3 Best Chokes for Hevi-Metal Ammunition

If you shoot Hevi-Metal ammunition, you know how effective it can be for duck and goose hunting. But for Hevi-Metal ammo to provide consistent patterns and perform at its best, it needs the right choke tube.

Hevi-Metal is a duplex waterfowl load that combines steel shot with heavier than steel alloy pellets to create patterns up to 25% denser than conventional steel loads. It’s able to achieve this by reducing the size of the Hevi-Metal pellets while still retaining the equivalent ballistics of larger steel shot.

In this review we’ll discuss some of the best choke tubes to use with Hevi-Metal ammo and what you can expect for different duck hunting scenarios.

Best Chokes to Use with Hevi-Metal

These are the top 3 chokes you should consider when using Hevi-Metal that can provide exceptional results beyond conventional factory choke tubes. As always, pattern your shotgun with the shot size and choke you will be hunting with to know how it performs in the field.

1) Hevi-Shot Extended Range Choke

There’s no better choke tube for Hevi-Metal ammo than the one that was designed specifically for it. The makers of Hevi-shot put in the hours to develop choke tubes to pattern consistently with Hevi-Metal shotgun shells.

Hevi-shot choke tubes are a premium aftermarket choke that is extended and ported for increased ballistics and dense downrange patterns. These chokes come in two different models: Mid-Range and Extended Range.

Mid-Range is the preferred choke for Hevi-Metal ammo with shots over decoys up to 40 yards. The ported choke helps separate the shot from the wad which decreases flier pellets and reduces shot string length. The Extended Range is for shots past 40 yards. This is the TOP pick.

Features

Designed specifically for Hevi-shot ammunition (Hevi-Metal, Hevi-Shot, Hevi-SNOW)
Available for all popular shotgun brands and gauges
Mid-range choke is best for decoying birds inside 35 yards, and the extended choke is for shots beyond 40 yards
Grooved extended choke allows for reduced recoil and muzzle jump for quick follow up shots

Hevi-Shot Extended Range Choke Tube - Ported

Thread Pattern: Benelli Crio Plus
Gauge: 12 GA
Shot Type: Hevi-Shot, lead, or copper...
Material: Stainless Steel
Popular Firearm Models: Benelli SBE II,...

2) Patternmaster Code Black Choke

Patternmaster choke tubes are the top of the line for waterfowl hunting. They were the first to offer wad halting technology in order to reduce shot string length and felt recoil. Patternmaster Code Black chokes work well with Hevi-Metal ammo and deliver tight patterns at up to 50 yards.

The Patternmaster Code Black is designed with internal rings that halt the wad as it exits the barrel. This creates a controlled separation from the shot column at the last second which reduces negative effects that the wad can have on the shot. In turn, the amount of flyer pellets is reduced (more pellets reach the target) and the shot string is shorter (more pellets reach the target at once).

Patternmaster Code Black chokes pattern close to a full choke and produce dense patterns. This is the pick for MAX range.

Features

Optimum results are with loads less than 1550fps
Works with lead, steel, and Hevi-shot ammunition
Constructed out of Carpenter Custom 630 17-4ph stainless steel
Provides dense patterns and shorter shot strings out to 60 yards
Durable Non-Reflective Bronze titanium coating

Patternmaster Code Black Choke Tube - Ported

VERSATILE TUBE - The Code Black Duck is...
ULTIMATE SHOTS - The 12 Gauge Code Black...
PATTERN OPTIONS - Thanks to this...
UP TO 60 YARDS - Effective distances...
CONSTRUCTION - Crafted from...

3) JEBS High Voltage Choke

JEBS High Voltage choke tubes are another extended ported option to consider when looking for a new choke of Hevi-metal. It features angled ports in the choke which help to channel pressures outward and away from the shooter, thus reducing felt recoil and muzzle jump which makes for quick follow up shots.

The JEBS High Voltage Choke Tube is available for almost every gauge and brand of shotgun, including Browning, Beretta, Benelli, Winchester, Mossberg, and Browning. You can find these chokes in 20 gauge, 12 gauge, and 10 gauge offerings.

The JEBS High Voltage choke can handle all types of shot including steel, lead, copper plated lead, Hevi-shot, and Bismuth. The angled ports offer up to a 20% increase in pattern density at longer ranges.

Features

Constructed out of high performance 17-4 PH grade stainless steel
Angle ports for reduced recoil and muzzle jump
Up to 20% pattern density increases at long ranges
Available for almost every shotgun gauge and brand
Extra corrosion resistance
Extends over 1 inch past the barrel for easy installation and removal

JEBS High Voltage Choke Tube - Ported

Ported or Non-Ported...

What is Hevi-Metal?

Hevi-Metal is a duplex shotgun shell load produced by Hevi-Shot and used for waterfowl hunting. Hevi-Metal shotgun shells contain both steel shot and Hevi-Metal alloy. Hevi-Metal pellets are denser than steel shot which means smaller pellet sizes can be used to meet the equivalent ballistics of larger steel shot.

Being a duplex load, a steel shot charge is placed on the bottom of the shot column, while smaller Hevi-Metal pellets are placed above. This reduction in pellet size using Hevi-Metal pellets means an increase in pellet count by up to 25% resulting in denser patterns and more knock down power.

Hevi-Metal ammunition is designed specifically for Hevi-shot Mid-Range and Extended Range choke tubes. It features biodegradable flax seed filler on top of the shot for a tighter and deeper crimp. The combination of Hevi-shot choke tubes and Hevi-Metal ammo takes a lot of the guess work out of finding a setup that works right out of the packaging.

Tips for Shooting Hevi-Metal Shells for Duck Hunting

Hevi-Metal shotgun shells are available in both Original and Fast Line. Original Hevi-Metal shells top out at 1500 fps, while Hevi-Metal Fast Line shells are slightly quicker with a reduced payload.
Hevi-Metal is available for 10 gauge, 12 gauge, and 20 gauge shotguns.
Pellet sizes for Hevi-Metal range from #6 shot up to BBB.
Hevi-shot choke tubes were designed specifically for Hevi-Metal ammunition.
When selecting Hevi-Metal shells, pick the steel shot size you would normally use.
Hevi-Metal is available in 25 shells per box. 10 boxes per case.
Hevi-Metal pellets are denser than steel shot.
Smaller Hevi-Metal pellets offer the same ballistics as steel shot 1-2 sizes larger. This increases the pattern density of the load.
Hevi-Metal shotgun shells are not waterproof, but pellets are designed with rust prevention under normal conditions.
Environmetal uses flax seeds as gap fillers above the shot column to help produce tighter crimps.
Hevi-Metal differs from Hevi-Steel in that Hevi-Steel is an all-steel load, while Hevi-Metal is a duplex load of steel and Hevi-Metal alloy.
Hevi-Metal can be fired through any choke that is designed for steel shot.

When it comes to choosing the right choke tube for Hevi-Metal ammo, the Hevi-shot Extended Range choke stands out from its competitors. The Hevi-shot Extended Range is engineered with a unique design that provides consistent and even shot patterns, resulting in better accuracy and a higher precision. Unlike its competitors, the Hevi-shot Extended Range is built to perform well with the unique Hevi-Metal wads, which ensures that the shot is evenly distributed, reducing the chances of having holes or gaps in your pattern. Additionally, the Hevi-shot Extended Range longer parallel section helps to reduce recoil, which in turn leads to more controlled shots and better follow ups. Overall, the Hevi-shot Extended Range is a top performer with Hevi-Metal ammo, delivering outstanding results that set it apart from the competition.

Bottom Line

Hevi-Metal is a popular duplex waterfowl load that delivers dense patterns and more pellets on target than standard steel shotgun shells. In order to achieve this, Hevi-Metal stacks heavier than steel pellets on top of larger steel shot.

The best choke for Hevi-Metal is the Hevi-Shot Extended Range choke tube. It was designed specifically to be used with Hevi-shot ammunition and it does a good job of delivering tight patterns at up to 40 yards.

The Patternmaster Code Black choke is another option for consistent patterns with Hevi-Metal ammo and designed for even longer shots past 50 yards. Regardless of which choke tube you choose for Hevi-Metal ammunition, it’s always best to pattern it at the ranges you plan to hunt. For ducks, Hevi-Metal in #3 shot works the best, while BB is the way to go for geese.

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