All of my muzzleloading shotguns are cyl. bored. There are NO chokes of and sort of description in them. Getting good patterns is not that hard, if you are willing to go to the range and pattern them. Remember, every gun and even every barrel on that gun, sets it's own rules, but after you have worked on patterning them, you will see some similarities. Many people,at least in my experience, try to get a more filled in pattern, by increasing their shot load. Maybe I am recoil shy, but I just never went that route. All of my shotguns range from 10ga. to 20ga. and it does seem as if the "usual" load of shot that is "store" bought for a modern gun, seems to be pretty close. Like a 12ga. uses 1 1/8oz. of shot and a 20ga. uses 7/8oz. of shot. It is the components that make the difference and of course the amount and F size of powder. I use nothing but 2F. For dove shooting and trap, I use an over powder card, a fiber cushion that is cut to 1/4" or less and over the shot an over shot card. The cushion for me, is only there to carry the olive oil I prefer to use for a lube. If I want tighter patterns and I won't be reloading very often if at all, like for turkey hunting. I use no cushion at all. My experience for me (may not be for you) is that holes in the pattern are caused be either the cushion blowing through the shot column or that the powder load is too stout and blowing components through the column. If you are worried about the strength of the load crunching bone, use a good solid tin can like a tuna can. Shoot at that at the furthest range you intend to take game and if it blows through both sides of the can, you have enough power for breaking bones. No, I can't get the range that a choked gun gets, but a turkey in front of me at 30yds. give or take, with my cyl. bored guns, has just experienced his last sunrise. This is all JMHO and information I gathered by spending time at the shooting bench and patterning board. Your mileage may vary.....
