted space and range between 15-25 yards, this is the choke you want. They are usually used for buckshot and birdshot.
Modified Choke
This mid-range choke contains more constrictions than the improvised cylindrical ones. It would be best not to use these for shooting slugs, as it is not suitable for the health of the choke. It is the most effective when used in a range of 30-40 yards.
Improved Cylinder Choke
These are used in short ranges, and they increase the tightness of the shotgun pattern by 10 percent. The difference may not seem like a lot, but sometimes it is this said difference that turns a miss into a kill. It is most effective between 20-30 yards.
Full Choke
A full choke is used for longer distances and in open spaces to target something from afar. It can increase the construction significantly, which makes all the difference. Modified chokes have three notches, whereas a full choke has only one. You should go for this if you go hunting to kill from a different range.
What is the main use of a choke?
A choke is designed to modify the performance of the gun. For shooting birds and clay pigeons, the shape of the nozzle alters the direction, which makes it easier for the hunters to target and plug in a limited amount of time. Chokes are tailored according to the gun, the range, and what kind of hunting is to be done.
With hunting season around the corner, everyone must be gearing up for it. You may think that you can pick up a set of rifles and beer and get to the game, but there are many points you need to keep in mind when it comes to hunting something. One of the people’s most common mistakes is not understanding that a choke can make all the difference. It can affect your speed and precision, two things that are important when it comes to grouse hunting. Hence, it should not be ignored.
Some guns do not have interchangeable chokes, so many people don’t even know that it is a thing. However, if you own a gun like Winchester, you may need different chokes for different hunting seasons. More the constriction of the choke, tighter the pattern as the bullet leaves the shotgun. To make it easy, tighter the choke, tighter the way.
Final Thoughts
Chokes are very beneficial when it comes to grouse hunting. It would be best to remember that the choke does not affect the velocity or range, but it does affect the shot string.
You have to be careful about many factors when choosing the choke. Not just your gun, but the season, what time you are going hunting, and what kind of birds you aim for – all of these need to be considered. Sometimes, even the region you are in may affect the type of choke you should use, as the weather may affect the material of the choke.
Another thing you should remember is the maintenance of the choke. Taking care of your gun and the kit is crucial. Never leave anything for the next day. A gun is made of very intricate things, and you have to be able to care for it responsibly so that you don’t end up spending money over and over because you couldn’t be bothered to maintain your ammunition.
If it is not a wrench-free choke, ensure you have enough practice. You do not want to fumble when you are on the field.
If you have a double barrel, make sure the first one is the highest possible constriction. You can modify the second choke based on your comfort level and familiarity with your gun. There is no need to have the same kinds of chokes in both the barrels, so you should take some time and see which combination works the best for you.
If you are new to hunting and do not know what to do or which choke to choose, choosing an open choke tube is safe. You can then subsequently upgrade to the improved cylinder.
Remember what distance you will be aiming from, and get the choke suitable for it. You cannot use a modified choke if you only have to shoot from 15 yards away.
It is also easier to shoot birds in a closer range, even if your skills are mediocre at the present moment.
The end goal of grouse hunting is to make a few kills. If you are not alert enough, you will keep missing out, no matter how good and expensive your kit is. So before the next hunting season, we recommend you read up a little on the birds and shooting ranges. And, of course, invest in a good choke.
