Clay Targets

Clay targets are the target of the sportsman. They come in numerous sizes, colors and shapes as they fly though the air with speeds around 70 mph. It does not matter which game you play skeet, trap or sporting clays, target shooters understand the importance of the proper choke for the right target. In most cases trap and skeet shooters rarely change choke tubes during a round but in sporting clays is it not uncommon for shooters to change at each station.

Since the targets in Sporting Clays or 5-Stand can vary in size and distance it is to the shooters advantage to select the choke that gives the proper pattern for a particular shot. Most Sporting Clays shooters choose an extended choke for three reasons

1-Extended chokes as a rule give a more even pattern than the flush versions.
2-They are easier to change.
3-The name of the constriction is normally marked on the head.

Skeet
Normally a skeet 1 choke is used for regulation skeet shooting. However you may find that cylinder or improved cylinder work well in your gun.

Trap
As trap is shot at a longer range than skeet, tighter chokes are required. Beginning trap shooters are advised to start with a modified or improved modified choke. Full and or extra full chokes are suggested for handicap trap.

Sporting Clays- 5 Stand
Normally a round of Sporting Clays or 5-Stand is shot using three different choke constrictions. A close range choke such as cylinder, skeet or imp cyl., a mid range choke such as skeet 2 (lite mod) or mod and a longer range choke such as imp mod, full or ex full. The three most popular Trulock choke constrictions for sporting Clays are skeet 1, skeet 2 (lite mod) and imp mod. These constrictions generally work well on any Sporting Clay or 5-stand course.

These three chokes are a good starting point but you really need to pattern your gun if you want to improve your score as not all chokes pattern the same in every gun. Please note that changing from one brand of shotshell to another can cause a change in the pattern even if they have the same size shot, velocity and throw weight.