↬ The effective range of a choke tube varies depending on the diameter of the choke, the ammo being used, and the field conditions present. Choke tubes with tight diameters tend to have greater effective ranges while open diameters work best for close range.
The effective range of choke tubes for waterfowl hunting is between 20 and 40 yards. Ranges can exceed 50 yards with tight chokes such as Improved Modified and Full. A Modified choke is the most popular choke tube size for waterfowl because it offers a versatile effective range for hunts over decoys where the range of shots varies.
In this guide, we’ll discuss in more detail the effective ranges of common choke tube sizes, from Cylinder all the way up to Full choke, while giving our recommendations on what scenarios these chokes work best for.
Choke Tube Effective Range Chart
The chart above shows the effective range of choke tubes using steel shot in Cylinder, Skeet, Improved Cylinder, Light Modified, Modified, Improved Modified, Light Full, and Full choke sizes. These are the most common choke tube sizes used for waterfowl when using steel shot.
Choke tubes in Cylinder can be effective out to 25 yards, Modified chokes out to 45 yards, and Full chokes can be effective past 55 yards. This wide range of choke tube sizes allows for adaptation to meet changing field conditions while hunting both large and small waterfowl.
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Ammunition’s Effects on Choke Tube Range
While choke tubes play a large role in determining effective ranges for waterfowl, so does the ammunition that is put through them. The two largest factors regarding ammunition are pattern tightness and downrange energy.
The tightness of a pattern is determined by choke constriction, pellet density, and size. Larger pellets and more dense pellets tend to hold together at longer ranges which increases their effectiveness. Smaller, lighter pellets lose their energy faster which makes their effective range shorter.
Tips for increasing effective range
- Switch to a tighter choke
- Use dense pellets such as hevi-shot or TSS
- Increase pellet size
- Shoot faster shells (1600+ FPS)
- Practice at longer ranges
Field Conditions Can Alter the Range of a Choke
Weather can alter the effective range of choke tubes. Wind drift is the biggest impediment to choke tubes performing at their max ranges. Strong winds can slow pellets quicker and crosswinds can disrupt shot from reaching the target.
To mitigate the effects of wind, it is recommended that a tighter choke be selected on windy days. If you typically use a Modified choke, switching to an Improved Modified will help retain the same range and pattern density on windy days.
Elevation, temperature, and humidity also can have an effect on shotgun shell range. These factors are closely related and when at extreme ends of the spectrum, can negatively affect overall effective range of shotgun pellets.
The Most Common Types of Waterfowl Chokes
Waterfowl are hunted in a wide range of conditions and choke sizes can vary greatly because of it. Selecting the appropriate choke size for waterfowl is critical to maximizing success in the field.
Common Choke Tube Sizes (Open to Tight)
Cylinder Choke Tubes
Cylinder choke tubes (C) measure 0.729” in diameter in fixed 12 gauge shotguns. They are essentially an open choke with very little constriction over that of the barrel itself. Cylinder choke tubes are not widely used for waterfowl, but they can offer acceptable performance for some close decoying situations inside 25 yards with small diameter pellet sizes.
Improved Cylinder Choke Tubes
Improved Cylinder choke tubes (IC) have a diameter of 0.716”. They offer a slight improvement in range over Cylinder chokes while still providing the same quick pattern expansion. Improved Cylinder is best for hunting flooded timber or terrain where shots on ducks and geese are within 35 yards. IC chokes also make great upland game and sporting clay chokes.
Light Modified Choke Tubes
Light Modified choke tubes (LM) have a diameter of 0.710”. They offer a transition from the previous open chokes to one that is capable of longer shots if they arise. Light Modified is still considered a choke for decoying birds, but the longer shots out to 40 yards are not out of the question.
Modified Choke Tubes
Modified choke tubes (M) have a diameter of 0.705”. These choke tubes are considered the best all-around for waterfowl hunting due to their versatility for both close and long range shots while hunting over decoys. The effective range of a Modified choke tube is between 20 and 45 yards. The furthest you want to stretch a modified choke tube is around 50 yards.
Improved Modified Choke Tubes
Improved Modified choke tubes (IM) measure 0.695” in diameter. They provide tight patterns in situations where longer shots are required. Chokes in Improved Modified are especially popular for goose hunting both over decoys and pass shooting. The max effective range of Improved Modified is 50 yards.
Light Full Choke Tubes
Light Full choke tubes (LF) have an inside diameter of 0.690”. These chokes are best used for special situations where long shots and tight patterns are needed, such as pass shooting greater Canadas. The max effective range of Light Full chokes is 60 yards.
Full Choke Tubes
Full chokes (F) and Extra Full chokes (XF) range in diameter between 0.685” to 0.670”. These chokes are rarely used for waterfowl hunting. Full chokes don’t pattern well with large steel shot and can even cause barrel damage in older shotguns with fixed chokes. Full and Extra Full chokes can work well with heavier than lead shot and small pellets out to 60 yards, but it’s very situational.
Recommended Choke Tube Sizes for Ducks and Geese
The most recommended choke tube for both ducks and geese is the Modified choke. It’s tight enough you can stretch shots to 50 yards, while still being open enough to hit birds in the decoys without needing precise aiming.
Small Ducks
Teal, Wood Ducks, Buffleheads, Ruddy Ducks. Small ducks usually weigh around 1 pound and require fewer pellets and shot penetration to harvest cleanly. Their fast and agile flight patterns require quick aiming and follow throughs. Improved Cylinder and Light Modified chokes are preferred for shots up to 30 yards on small ducks.
Large Ducks
Mallards, Widgeon, Gadwall, Pintail. Large ducks can weigh up to 3 pounds and have thick coats of feathers which can make pellet penetration more difficult. Tight patterns with high pellet densities and fast speeds are preferred to harvest large ducks cleanly. Modified and Improved Modified chokes hold the pattern together for shots out to 45 yards effectively for large ducks. Carlson’s Cremator (mid-range) is one of the most popular decoying duck chokes.
Small Geese
Snow Geese, Specklebellies, Lesser Canadas. Small geese can weigh up to 6 pounds and require even more knockdown power than small ducks. Goose loads favor large steel pellet sizes (BB, BBB, T) and dense materials (hevi-shot, heavyweight, TSS) for long range performance. Modified, Improved Modified, and Light Full chokes are preferred and allow for tight patterns out to 55 yards with most large steel shot.
Large Geese
Greater Canadas. The largest of all geese, some Canadas can weigh up to 15 pounds. Hunting large geese is no easy task, so large pellet sizes are the go-to load for these birds. Light Full chokes can provide the knockdown power on large Canadas at ranges of up to 60 yards. The Patternmaster Code Black is one choke that works especially well with providing dense and consistent patterns for goose hunting.
SUMMARY
Use open chokes and small pellet sizes for close range shots on small game. Tighter chokes and larger pellets are ideal for medium amd large sized game at longer ranges.
Bottom Line
The effective range for waterfowl is dependent on choke size, ammo, weather, and the type of duck or goose you will be hunting. Each of these factors needs to be taken into consideration before heading out to the field.
Improved Cylinder is an open choke good for close decoying with #4 shot out to 35 yards. Modified is the most popular waterfowl choke that works well for both close and longer shots out to 45 yards. A tight choke, like the Patternmaster Code Black, is the top choice for large geese such as greater Canadas at longer ranges.
Full chokes and Extra Full chokes have their place for long distance pass shooting up to 60 yards with heavier than lead loads. The good news is that there’s a choke tube available that fits just about every hunting situation, but patterning them at the ranges you plan to hunt will let you know what works best.
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Last update on 2025-09-06 / Affiliate links / Product Images from Amazon Product Advertising API