↬ Choke tubes that don’t perform well can be frustrating and often lead to subpar results while hunting in the field. Missing a shot on waterfowl, even when the aim is perfect is a common problem that many hunters experience regularly, but it may not be their fault.
Underperforming choke tubes are one of the leading causes of bad shotgun patterns that lead to the inability to cleanly harvest game. It is caused by using the wrong choke size, incorrect ammo, damage to the choke that disrupts the shot column, not adequately tightening a choke, and using poor quality chokes.
Diagnosing a bad choke tube takes time and experience to detect, so it often goes unchecked or unnoticed. In this guide, we’ll look at the top 5 reasons why choke tubes fail to provide adequate performance in hunting situations and ways to correct them.
Top 5 Reasons Why Choke Tubes Underperform
Before you buy a new choke tube or toss the old one that isn’t working all that well, check out these 5 tips for diagnosing an underperforming choke tube. The problem may be minor, and a slight tweak could be all that is needed.
1) Choke tube is the wrong size
The biggest reason why choke tubes fail to perform as intended is choosing the wrong choke tube size. Choke tube diameters cover a broad range to account for many applications and choosing one that is too open or tight can cause issues in the field.
Therefore, it’s important to gauge what the average hunting conditions will be and ranges game will be taken at to ensure that the ideal choke tube is installed. A tight choke for an occasional high flying snow goose doesn’t mean much when most of the shots are on decoying mallards in close timber.
Interchangeable choke tubes that are installed on most of the popular shotguns such as Benelli, Winchester, and Browning allow you to easily change chokes if conditions change. Having several choke tubes of varying sizes in the blind along with a choke tube wrench and choke case is the perfect setup for making any tweaks quickly while hunting.
If unsure about choke size, use this chart of common choke tube diameters and constrictions.
2) Ammo doesn’t work well with the choke
One of the most common problems with underperforming choke tubes is the failure to identify ammunition that works well through it. The process of purchasing ammo, whether online or at a store, has little bearing on how it will perform in a specific shotgun with a specific choke. Even slight changes in the shotgun, ammo, and choke can cause undesirable results.
This is why patterning a shotgun is so important. You wouldn’t purchase a vehicle without a test drive, so why would you expect a shotgun shell to pattern good without testing it? Patterning in the off-season is one of the best uses of your time to identify ammo that works well at the distance you plan to take your shots.
Eliminating unknowns before you head out in the field will help identify where the problem lies. It may not even be the choke tube that’s causing the issues. A simple change of ammo can make all the difference with finicky shotguns and chokes.
For patterning tips to improve performance, check out this guide.
3) Choke tube is damaged or obstructed
An often-overlooked problem with choke tubes failing to perform well is the possibility they have become damaged or are no longer true to form. This is especially true for extended choke tubes that reach beyond the barrel of the shotgun and are exposed to outside forces.
Extended choke tubes are the point of contact for dings, scrapes, and bumps as it acts sort of like a sacrificial connection for the shotgun barrel itself. Which is good for protecting the barrel, but not so much for the choke tube.
Periodic inspections of a choke tube can help identify performance issues early. Choke tube bulges, cracks, and pellet scouring are all sings that your pattern may be affected by a faulty choke tube. It can also help identify choke tube obstructions such as mud and debris that could be a safety concern.
Unsure if you need to replace a choke? Then check out this guide for common reasons why chokes need to be replaced.
4) Not firmly secured or threaded
Choke tubes secure to the end of the barrel with male to female threads that end up flush with the the lip of the barrel when correctly seated. Extreme torque is not needed for correct choke tube installation, but failure to tighten a choke can lead to decrease in choke tube performance.
A choke tube wrench is a critical piece of equipment that makes seating and securing choke tubes easy. With either inner force or using outer notches on the choke tube itself, specialized wrenches can apply the torque and pressure needed to both seat a choke tube and remove it without damaging the choke.
Choke tubes that aren’t properly secured will become loose and back out of the gun over time. As a choke tube unscrews, the gap inside the barrel caused by the unseated choke tube can reduce overall choke tube performance. Routinely check your choke tube tightness, especially after heavy use, and apply some lubricating oil to the threads to prevent it from seizing up.
See this guide for how tight a choke tube should be when installed correctly.
5) Poor quality choke tubes
All choke tubes aren’t created equal. While the diameter might be similar in some respects, the alloy and design may be completely different. These changes can affect performance and poor-quality choke tubes may be the culprit.
Factory choke tubes and aftermarket premium choke tubes are the two popular choices when deciding which choke tube to use. Factory chokes are mass produced flush chokes that can perform well, but often don’t. Aftermarket choke tubes are typically extended chokes that incorporate technology that has proven to increase pattern density at longer ranges.
If you need a better quality choke, see this list for the top choices to consider.
Aftermarket choke tubes may be the answer
The easiest way to improve an underperforming choke is to replace it with one that is proven to work. If the reason a choke is underperforming isn’t immediately apparent, then options like the Patternmaster Code Black or Carlson’s Cremator have proven to work for many hunters and are a good starting place.
These ported choke tubes usually cost around $80 and will last the life of the shotgun, so they make one of the best investments for performance over the long run. They can produce more consistent patterns and have features that factory choke tubes just can’t match.
See this guide for a list of the best chokes to consider to replace an undperforming choke.
Bottom Line
Choke tubes can underperform for a variety of reasons, but the most common failures are using the wrong size choke, bad ammunition, choke tube is damaged or not seated properly, and using poor quality chokes. The majority of causes for bad choke tube performance are immediately evident with field use and knowing how to correct them is usually easy.
It all starts with picking the correct choke size for the hunting conditions. Close in decoying action requires an open choke and pass shooting geese it’s recommended a full choke is better. Ammo doesn’t pattern the same out of each choke tube or gun, so pattern your setup in the offseason to maximize choke performance during hunting season.
Damaged or unseated choke tubes can cause choke tubes to pattern terribly. Inspect choke tubes frequently during use to reduce the chance choke tube damage or obstructions can decrease performance. Lastly, using poor quality choke tubes can cause poor patterns compared to premium after market chokes like the Patternmaster Code Black.
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