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Member Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 258 Location: Nordern MN

greetings . . .
I'm in the process of acquiring a Beretta 16ga SxS with really tight chokes. I live in da UP of Michigan, but I also do some pheasant hunting in MN and SD. So I want to open it up for rufus grouse which will be the main use, but I like tighter chokes for pheasants - I take my time and wallop after they got out a bit - what should I do?

I'm thinking Light Mod and Imp Mod. Then I can use spreaders for grouse hunting. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
NR

Member Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Posts: 989 Location: Las Vegas

I like that combination and think it's very practical for all around use. A lot of the English game guns I have seen are choked imp. cyl. and imp. mod. as is my 16 ga. William & Powell. I don't have any experience using the spreaders but if they work like I've heard they do I think it would be a great choice.

Matt

In my opinion and experience, ten points of choke in the right barrel, and 20 points in the left will work quite well for just about every upland duty you might use the gun for. In fact, these are the factory configurations in my all original Beretta 409 and are just about what you are already considering.

I'd advise reloading some spreader loads using the polywad insert for close work on ruffs. These loads will give you about a skeet/IC spread out of your barrels. This will work for quail and woodcock too.

A 1 ounce load of #6 shot in the right barrel and a 1-1/8 ounce load of #5 in the left will cover you for nearly all your pheasant hunting needs. If you need more distance for very late season hunting, a 1-1/4 ounce cased wad load will do the job fine.

This set up works so well in the Beretta, that I had my AyA Matador set up the same way. you are definately on the right track. Good luck.

Member Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 258 Location: Nordern MN

Can you define 10 points and 20 points of choke? I understand thousandths of an inch constriction, but "points" is new terminology to me.

Thanks!

NR

'points' means thousandths, so .010 constriction is '10 points' For a 16, .020 would be Imp Mod and .010 is Lt Mod or Skt 2 BUT modern shells tend to pattern tighter than choke constrictions established more than 100 years ago. What 16gg said and get thee to a pattern board Very Happy

Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Posts: 787 Location: Indiana

Just a thought but I'd use IC in right barrel, Mod in left and for pheasants, use higher quality handloads like 1 1/8 oz. of hard shot or factory Bismuth #5's or 6's; those will tighten your patterns for the big birds...

Member Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 3438 Location: Illinois

97 -Sorry about the Beretta Embarassed

One of the most common mistakes most folks make is the actual distance what they really take game whether it runs or flies.Shoot that thing and then go from there---Two options/1. spreader loads or2.Briley thin walls.You might actually be surprised how far out them birds are before you yank on that trigger Wink

Joined: 23 Oct 2006 Posts: 6

My 16 is choked .007 IC and .027 I-Mod. It's a great all around combo, especially with double triggers. And when grouse hunting in heavy cover I slip a spreader into the left barrel. After patterning I saw that threw an almost identical pattern as the IC barrel.

The IC and IM sounds great. I have done that for field work and use spreaders for close targets and rough shooting. It works in my Beretta's.
Beretta Rules!
Ron

I think you are on the right track. I've used a 16 choked IC/mod since '94 on MN/SD wild pheasants. If you do indeed "let them get out there" the somewhat tighter choking you are contemplating may be good. I've used Polywad spreaders with excellent results in the same gun for grouse. In dog-hair aspen with leaves on, I use a spreader in both barrels, later season or more open woods I load one spreader and one regular. Late-season pheasants are tough. We've gone 60 days with no rain and the fields are dusty and the dewpoints are around 15 degrees making tough scenting. Sunday evening my lab held a solid point on a rooster. My buddy and I walked in on the point. my buddy, an excellent shot, took the bird at 25-30 yards with an ounce of 6 in a 20 ga. The bird went down hard in a patch of catails, I thought easy retrieve as dog went to exact spot within <10 seconds. The bird was a runner and despite returning to the site of the fall over and over, she kept losing the trail in the same area about 20 yards from the fall--a little more moisture and she probably would have tracked it down. A harder hit bird maybe would have had a different outcome. We finally got a good rain in past two days and should have fewer problems from now on. I second Rev's advice, get to the patterning board.

Member Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Posts: 989 Location: Las Vegas

Choke constriction charts are listed at the top of the "guns" forum.

Matt

Member Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 398 Location: S Fl

Joined: 22 Dec 2004 Posts: 173 Location: S. E. Arizona

I have one 16 that is skeet and mod. Another is IC and Full. I like the first gun better for everything from 40 yard chukars to in your face grouse. This is basically a 25 yard and 40 yard choke combination.

The mod choke will kill phesants out to 40 yards. No worries. Pattern your gun.