[PsYkHoTiK]

Hi everyone!

I'm a first time shotgun buyer (and my third overall FNH firearm - after the SCAR 17S and FNX-45 Tactical).

I am the proud owner of a FNH SLP Mk1 (gold ringed piston - and yes, I have an insert for the manual explaining that there are no longer two pistons being included).

I plan on shooting trap (not ideal, I know) and plan on going turkey hunting later in April (will be my first time - I know I need to block the magazine - recommendations would be welcome too).

Are there any recommended chokes for turkey hunting? My understanding is that it will be the x-full choke, but there's a whole bunch out there... Any specific brands I should stick to or particular models I should look at?

Also, should I stick to the stock chokes for trap/general shooting? Are there any benefits to having the extended choke tubes (with the knurled ends that won't require a wrench)? What brands work well?

I'm a first time shotgun owner and any advice would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[DrToyHoarder]

Extended chokes are the way to go. For trap it all depends on the wind, but generally IC works well for me. For turkey, I go full, just because it's difficult to get within 50 yards. For dove and quail hunting, I generally shoot mod. For sporting clays, I switch depending on how far the targets are away, but favor IC or mod.

 

[First Sergeant]

Good advice from above. For the price of chokes, it makes sense to have several in the bag. Just as important if not more so, make sure you pattern your gun to have an understanding of how the particular gun/choke/load combo you are using performs.

 

[PsYkHoTiK]

Thanks, guys!

I will look into the Extended chokes for my shotgun. Any good brands I should stick to (or avoid)? Is Briley a good brand?

Thanks once more!

 

[DrToyHoarder]

I prefer Briley, and I shoot a Browning 725. Browning chokes don't come close to matching Remington or other brands in pattern. Like first sgt said once you get the chokes, set up a big piece of cardboard or plywood at 40 yards and see what your patterns are, and go from there.

 

[Top0369]

If the plan is to shoot trap, skeet or sporting, I think I would pattern IC from 25 yds first to check the fit of that SLP. You will initially be checking gun fit, rather than checking the choke patterning, so the 25yd pattern will be tight enough to see if the stock is set up right for you, with the intent that the gun shoots to your point of aim when you shoulder the gun. Browning Gold shims will fit the SLP, and you may need to shim up or down, or to the right or left (also known as cast-off or cast-on). You will also need to figure out if you are right or left eye dominant, since you need the dominant eye to be on the stock as the "rear sight". Many ranges will have NSCA level 1-3 instructors, or other equivalently trained instructors who can assist you with all of this, as well as give you a great and fun first experience on the skeet, trap or sporting clays course.

 

[First Sergeant]

Good point as well Top. As you have most likely noted PsYk, there is a lot involved in the sport.

 

[PsYkHoTiK]

Thanks, guys!

I took the shotgun out to the range today.

Here's a 3 shot group of 00 buck shot @ 20 yards using the included modified choke. I fired one shot. And then I loaded 2 shells (one in chamber, and second in magazine) fired first shot aiming at the center and I fired the second shot relatively quickly - shotgun handles really well. All shots aimed at the center of the chest target.

I will be looking at ordering some Briley extended chokes and then comes the task of patterning different ammo types. But man, there's all sorts of Turkey chokes out there. Should I just stick with a Briley extra full to start with?

In regards to eye, I'm one of the unfortunate shooters that's right handed but left eye dominant. I've been getting by closing my left eye when I shoot rifle but I'll try and experiment when I go trap shooting.

Thanks again, everyone. I can't express how much appreciation I have for all the help and advice so far!


Sent from my Fruit Phone using Tapatalk

 

[Sainte]

I haven't been serious about shotguns for many years until about a year ago when I bought my SLP. I cleaned it and took it out on its first trip, it ate everything I put in it. WWB, estate and Sellior & Belliot.

i haven't shot any slugs thru it as I am unsure of which choke, if any to use, did not want to bulge the barrel figuring it out! Haha

 

[Top0369]

Old thread but still worth an response.
Manufacturers like Benelli say that Cylinder or Improved Cylinder can be used for slugs, and in the absence of more specific information such as the type of slug (Brenneke vs Foster) or manufactured diameter of the slug, or specific direction from the maker of the choke or the slug, this is generally correct.
It should also be noted that some slugs are made to be used in a rifled "slug" barrel, and some are made to be shot through a smoothbore non-rifled barrel, such as most shotgun barrels).

To add to the confusion, the long accepted industry manufacturing "standard" for 12 ga shotgun barrels is .729" diameter, but this is not a "requirement" and barrels can vary all the way up to .750 in some competition shotguns, and some barrels can be found with a smaller diameter than .729". The chokes get tighter as you work your way up (cylinder/skeet/improved cylinder/light mod/mod/improved mod/full, etc), but reputable choke manufacturers can tell you how much constriction each choke has, and with a little research, you can also find out the diameter of the slug.
So there are multiple factors that can affect your choice of slug and choke, and that is why the word "generally" is key when saying cylinder or improved cylinder should be safe to use.

 

[Bruiser01]

I just purchased a SLP Standard for Trap as Well, The First thing I did was buy a 26" Barrel from MWG and a Skeet Choke.. But I Love the Shotgun and it Cycles Quickly..??

One Problem I'm having is That the Manual Says it'll Hold 8 3" Shells and 9 23/4" Shells but Mine only Holds 5????? Any Info will be Appreciated.. Thanks..

 

[Tony617]

I just purchased a SLP Standard for Trap as Well, The First thing I did was buy a 26" Barrel from MWG and a Skeet Choke.. But I Love the Shotgun and it Cycles Quickly..??

One Problem I'm having is That the Manual Says it'll Hold 8 3" Shells and 9 23/4" Shells but Mine only Holds 5????? Any Info will be Appreciated.. Thanks..

If you bought a standard SLP you can only put five 3" rounds in the magazine. I have shot brenneke black magic slugs and they are 3" long so five rounds. 2 3/4" shells you put 6 in the magazine and one in the chamber for a total of 7.

 

[Bruiser01]

I just got a SLP Standard for Trap and Home Defense, It came with the 18.5" Barrel but I bought a Invecta 26" Barrel for Trap, I use the FN Skeet Choke for Trap and The Cyl. For Home Defense, The SLP comes with a IC and Cyl. Choke from the Factory and when I bought my Extra Invecta 26" Barrel it came with a MOD Choke.. I Love My SLP!!! As a FN Fan it's My 3rd FN Product ( FS2000, Five seveN, SLP ) My next will be a FNX Tactical .45 or a SCAR 17S.. Hopefully Soon

 

[3gunr89]

Old thread but still worth an response.
Manufacturers like Benelli say that Cylinder or Improved Cylinder can be used for slugs, and in the absence of more specific information such as the type of slug (Brenneke vs Foster) or manufactured diameter of the slug, or specific direction from the maker of the choke or the slug, this is generally correct.
It should also be noted that some slugs are made to be used in a rifled "slug" barrel, and some are made to be shot through a smoothbore non-rifled barrel, such as most shotgun barrels).

To add to the confusion, the long accepted industry manufacturing "standard" for 12 ga shotgun barrels is .729" diameter, but this is not a "requirement" and barrels can vary all the way up to .750 in some competition shotguns, and some barrels can be found with a smaller diameter than .729". The chokes get tighter as you work your way up (cylinder/skeet/improved cylinder/light mod/mod/improved mod/full, etc), but reputable choke manufacturers can tell you how much constriction each choke has, and with a little research, you can also find out the diameter of the slug.
So there are multiple factors that can affect your choice of slug and choke, and that is why the word "generally" is key when saying cylinder or improved cylinder should be safe to use.

Thanks for the info! (Sorry for the duplicate posts in separate threads - im trying to get any many eyes on this as possible without starting my own thread on the same topic). Below are my findings, do you have any suggestions?


My SLP came with 2 chokes as well (IC and Mod). I have my second 3 gun match tomorrow and itll be the first time I've run slugs through my gun. I've read, both from this thread and other threads around the interwebs, that IC or Modified SHOULD work with rifled slugs. However, being the engineering that I am, I was curious and took my calipers to some of the slugs I cut out of the shells. Here were my findings, and I'd like to better understand how the two chokes below are said to be viable for slugs:

Federal 12 GA - 1600 fps - 1oz
Average Outer Diameter = 0.729" (average of 5 measurements)

Winchester 12 GA - 1610 fps - 1 oz
Average Outer Diameter = 0.717" (average of 5 measurements)

Extended IC (Blue FN Choke)
Inner Diameter at Threads: 0.726"
Inner Diameter at Muzzle: 0.712"

Short IC (Black Choke Provided with Gun)
Inner Diameter at Threads: 0.731"
Inner Diameter at Muzzle: 0.718"

Questions:
1. Both of the IC Chokes I own have smaller exit diameters than the slugs. How can the IC chokes work when they are smaller than the rounds?
2. Since the slugs are shaped like cups and are soft, does the tail end of the slug collapse/compress when going through the choke and thus become the same diameter as the choke as it exits the choke? (And therefore is safe and will not damage the gun)
3. Would you recommend the use of the IC (my least restrictive choke I own) with these numbers that I've captured?

Thanks!