Best Turkey Choke for Remington 870 Super Mag

There are many different chokes available on the market today. Choosing a choke is not as simple as choosing a brand, because different brands can have widely varying internal diameters and constrictions, making them unsuitable for some loads and perfectly fine for others. One must consider what he plans to shoot with his shotgun before choosing a choke.

Purchasing a choke for an 870 may seem like a straightforward process, but there are several considerations that must be taken into account before choosing one. 

Compatibility 

The first things to consider when purchasing a choke are the size of the bore, the intended use of the shotgun, and whether or not the choke is compatible with your shotgun.

Extended vs. Flush Chokes 

Choosing between extended and flush chokes is quite simple—if the gun has screw-in choke tubes (which most modern shotguns do), then choose an extended choke for greater flexibility. This way, if the shooter needs to change his choke in the field, he can simply unscrew the existing choke and screw in a different one.

If there are no screw-in chokes available on the gun, choose a flush-mounted choke instead. Choke tubes with an internal diameter of 0.660″ or less are classified as “flush”. Choke tubes that have an internal diameter of 0.680″ or more are classified as “extended”.

This is important because most choke manufacturers (and many firearm brands) designate their chokes by manufacturer type instead of actual internal diameter, making it very difficult for the end-user to know which ones will actually fit his shotgun without measuring them with a caliper (which few people actually own).

Diameter 

The next factor to consider when buying any choke is the internal diameter of the tube; this number is usually engraved on each choke tube, and it should be measured to ensure that it will fit into your gun’s choke mount (which may vary depending on the brand). Choke tubes for 870s typically range from 0.660 inches to 0.725 inches; chokes for the 1100s and 11-87s typically range from 0.724 inches to 0.740 inches.

Constriction Size 

Another thing to consider is the constriction of the choke, which directly affects its performance at different ranges: a tighter choke will improve a shotgun’s performance at long range, while a wider choke will improve its performance at close range.

Ammunition 

The third thing to consider when buying a choke is the shotshell that you will be using it with. Some manufacturers (like Briley) claim that their chokes work well with all loads, but this is simply not true; Remington’s Super Full choke is designed to work best with 1-1/8 ounce (7/8 oz. shot) 3” Magnum buckshot, which means that shooting any load lighter than this will result in a vast loss of performance.

Build Material

The final thing to consider when buying a choke is the material it is made from; not only does this affect the look of the choke, but it also affects its price. All things being equal, steel is more durable than brass, which is more durable than aluminum. However, there are trade-offs to consider: the most durable chokes are generally made from Damascus Steel or Stellite, metals that are both difficult and expensive to produce.