5 Best Chokes for Sporting Clays: Field Tested (+Buyers Guide)

I got into sporting clays in the early 2000s because I was doing a lot of duck hunting with my shotgun and wanted to become a better wing shooter. Chokes played a big part in how I approach the sport, and more than once, I’ve taken down targets because I chose the right choke for the shot. 

For beginner clay shooters, finding the best choke takes time. I researched and tested various chokes to create a list of the best sporting clay chokes to help you choose the right one for your needs.

Before we dive into the list, let’s take a quick look at what sporting clays are.

What is sporting clays?

Sporting clays is a shotgun sport where you shoot clay birds on a course designed to mimic real bird hunting. It’s a fantastic way to maintain your shooting skills or brush up before the hunting season. Since it’s supposed to be like a real hunting expedition, targets can come from any distance and angle. While using a choke in sporting clays isn’t necessary, it helps control your shots, spreads, and makes shooting more fun.

How I Chose The Best Chokes For Sporting Clays

As someone who has been playing sporting clays for almost 20 years now, I’ve owned my fair share of chokes and have been even sent some by companies. So when putting together this article, I went through the chokes that served me well and considered how effective they were, their durability and the value for money.

But, at the end of the day, I’m just a single person, so I reached out to some of the best sporting clay shooters I know of in the industry to get their opinions on the chokes on my list. They also recommended some of their favorites. Thus, I was able to put together a comprehensive list of the best sporting clays chokes.

Keep in mind that not all chokes are the same, and there’s no universal standard for comparing them. Choke preferences are personal, so what works for me may not work for you. That’s why I’ve tried to put together a broad selection that has something for everyone. Let’s get right into it.

Gun University’s choices of the best chokes for sporting clays

With a sport like shooting clays, there’s no objectively best option for a choke. So, instead of ranking these chokes in any particular order, I’ve thought of what clay shooters might want out of their chokes and found the best one for that category. 

Best Chokes for Sporting Clays

Best overall Muller Featherlight series		Very light Highly durable Easy installation and removal of the choke by hand	Buy on Amazon
Best versatile Carlson’s sporting clays chokes		Durable Versatile selection of chokes Compatible with a variety of ammo	Buy on Amazon
Best budget Cabela’s sporting clay choke tube		Great patterns right out of the box Made of high quality stainless steel	Check Price
Best ease of use Trulock sporting clay choke tubes		Easy installation and removal Wide variety Durable	Check Price
Best premium Briley Complete Sporting Clays Choke Package		Color coded for easy identification Additional tools included Patterns well	Check Price

Best Chokes for Sporting Clays Spec Comparison

Below is a table of the specifications for each choke. Click the name of the item to jump to that review.

Best Chokes for Sporting Clays

Here is our list for the best chokes for shooting sporting clays.

1. Muller Featherlight series Chokes
2. Carlson’s sporting clays chokes
3. Cabela’s Choke Tubes
4. Trulock sporting clay choke tubes
5. Briley’s Complete Sporting Clays Choke Package

Best Chokes for Buckshot – Reviews

Since the right choke for one person may not work for everyone, I’ve ranked the best ones I’ve used in several categories, instead of ranking them in order.

Buyers guide

If you are new to sporting clays, it can be a little overwhelming to find the best choke for the sport that also fits your personal shooting style. That’s why I’ve curated this buyer’s guide for you; from the basics of how a choke works to what specs to look at when you buy one, I’m going to give you a quick crash course on all the things you need to know about chokes as a clay shooter. So strap in, and let’s get started.  

How do chokes work? 

A choke basically constricts the diameter of your gun’s bore near the muzzle. A tighter chokes mean a narrower opening and tighter shot patterns. For distant targets, go tight; for close ones, loosen up. Here’s a quick guide to choke types based on constriction. Let’s break it down!

• Cylinder or the open choke, is the default size of the muzzle end with no constriction. It lets shots spread quickly over short distances. It’s best used for short range shooting. 
• Skeet is designed specifically for skeet shooting and has a little more constriction than the cylinder. It gives you good patterns at 22 yards, so it’s got a little more range compared to an open choke.
• Improved cylinder choke has a slight constriction, making it ideal for shots around 25 yards, because the pattern gets looser at longer distances. 
• Modified choke is a fraction more open than the improved modified choke and has a moderate constriction, and it’s the one I recommend for sporting clays because you rarely shoot anything beyond 35 yards.
• Improved modified choke is slightly less narrow than the full choke, and works for long-range shooting around 40 yards.
• Full choke is the narrowest and delivers the tightest patterns, ideal for long-range shooting from more than 40 yards.

Choke constriction isn’t standardized, so it varies by brand. Here’s a handy table that I made to help you grasp the general constriction levels for different choke types.

Choke	Constriction
Cylinder (C or Cyl)	.000 in.
Skeet (SK)	.005 in.
Improved Cylinder (IC)	.010 in.
Light Modified (LM)	.015 in.
Modified (M or Mod)	.020 in.
Improved Modified (IM)	.025 in.
Light Full (LF)	.030 in.
Full (F)	.035 in.
Extra Full (EF)	.040 in.

Having a general idea about choke constrictions will make purchasing a lot easier, but which type should you get? The right type of choke depends a lot on the range, so keep reading to find out more about the types of chokes that you should be looking at as a clay shooter.

What type of choke is best for sporting clays? 

If you’re into sporting clays and want just one choke, go for a modified choke or a mix of skeet and mod. They give you a forgiving shot pattern, ideal for 35-yards in most sporting clay courses.

A better choice, if budget allows, is to have three chokes—one for each range. Go for cylinder or skeet for short range, modified for mid-range, and full or improved modified for long-range targets.

What to consider when purchasing a choke for sporting clays?

There are several factors to consider when purchasing a sporting clay choke, but some specs are more important than others. Here’s what I look at when I get myself a new choke for sporting clays. 

Range and type of choke – With sporting clays, you won’t be shooting much at long range, so I recommend going for a modified choke and if you are feeling fancy, an additional skeet choke. This way, you get a wider spread-out pattern to hit your targets better. 

Ammo and manufacturer recommendations – Choose a choke that matches your preferred ammo type whether it’s lead, steel, tungsten, or bismuth. It works best when paired with the ammo recommended by the manufacturer.

Price – If you’re new to sporting clays, begin with budget-friendly chokes to understand your shotgun and the sport. Later, you can upgrade to higher-quality chokes. After getting a choke, grab some accessories to maintain it.

What are the accessories to purchase for your sporting clay choke tube?

When you get your choke, I also recommend you get the following accessories. They’ll help you maintain your choke better and get the maximum use out of it. 

Choke tube lube – If you want your chokes to be easily removable and attachable to your shotgun, then lubricating your choke tube threads is a must. With choke tube lubes, you need something that’s thin and easy to apply, so I recommend you to go with Birchwood Casey Choke Tube Lube.

Choke range case – Using a choke range case keeps your chokes organized, protected from the elements, and prevent dirt buildup in their tube threads. My personal favorite is the MTM Choke Tube Case Clear Smoke, it fits six chokes, which is what I usually carry. However, depending on how many chokes you like to have on hand, you may prefer a different case.    

Once you’ve gotten your chokes and your accessories, it’s time to pattern your gun and get straight to shooting. 

Conclusion

Sporting clays is a great way to have some fun with your buddies while also keeping your skills sharp during the off-season. But if you want to win the game, you need a great choke, and there’s no getting around the fact that you can only find it by experimenting with different ones. So, read the reviews, find the choke you like, and see how it works for you and your shotgun. With time, you’ll find the one that’s the best fit for you.   

Best Chokes for Sporting Clays FAQs