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Jul 28th, 2025
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 17
Junior Member
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OP
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 17 |
I am considering a Merkel 12 gauge O/U with a single non-selective trigger for use on pheasants.It is F/F choked. how much of a disadvantage is this? Would it be a deal breaker?
thanks,
Gary
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 183
Member
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Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 183 |
My first shotgun in my teens had a 30" barrel with full choke, I learned to let the birds get out a little more and it worked just fine.
F/F is actually a advantage for the late season where the birds are spooky.
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 130
Junior Member
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Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 130 |
I usually shoot an open choke with 3" shells. Very deadly for rising birds. When blocking more choke is needed, but I wouldn't use full unless the wind was howling, which isn't unusual in SD. 
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 322
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 322 |
Welcome aboard. Not a deal breaker. You can always have the chokes opened up. Not terribly expensive to do so.
Whether you consider it a disadvantage depends on the type of hunting you will be doing.
I would start by patterning the gun at maybe 20 yds and 40 yds and see how it is actually choked. The way it is marked on the barrels doesn't mean it actually shoots that choke. If possible use the same shells you will use to hunt. I believe there is a good chart at the Griffin & Howe web site that will tell you what % of pellets should be inside a 30" circle at various distances. If not there, just make a post here and someone will give you a site.
If you are hunting over a close working dog you may want at least the first barrel a little more open - personally I like it quite open such as Cylinder or Improved. I like the second barrel for pheasant over dogs at Mod. You will get alot of different opinions on this. None are right or wrong, it is really a personal choice.
If you are doing driven shoots with alot of 30 yd plus shots then you may want the barrels a little tighter - maybe Mod and Full.
If this is your only hunting gun, you may want it quite versatile. Maybe Improved and modified. Many folks at this site have a number of shotguns for different hunting situations. Shoot it for awhile before you decide to do anything.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,954 Likes: 12
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,954 Likes: 12 |
Spreader loads would be my first approach to making the gun shoot more open. If you handload, this is really easy. Otherwise, buy a box and see how your gun likes them.
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