The best shotgun choke for hunting a large, slow bird such as a turkey is generally a full choke or an extra full (turkey) choke.
Why Full or Extra Full Chokes?
- Full choke provides a tight shot pattern that holds together well at longer distances (up to 40-50 yards), which is ideal for turkey hunting where longer-range precise shots are common.
- Extra full or turkey chokes are even more constricted than full chokes, designed for maximum range and accuracy with very tight patterns that increase the chances of hitting vital areas on a turkey, especially beneficial for close to mid-range headshots.
- These chokes produce dense patterns that are important for taking down large, slow-moving birds like turkeys efficiently.
Additional Insights
- Turkey-specific choke tubes are optimized for turkey loads and can outperform standard full chokes in terms of pattern density and accuracy.
- Using a tighter choke reduces the spread of the shot, increasing pellet density on target and improving the likelihood of a clean kill.
- Ammunition type also matters: lead shot works well with tighter chokes, but some turkey chokes may be optimized for certain types of shot.
In summary, for turkey hunting, choosing a full choke or turkey (extra full) choke will give the most effective, dense shot patterns at the ranges typical for hunting turkeys.
