Quick Answer
The barrel choke significantly affects the shot spread, resulting in reduced patterns at longer ranges and increased density of pellets at closer ranges.
Understanding Barrel Choke and Shot Spread
Barrel choke in a shotgun is a constriction at the muzzle end that affects the spread of shot. For 12 gauge turkey hunting, a barrel choke with a moderate constriction is ideal. A good starting point is a choke with an orifice diameter of about 0.685 inches (0.0173 inches smaller than the barrel diameter). This provides a balanced spread at 40 yards for a 1 1/4 oz load of #5 shot.
Effects of Choke Constriction on Shot Spread
The constriction of the choke causes the shot to spread out more quickly, with the amount of spread directly related to the degree of constriction. In general, a tighter constriction results in a faster spread and a tighter pattern, while a looser constriction results in a slower spread and a wider pattern. For turkey hunting, a choke with a constriction of 0.685 inches will typically result in a 10-12 inch spread at 40 yards for a 1 1/4 oz load of #5 shot. This is a good balance for taking down turkeys at longer ranges without sacrificing pattern density at closer ranges.
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