IMO, there is a lot more to choke choice than naming the quarry. I respect your experience on birds, Mike, and given the amount of time you hunt bobs I suspect you have developed a very quick move in response to a flush or covey rise. For a bird hunter who has those lightning reflexes, a cylinder might almost be a necessity in the first barrel. I have hunted quail with many men in my life. Some had reflexes that were nothing short of astounding, quick eyes and hands. For them an open choke is necessary to prevent meat damage. I was never one of those. I am a more methodical quail shooter. I guess to some I look slow. I can get that first shot off faster than I do, usually, but I don't want to. I love quail, but I hate missing with a passion, and that hatred makes me look harder and shoot slower. I can double on a covey rise, but I usually don't, unless there is a straggler or two. Anymore, here, it is rare for a covey of wild birds to hold tight enough for us to utilize a CYL barrel. They usually flush "wild", before we get very close. For me, an IC, or at the least a SK choke, is better. I like a modified in the second barrel. For Gambel's, the little bit I have hunted them, a CYL would be a really BAD choice. Those boogers can boogie! They are full speed within three feet of taking to the air, I believe.
I can hold my fire for a split second longer, if I DO pick out a quail very quickly, a lot easier than I can make a too open barrel stretch out there farther than it should. I'm of the opinion that the right choke for flushing birds depends on the shooting style of the man just as much as it does the quarry.
SRH
