Many if not most clays courses are best shot with open chokes.
Choke is way overrated as is long barrels and weight.
I have the greatest respect for both of you gentlemen, but these statements should both be qualified by "in my opinion", IMO. How we view things are often heavily weighted by our own experiences and surroundings.
Maybe the courses you have shot are mostly set up for casual shooters who are satisfied with a 60-70% hit ratio. There are many, many courses which are not like that, tho', and need some choke to be shot well.
Also, choke is way overrated ..... and long barrels, too? Again, in one's personal opinion, (IMPO).
Open chokes will smoke close birds, but will chip medium to longer ones. A chip is considered a dead bird, but does not instill confidence in some of us. Every time I go to the range I am trying to improve. every time I take the field, whether it be doves, ducks, quail or the occasional woodcock, I am trying to kill every bird I shoot at. In the dark recesses of my mind I know I will never do that. But, it doesn't deter me from trying. And, one thing I know for certain ........... I would never have improved my shooting the way I have over the last 10-12 years by shooting the most open chokes I could get by with. Smoking a clay instills confidence and tells me I'm pretty well on the bird, not just "fringeing" it. Similarly, "dishragging" a dove or quail does the same thing. When greenheads hit the water and wave those red legs at the sky, they aren't fringed. They were all hit with density. Quail hunting is not duck hunting or dove shooting, and skeet is not trap. Heck, early season doves are not anything like late season doves, for that matter.
I dunno guys. I respect your experience, but I'd like to see it qualified like that, and not stated as absolutes. Guess I'm just too picky..........
IMO.
SRH
