I will going on a resident Canadian goose hunt this mid-September. I will using a Remington 870 chambered in 12 gauge (3" chambers). I have three chokes at this time: a skeet, a modified an a X-full turkey. Of course, the turkey choke is not a consideration, but as the guide said to expect 30-35 yard shots, should I use the skeet or the modified, or should I buy an Imp.Cyl. choke?

Most likely the loads will be 3" Remington Nitro-Steel in either BB or BBB.

I have been doing most of my goose shooting with a Mod. but at 30 to 35 yard a IC would work just as well. But then I have been using hevi shot kills them quite well.

As suggested by p dog shooter the modified choke will work fine. If you are using steel, I would use BB's at 30-35 yards. If the range starts to move out to 40-50 yards use BBB.

IC or Mod will work great. Steel and Hevi-shot pattern tighter than lead. Since you have the Mod, that's what I'd use.

Don't assume a certain pattern .Always pattern the load .Steel shot doesn't deform and the cups are thicker. My goose loads for my Benelli are 3" BB steel .With a MOD choke they give an extra-extra full choke .That means I take head shots and rarely have to hunt for pellets in the body !!! ...BTW the effective range for that load is 25-45 yds.

I'd shoot the skeet and hevi shot, or bismuth, etc... hevi shot has a new T Shot coyote load that wears geese out... you don't need to switch to modified until you get long crossers and you have to start shooting through and breaking wings to get to the body.. just my opinion if you are an average to good shot.

Thanks for the replies, fellas. Been a long time since I went goose hunting.

I remember when the Eastern Shore of MD was the "goose hunting capital of the world." Those were the days!

bdhunter, unless I missed it you didn't mention what shot you're using. Since most of it's pretty hard or harder your modified tube will throw a tight pattern. Those big Maryland resident birds take a lot of killing but they also typically come in close. If you can swing it I'd suggest the IC especially if you're shooting steel. Most misses (and cripples) will be because you're pattern is too tight and lead too short - they move eleven feet with every wing beat! The ones you kill are usually hard multiple hits. BTW - they make great jerky!

Almost forgot, hunting over water or field may be a factor to - for typically longer shots over water use the modified.

quote:

Originally posted by bdhuntr:
I will going on a resident Canadian goose hunt this mid-September. I will using a Remington 870 chambered in 12 gauge (3" chambers). I have three chokes at this time: a skeet, a modified an a X-full turkey. Of course, the turkey choke is not a consideration, but as the guide said to expect 30-35 yard shots, should I use the skeet or the modified, or should I buy an Imp.Cyl. choke?

Most likely the loads will be 3" Remington Nitro-Steel in either BB or BBB.

You absolutely have to pattern your gun to make an informed decision-- the markings on a choke tube mean nothing specifically, and never equate to a particular pattern density.

IIRC, improved cylinder and skeet are almost identical. I beleive that IC is specified at 40 yds and Skeet is specified at 25 yds.

But if you shoot them both and measure both at the same distance they will be close to identical given the removal of all other variables.