Best Choke for Duck Hunting: Best Choke Tube Guide [2023]

In this post, we’re going to review the best choke for duck hunting and share some tips on picking the best waterfowl choke tube this duck hunting season.

What is the Best Choke for Duck Hunting?

Every duck hunting season, waterfowl hunters from all across the country begin obsessing over how to get the perfect performance out of their shotguns.

And while load selection and shotgun specs are the main focus, many hunters often overlook the choke tube and shot pattern to maximize their opportunity while in the duck blind.

The choke tube you use can make all the difference between getting an ethical clean kill and just shaking loose a bunch of feathers as the duck passes you by.

So in this article, we’re going to explain the science behind how choke tubes work so you can understand how to pick the best choke for duck hunting this season.

How Do Choke Tubes Work?

The main way choke tubes work is by constricting the shot load as it leaves the barrel, either making the shot pattern density wider or narrower depending on the choke tube used.

This is really important to getting a clean kill when waterfowl hunting, because as your shot pellets travel further distances they will spread out more. If your shot pattern is spread too far, you’re much less likely to take down your target.

The key to selecting the right choke tube is to accurately gauge how far away the duck is when you are shooting, and then select a choke tube to give you the best shot pattern at that distance.

Most choke tubes are screwed in to the end of your barrel, and there are three different sizes of choke tubes to choose from:

• Full Choke
• Modified Choke
• Improved Cylinder Choke

Each shotgun choke tube has its features and uses, and each are described below.

Full Choke

A Full Choke has a tight pattern and lots of constriction. In essence, it puts a “full choke” on the pellets to keep dense patterns at range.

Modified Choke

The best way to think about a modified choke is that it is “moderate” or “in the middle.” It has less constriction than a full choke, but more constriction than an improved cylinder choke.

This helps you to keep your pellets together in a semi-tight pattern somewhere in the middle. And for this reason, they are the most common waterfowl choke tubes used today.

Improved Cylinder Choke

Improved cylinder chokes have the least amount of constriction of all three choke tubes, allowing you to create a wider pattern density that full or modified chokes.

But the choke tube isn’t the only factor in determining your shot pattern density.

Steel Shot vs. Lead Shot for Duck Hunting

Not only will the amount of constriction offered by your choke tube affect your shot pattern, but the type of ammunition you use will also change your spread.

The two main types of pellets are steel shot and lead shot. However, you may also find other pellet types such as bismuth and tungsten.

Most modern choke tubes allow the use of all four of these types, but some don’t. So be sure to check the specifications before making your purchase.

The big difference between steel shot and lead is that because of their metallurgical properties, steel shot and tungsten will produce tighter shots than lead will with the same choke tube.

For example, if you normally use an improved cylinder choke with lead, it will perform more like a modified choke with steel shot.

Generally, when shooting steel shot you don’t want to use a full choke tube, as it creates too much construction and can damage the barrel (or even you!). Improved cylinder chokes or a modified choke tube will be a better fit.

But ultimately, you need to find the right mix of shotgun, choke and ammo to create consistent patterns at 20 to 40 yards.

How to Pattern a Shotgun for Duck Hunting

Once you’ve chosen the proper shotgun and sighting system that you plan to use for duck hunting, you’ll need to gather some additional gear for an effective patterning session.

Ideally, you’ll be able to test multiple choke tubes. So if you don’t have the different types yourself, connect with some of your friends to see if you can borrow theirs for a day (or invite them to tag along with you!).

But if you’re stuck with one choke tube or have already made your purchase, the biggest factor now will be the type of ammunition you decide to use.

If your choke tube can shoot both steel shot and lead shot, get some of each. In addition, buy some inexpensive target shooting loads too to help you get cheap shots on the target first before you switch to the more expensive ammunition you’ll actually be shooting on the hunt.

For the targets, just use some large cardboard boxes and printable targets you can find online for free. No need to get fancy here, just find something cheap you can shoot at.

Start the session by shooting the target from 10 yards away, and then make any necessary adjustments to your shotgun sight to help you center your point of impact for an accurate shot.

Then back out to 20 yards, and do the same thing again. If you’re satisfied with the pattern, back out and try shooting the target from 30 to 40 yards where most shots will take place from when duck hunting.

Once you’ve found a pattern you like, you’re good to go. But be sure to re-calibrate right before duck hunting, because the last thing you want is to get a big quacker in your sights and then miss the shot because of an equipment failure like your sight getting bumped during travel.

Choosing the Best Choke for Duck Hunting

Choosing the right choke tube depends on the exact scenario you expect to find yourself in when hunting ducks and geese.

It mostly depends on whether you’re planning on pass shooting or using a decoy spread.

Best Choke for Pass Shooting

When pass shooting, you’ll try to place yourself in effective range of a common flight path ducks use to regularly travel between points A and B.

The thing is though, that finding a suitable flight line for waterfowl hunting and placing yourself in effective range to hunt ducks near that flight path are not always compatible.

So in those instances, you probably want to opt for a full choke tube to give you the most constriction for the tightest patterns at maximum range of 50 yards and beyond.

You probably also consider using a full choke when hunting with decoys late in the season. Stubborn quackers who have fallen for the decoys too many times might tease you from greater distances, so having a full choke might come in handy.

Best Choke for a Decoy Hunting Situation

When using decoys, full chokes aren’t necessary, and you’ll be better suited using a modified choke instead.

A modified choke tube will give you some room for error with a medium pattern, but still provide a tight enough diameter between 20 to 40 yards to help you take down large birds or even multiples.

The only time you’d be looking to use and improved cylinder choke is when hunting smaller, faster fowl like doves and quail, or having some fun shooting trap and skeet.

Shooting a fast flying teal can be a real challenge, so having a improved cylinder with a wider pattern to get more pellets in the air around them gives you a better chance to take one down.

Conclusion: The Best Choke for Duck Hunting

When choosing chokes, the most important thing to remember is what each of the chokes were designed for (the different amounts of constriction and spread).

Then, match the choke features with the hunting scenario you’ll find yourself in (and the right ammo), and you’ll easily find the best choke for duck hunting this season.