Choke advice needed

[trotterlg]

I am making up a purpose built shotgun for Coyotes in a "shotgun shooting shot" only area.  Want to make up an 18 inch 20 gauge shooting number two buck.  What choke would be best for this combo?  I see every thing from about .615 to .575.  I am thinking that number 2 buck will act differently out of a barrel than number 9 shot does.  Thanks.  Larry

[spruce]

If your barrel is set up with screw-in tubes I'd say just grab a handful of tubes and some ammo and start patterning!
 
I don't know any way to accurately predict how any one particular barrel/choke is going to pattern with a particular load.  Sometimes going up or down even one shot size will show a definite improvement in patterns with a particular gun.  I wouldn't think trying it with ANY size of birdshot would be a reliable indicator of how it will do with buckshot.
 
I guess I'd probably start out with something like an improved modified choke and go up or down from there searching for the type of pattern I wanted.  The gun will tell you what it likes best!

[JPShelton]

I think spruce hit the nail square, as I concur that there isn't any way predict how a given individual barrel / choke is going to pattern with a particular load.  You're going to have to spend some time shooting on a pattern board to know for sure what choke is going to be best for your chosen loads in your gun.
JP

[trotterlg]

Thanks, I will start with something less than full and see what I get.  Larry

[351 power]

my 20 ga shoots a nice coyote type group with #2 buck. i use a primos tightwad turkey choke. this is with a 26" barrel maverick 88. i use the small sheet newspaper to pattern which is 22x26". at 50 yds it prints 12-14 hits out of 18. inside 15 yds it is like a rifle in that you need to aim pretty good. shot a raccoon about 3 weeks ago in my barn. looked like a rifle shot

[trotterlg]

I have a turkey choke to put in it, so I may just try that first and see what happens.  I will be curious if a shorter barrel makes any difference in the pattern, but I would think it would be mostly dependant on the choke.  Larry

[SHOOTALL]

If you can find a choke tube that is full and has "stright " rifling try it . In my 12ga it delivers great tight patterns. When the shot is stablized and no spin is involved the pattern tightens up. The other benifit is a less  choke does not create as many flyers.

[geartow]

I am using a extended modified steel choke tube shooting #3 buck 3inch 20 gauge for song dogs