High 1 is the most difficult target
The statistics show it requires the most choke for the highest likelihood of success, accounting for the average aiming error, and the average distance from center stake where it’s broken.
3,4,and 5, are the easiest.
Many skeet shooters keep the left barrel pretty tight, often times full, to make sure that they smoke number one,
And then optimize their constriction for a half ounce of 9’s at the center stake. Many times, honing the choke a couple thousands at a time And checking pattern over the center stake.
Good .410 guys are so mechanical on their shots, they’re working with the center 12 inches of their pattern. There is no reliability outside of that.
That is NSSA skeet shooting, where perfection is rewarded, and has nothing to do with the guys that stuff 3/4 of an ounce of shot into a 3 inch cartridge for sporting clays.
My NSSA season average was in the 80s, shooting a full choke Mossberg 410, unmodified. Not remotely competitive. Put shooting 20+ targets on every 410 round of skeet was very pleasing and made shooting wild game very successful. Actually too easy for jumping ducks.
Last edited by ClapperZapper; 01/17/26 10:22 AM.
