Shot Size & Choke Finder
What shot size and choke should I use?
The right shot size and choke combination depends heavily on what you're hunting. Answer a few questions and we'll match you to a setup, or browse the table below.
| Result | Best for |
|---|---|
| Small Shot (No. 4-6) | For turkey hunting |
| Medium Shot (No. 2-4 Steel/Bismuth) | For waterfowl hunting |
| Larger Shot (No. 6-8) | For upland bird hunting |
How this quiz works
The Shot Size & Choke Finder asks what you are hunting and your typical shot distance. It scores your answers and points you to a setup for turkey, upland birds or waterfowl.
Why these questions
Shot and choke work together. Turkey hunting needs a dense pattern on a small target, upland birds are fast and close and favor a wider pattern, and waterfowl need enough energy for tough birds and non-toxic shot. The game and the distance decide the combination.
What the quiz cannot see
It cannot see your shotgun, your choke tubes or your loads. Every combination patterns a little differently, and the shot types you can use are set by regulation. Use the Shotgun calculators to estimate pellet counts and energy, and then pattern-test.
Before you decide
Pattern your gun on paper at the distances you plan to shoot, and compare loads. Check that your choke is rated for the shot material, since steel is harder than lead, and confirm the non-toxic shot rules and legal shot sizes where you hunt. Practice on clay targets to learn your effective range.