Deer hunting with a shotgun requires accuracy at long ranges with buckshot and slugs. The right choke tube can help deliver these results consistently. The best chokes for deer hunting contain a rifled twist to spin the slug for greater stability in flight.
Buckshot pellets, such as 00 and 000 buck are also popular, so it’s important to find a choke tube that works well with them. Chokes such as Carlson’s Rifled Choke tube are designed specifically for deer hunting using 1 oz lead slugs. In this guide, we’ll take a look at the top 3 deer hunting choke tubes you should consider and what makes them so effective.
- Best Choke Tubes for Deer Hunting
- 1) Carlson’s Rifled Choke Tube
- 2) MOJO Outdoors Fatal Shot Predator Choke
- 3) Carlson’s Buckshot Choke Tube
- Why Carlson’s Rifled choke tube works so well for deer hunting
- Buckshot vs Slugs for deer hunting
- Terrains effects on choosing a choke tube for deer
- Maximum ranges with Buckshot chokes
- Bottom Line
Best Choke Tubes for Deer Hunting
These are the three best chokes for deer hunting in 2024 you should consider. They can pattern great with the right ammo and hold patterns together over 60 yards for harder hitting results.
1) Carlson’s Rifled Choke Tube
Carlson’s rifled choke tube is the top choke to consider if you want to hunt deer with your shotgun. It’s specifically designed with a rifling twist inside the choke to spin the slug for better accuracy downrange. It measures around .730” in diameter which is essentially bore size, since slugs do not need extra constriction when they leave the barrel. This choke can be used with smoothed bored barrels and adds accuracy with the rifled twist. This is the TOP pick for slugs.
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2) MOJO Outdoors Fatal Shot Predator Choke
The Mojo Fatal Shot Predator is designed specifically for buckshot and can handle what’s needed to be successful while deer hunting. It measures close to 0.660” diameter which puts it into the tight full choke range. This choke was made as a collaboration with Rob Roberts Gun works and the design and functionality are hard to beat. You should consider this choke if you intend to use buckshot such as 00 and 000 buck. This is the pick for BUCKSHOT.
3) Carlson’s Buckshot Choke Tube
Carlson’s specialty choke tube designed for deer and hog hunting is the Buckshot Choke or BSC. This choke tube measures around .695” diameter which makes it comparable to a full choke. It will deliver tight patterns out to 70 yards with #4 buckshot and can handle all buckshot sizes.
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Why Carlson’s Rifled choke tube works so well for deer hunting
- Rifled internal design creates better accuracy downrange
- Carlson’s Rifled choke accepts slugs and sabots
- External grooves and extended design allow for easy removal by hand
- Open 0.730” diameter accepts 1 oz slugs
- Capable of delivering accurate shots on deer over 70 yards
- Affordable at under $60
- Even works with smoothed bored shotguns
Buckshot vs Slugs for deer hunting
Buckshot and slugs are the two ammo options that always come to mind when thinking about hunting deer with a shotgun. Both ammo types are capable of harvesting deer cleanly but knowing the situations and imitations they should be used is key.
Chokes for deer hunting are mostly designed for either buckshot or slugs. Buckshot works best for shots inside 50 yards. 00 and 000 buck are the most popular buckshot sizes used for deer hunting each year. If you’re hunting up close on a feeder or where thick brush limits the range of your shots, buckshot is always the top choice.
Slugs on the other hand are surprisingly accurate at up to 100 yards with the right setup and should be the top choice for a shotgun dedicated to deer hunting. It will be able to handle all hunting scenarios and the ballistics of a slug can’t be matched at longer ranges by buckshot.
Terrains effects on choosing a choke tube for deer
Deer hunting is a sport that takes place across a wide range of different habitats. From the open grasslands of the Great Plains to the thick brush of South Texas, the effects that terrain has on which choke tube you use differs greatly.
For hunting deer in open fields, max range is desired since shots on approaching deer are longer and they have a long time to assess the situation and won’t commit fully. In these situations, a rifled choke tube and slug is the ideal setup.
For thick brush, wooded ravines, or grown-up fence rows, a tighter choke tube paired with buckshot can provide some relief in pattern density that makes hitting up close deer easier. The best options are to always pattern your shotgun with the choke and ammo you’ll by using at the ranges you hunt to see just how effective it will be. You can then modify your setup based on the results.
Maximum ranges with Buckshot chokes
Range is everything when hunting deer with a shotgun. And while shotguns can’t compare to rifles in that regard, they can kill deer up to 100 yards consistently. Below are popular 12 gauge deer hunting ammo that provide range and knockdown power for hard to bring down deer.
- HEVI-shot Dead Coyote – 12 Gauge 3 ½ inch, 1 5/8 oz, T-shot (20-40 yards)
- Hornady Heavy Magnum – 12 Gauge 3 inch, 1 ½ oz, 00 Buck (30-70 yards)
- Federal Premium Buckshot – 12 Gauge, 3 inch 1 ½ oz, 000 Buckshot (40-80 yards)
- Remington Slugger – 12 Gauge, 3 inch, 7/8 oz, Slug (50-100 yards)
These deer hunting loads are proven to work across a wide range of scenarios with slug and buckshot chokes that are designed for them, such as Carlson’s Rifled Choke Tube, the MOJO Outdoors Fatal Shot Predator Choke, and Carlson’s Buckshot Choke Tube.
HEVI-shot’s Dead Coyote load carries around 55 T shot pellets in their 1 5/8 ounce load. Hornady’s heavy magnum 00 loads carry 12 pellets at 1 ½ ounces. Federal Premium Buckshot loads at 1 1/2 ounce in 000 buck have around 9 pellets. Slugs vary by weight, with the Remington Slugger at 7/8 ounce and most popular larger slugs topping out at 1 ounce apiece.
What to expect
When it comes to choosing the right choke tube for deer hunting, Carlson’s Rifled choke stands out from its competitors. The Carlson’s Rifled choke is engineered with a unique design that provides consistent and accurate shot placement, resulting in better accuracy and a higher precision. Unlike most of its competitors, the Rifled choke ensures that the shot is on target, reducing the chances of having poor shot placement at long ranges. Overall, the Carlson’s Rifled choke is a top performer, delivering outstanding results that set it apart from the competition.
Bottom Line
The best chokes for deer hunting are those that work well with slugs and buckshot. The Carlson’s Buckshot choke tube is one of the best performing chokes you can get. Combined with 000 buckshot, this combo will kill deer beyond 50 yards consistently.
Using slugs to hunt deer is the best way to gain maximum range, and Carlson’s Rifled choke tube allows you to do just that. Even if you don’t have a rifled barrel, the twist designed into the choke itself gives you the spin you need to be more accurate with slugs at longer ranges.
Terrain has a big effect on what choke and ammo combinations you need for deer hunting. Open grasslands require long range shots, so a rifled choke with a slug is preferred. Hunting deer in thick brush may only require a buckshot choke and 00 buck. As always, pattern your shotgun with as many choke and ammo combinations as possible to figure out which works best for a given scenario.
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