Who shoots an 870?

[LifeNRA]

I copied this from my other post!

The problem lies here, you dont know which choke will perform the best unless you try it out! Thats the bad thing about pattering your shotgun. Also each choke will react differently with different shells too.

Best thing to do would be to try different chokes, get two or three different manufacture of shells in two or three sizes of shot. Then try them all out! The process can and will be expensive. But this will be the only way you can figure out which choke/shell combo will work the best. Just because one choke didnt or did work in some other gun, will not say it will or will not work in your gun! You can have two shotguns that are the same, but each may like different chokes and shell combo's.

I shot four different chokes so far out of my 835, so far Comp-N-Choke is the best, but thats for my gun. Cabela's took the other chokes back from me with no questions asked! Other stores may not do this! If you have any family or friends that have the same gun as you. Maybe they will let you borrow their choke so you can test this. Make sure if your using Hevi-shot, the choke will handle it!!! With Comp-N-Choke, they say do not use Hevi-shot with thier chokes! Good luck!

[ksbowhntr77]

I shoot an 870 with a 28" barrel and I just use the Remington Full Choke from the choke kit I got with the gun. I shoot Remington Premiere 3" shells, #6 shot. I have had very good outcomes with this setup.

[M00N]

Sadly, you just have to do trial and error to find a choke and shells shoot best out of your gun. Like LifeNRA said some stores allow returns if the choke doesn't pattern well in your gun. Other stores don't allow returns. Try to go with a store that perhaps allows returns so you don't lose so much money.

If you're planning on using Hevi-Shot make sure your choke says it's rated for Hevi-Shot. If it doesn't say it specifically on the choke or the package that Hevi-Shot can be shot through it normally it can't be. Hevi-Shot can do some major damage on chokes that aren't made to handle it.

If you're going with lead shot I'd recommend trying Comp-N-Choke. Make sure you get one that fits your gun correctly. I heard Comp-N-Choke tends to favor Winchester shells being shot through them in the Remington 870 shotguns. So, perhaps that might be a good starting point, if you're going the lead route instead of hevi-shot route.

No matter what recommendations anyone gives you though, the only sure way to tell if that combo works for your gun is to pattern it at the range with various chokes and shell combinations until you're satisfied with the results. I have to go out within the next two months and pattern my Remington 870 SPS-T 20 Gauge. My 870 though is only a 20" barrel. I'm looking at trying a Comp-N-Choke + Winchester and a Hevi-Shot Choke + Hevi-Shot in it. I wish you luck with patterning your gun.

[Covehnter]

Just for a starting point .. . . . . i use an 870 Express Super Mag. w/ a 26inch barrel and i've found a .665 Mad Max with Win HV 3.5" #6's do best for me. The Extended and Fed Flight Control didnt work for my combo. I get 201 hits in a 10 inch circle at 30 yards and 101 at 40yds.

[3seasons]

I shoot an 870 with a 21" barrel. I've tried most of the chokes out there. Very few guns shoot the same, you have to try a lot of different setups. I shoot a Preston Pittman Ported choke, I shot Hevi-shot #5 1 1\2oz. last year, this year is the new Fed Flight Control #5 2oz(its nice in my gun). Its the best out of my gun. I wish a sporting goods store would allow you to sample chokes and different loads before you buy. Its hard to spend $30-$80 for a turkey choke that shoots like an improved cylinder. Good luck.

[Hoyt03]

I have an 870 express and I shoot 3inch winchester supremes 5 shot with an undertaker choke tube and it works fine for me. Best part its not that expensive and shoots great

[snapper]

[ QUOTE ]
i use an 870 Express Super Mag. w/ a 26inch barrel and i've found a .665 Mad Max with Win HV 3.5" #6's do best for me. The Extended and Fed Flight Control didnt work for my combo.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've used the same choke and got great results with Rem. 3 1/2" #6's. The flight controls didn't perform well for me either.

[maddhunter]

I use a Tru Glo turkey choke and shoot Rem. 4x5 duplex magnum turkey loads.
Works for me!!!!!

[turkeyhunter2112]

i have an express super mag and i shoot an undertaker choke and winchester #5s. Those duplex shells have shot great for me also.

[VTbowman]

Older 870, 3" Federal #5s and a Tru Glo .655 choke.

I was getting 15 to 24 "bone" hits at 40 yards.
I did not count every hole in a 10" since I figured neck and skull bone hits were the more important factor.

[Strut10]

Try a good, quality ported tube with a diameter of .655" - .665" (.665" if it's a 3 1/2" gun) and a Winchester Supreme HV or X-Tended Range #6 load (3" or 3 1/2"). That oughta get you pointed in the right direction. If the Winchester loads don't put lots of holes (which would surprise me), try Federals then Remingtons.

[cutter10x]

mad choke tube and winchester XX. work great for me.....

[Tominator]

Me.

Winchester Supreme 3" #5's patterns best for me.