Wild hog hunting with a shotgun requires tight patterns at long ranges and the right choke tube can help deliver these results consistently. The best chokes for wild hog hunting have tight diameters to keep the shot column together for longer, and they work well with buckshot.
#4 buck and 00 buckshot are the most popular shot sizes for hunting hogs, so it’s important to find a choke tube that works well with them. One of the best is Carlson’s Buckshot Choke. It’s designed specifically with tight tolerances for buckshot loads at distances of over 50 yards.
Best Choke Tubes for Hog Hunting
These are the three chokes you should consider for hog hunting that can deliver more consistent and dense patterns downrange with buckshot. They pattern great with larger pellet sizes and hold patterns together over 50 yards for harder hitting results.
1) 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 sizes of lead shot.
This choke is also compatible with hevishot and TSS, for even harder hitting downrange patterns on hogs. If you need a dedicated choke for buckshot, this is the one to get. This is the TOP pick.
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2) MOJO Fatal Shot Choke Tube
The Mojo Fatal Shot Predator is another choke that is specially designed for buckshot and can handle what’s needed to be successful while hog hunting. It measures close to 0.660” diameter which also 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.
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3) Primos TSS Choke Tube
Tungsten Super Shot (TSS) is the densest shot for wild hog hunting and these Primos TSS choke tubes work well with it. TSS patterns extremely dense at ranges exceeding 80 yards. For the best ballistics and range, try these Primos TSS chokes with TSS ammo in #4 shot or higher. Specifically, #2 TSS shot is the optimal pellet size for hog hunting. This is the BUDGET pick.
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Why Carlson’s Buckshot choke tube works so well for hog hunting
- Buckshot chokes have a tapered internal design for better patterns
- Carlson Buckshot choke accepts large lead shot (#2, #4, T buckshot)
- External grooves and extended design allow for easy removal by hand
- Buckshot chokes tight 0.695” diameter keeps pellets together longer
- Capable of delivering tight patterns over 70 yards
- Affordable at under $60
- The ported design keeps pellets on target
Choke Tubes that work well with lead shot for hog hunting
Full chokes do not work well with some types of shot, particular steel. This is because steel pellets are hard and have very little compactness. When a tight full choke restricts the shot column, the steel shot can not be compresses and can damage the choke.
Chokes for wild hog hunting are mostly designed for lead shot and alloys that are malleable which can compress when exiting a tight choke tube. This is how hog choke tubes such as the Buckshot choke by Carlson’s can provide consistent patterns with large lead shot in #4 and above.
TSS and Wild hog Hunting
TSS is the new ammo on the block for wild hog hunting and due to its density, it can perform almost as good as some rifles. The density of TSS is 18 g/cc compared to hevi-shot at 12 g/cc, lead at 11 g/cc, and steel at 7.6 g/cc. As you can see, it’s a night a day difference between the three.
TSS is ballistically superior to hevi-shot in the same way hevi-shot is superior to steel shot. It’s almost unbelievable how great tungsten super shot performs on wild hogs that you just have to see it for yourself. Reloading TSS shot for wild hog hunting is the best way to get the maximum ballistics you can achieve in a shotgun.
#2 and #4 TSS shot are capable wild hog loads over 100 yards. The density of the shot retains the pattern at longer ranges and the pellets are lethal beyond conventional lead and hevi-shot loads. The Primos TSS choke tube is a good place to start in developing a good TSS ammo and choke combo for wild hogs.
Popular shot densities used for wild hogs:
- Steel Shot 7.8 g/cc
- Bismuth Shot 9.6 g/cc
- Federal Ultra-Shok High Density approx. 9.75 g/cc
- Nice Shot shot 10.20 g/cc
- Tungsten-Matrix 10.92 g/cc
- Kent Lead Shot 11.11 g/cc
- Hevi-Shot 12.0 g/cc
- Winchester Extended Range 12.09 g/cc
- Remington Wingmaster HD 12.17 g/cc
- Federal Heavyweight 15.00 g/cc
- TSS Shot 18.00 g/cc
The effects on choosing a choke tube for wild hogs
Wild hog 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 wild hogs in open fields, max range is desired since shots on approaching hogs are longer and they have a long time to assess the situation and won’t commit fully. In these situations, an extra full choke and large buckshot or TSS is the ideal setup.
For thick brush, wooded ravines, or grown-up fence rows, a choke tube in modified or light modified can provide some relief in pattern tightness that makes hitting up close wild hogs 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 wild hogs with a shotgun. And while shotguns can’t compare to rifles in that regard, they can kill wild hogs up to 100 yards consistently. Below are popular 12 gauge wild hog hunting ammo that provide range and knockdown power for tough wild hogs.
- HEVI-shot Dead Coyote – 12 Gauge 3 ½ inch, 1 5/8 oz, T-shot (70-80 yards)
- Hornady Heavy Magnum – 12 Gauge 3 inch, 1 ½ oz, BB shot (60-70 yards)
- Federal Heavyweight – 12 Gauge 3 inch, 1 3/8 oz BB shot (80-100 yards)
- TSS Ammunition – 12 Gauge 3 inch, 1 ¾ oz #2 shot (100 yards+)
- Federal Premium Buckshot – 12 Gauge, 3 inch 1 ½ oz, #4 Buckshot (50-60 yards)
These wild hog loads are the proven to work for long range hunting with tight chokes like the Carlson’s Buckshot choke tube, Mojo Fatal Shot choke, and Primos TSS 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 BB loads carry 76 pellets at 1 ½ ounces. Federal Heavyweight coyote loads at 1 3/8 ounce in BB shot have around 60 pellets. TSS contains 94 #2 pellets in a 1 ¾ ounce load. And federal premium buckshot #4’s has 24 pellets.
What to expect
When it comes to choosing the right choke tube for hog hunting, Carlson’s Buckshot choke stands out from its competitors. The Carlson’s Buckshot choke is engineered with a unique design that provides consistent and even shot patterns, resulting in better accuracy and a higher precision. Unlike most of its competitors, the Buckshot choke ensures that the shot is evenly distributed, reducing the chances of having holes or gaps in your pattern. Overall, the Carlson’s Buckshot choke is a top performer, delivering outstanding results that set it apart from the competition.
Bottom Line
The best chokes for wild hog hunting are those that can provide dense patterns at long ranges with buckshot. The Carlson’s Buckshot choke tube is one of the best performing chokes you can get for hogs. Combined with Hevi-shot’s 1 5/8 ounce T shot load, this combo will kill wild hogs beyond 70 yards consistently.
TSS ammo is another option that harvests wild hogs cleanly and the Primos TSS Choke Tube works well with most TSS loads. #2 TSS shot has 94 pellets in 1 ¾ ounces which is lethal at over 100 yards. If you want the best ballistics for wild hogs, you really need to be shooting TSS.
Terrain has a big effect on what choke and ammo combinations you need for wild hogs. Open grasslands require long range shots, so tight chokes and distance is key. Hunting wild hogs in thick brush may only require a modified choke and smaller pellet sizes. 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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