Turkey hunting is the second most popular hunting sport in North America after deer hunting. Whereas the Remington 870 is the most owned shotgun in this country. Since turkey hunting requires a shotgun, chances are that most of the time it is the 870 being used for this sport.
Hunting different games require specific patterns to be spewed out from a shotgun barrel. So hunting turkeys also requires a dedicated pattern created using a choke.
So here we are, reviewing the best turkey chokes for Remington 870 and scrutinizing the considerations before buying one.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Remington 870 Turkey Chokes
- OUR TOP PICK: Carlsons Long Beard Turkey Choke Tube
- RUNNER-UP: Primos TightWad Turkey Choke
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Primos 69405 Jelly Head Mag Lure, 12 gal
Comparison of the Best Remington 870 Turkey Chokes
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What to Watch For When Buying a Remington 870 Turkey Choke
Clearly, a choke is the most important add-on for a shotgun. Below are a few important factors to be aware of when choosing a turkey choke for your Remmy 870.
This Section Written By:
Ankit Kumar
Expert Author
Ankit Kumar is an engineer turned writer who specializes in topics related to firearms, gun safety and weapon tech. His passion towards enrolling in the Army drifted his interest towards light and heavy firearms. He’s a qualified competitive air rifle shooter and an avid nature lover. His other areas of expertise include survival, prepping and firearms/ammo storage. When he’s not writing, he’s either learning a new skill, trekking or enjoying a long drive.
Durability With Easy Installation/Removal
Durability is an important factor when choosing a choke. Especially, if you plan on shooting steel shots with it. A durable choke ensures the delivery of expected patterns consistently over time with minimal chances of failure.
On the other hand, easy installation and removal of the choke is also imperative. Some chokes have to be installed using a choke wrench, whereas some can be screwed on or off by hand. The latter type of chokes are useful when you have to switch patterns quickly.
Some people may argue on the effectiveness of a flush-fitting choke versus an extended length choke tube. There’s no difference in performance except for the fact that extended chokes are easier to unthread. Additionally, make sure the threading to the choke matches that of your 870’s barrel.
Ported vs Non-ported
Ported chokes help with wad retardation which in most cases delivers a 5-7% better pattern density. Porting is also considered helpful for recoil reduction, which is true to some extent with a shotgun. Especially if you care for a 5-10% reduction. But ported chokes are more pricey than non-ported ones.
Type of Turkey Choke
A turkey choke relies upon delivering a tight pattern for effective impact. Since the head and neck are the parts where one has to aim to bring down a turkey. Which obviously are a small target. Turkey chokes come in Improved cylinder, modified, full, extra full, or super full variations. Written in ascending order of tight patterning.
Most turkey hunters prefer the tightest pattern for instant effect. Since a gobbler is a tough and extremely wary game to track. Plus, it is mostly hunted around the 40 yards range.
Testing is the Key
The performance of a choke will differ depending upon your shotgun and the type of ammo you use. Some people prefer #5 or #6 shots for turkey whereas some prefer other size pellets. Eventually, you’ll have to install the choke and test it for yourself for real.
Review of the Best Turkey Chokes for the Remington 870
The following is a list of the six best Remington 870 turkey chokes that are currently on the market. As you go through the list, you’ll want to note all the characteristics and features so you can find one that will stick out as interesting to you. Once you find one that is considered to be your “ideal turkey choke”, you can do further research until you know for a fact that it’s worth the investment.
Let’s take a look at some of the best turkey chokes for the Remington 870. Each of these chokes meets our criteria of consistency, uniformity, and pattern density, while performing well on the Model 870. You may need to experiment with the chokes and ammo to get the pattern just right.
Best Overall:
Carlsons Long Beard Turkey Choke Tube
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
A lot of new buyers were satisfied with this choke tube. They were able to use this on their Remington 870 12 gauge shotguns and managed to hit turkeys anywhere between 30 to 50 yards out. One user said that he noticed his shooting groups were closer together the farther he would shoot. He added that he would be more apt to fire at turkeys from a distance of 40 to 50 yards, simply because it would give him a better chance to hit his targets.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This choke tube is best used for those who tend to go a bit longer than usual in terms of distance. And the big reward for that is a better chance at hitting a kill shot. Imagine being able to hit your targets with more effective accuracy just because you are farther out. Not only is that impressive, but it will definitely make you more apt to try out this choke tube from various distances. No matter how far your turkey target is, this choke tube is proven to be quite effective.
This choke tube provides the best patterns when shooting Winchester’s Long Beard Turkey loads. These loads use Shot-Lok technology for the tightest patterns and longer downrange reach over any lead turkey load on the market.
This choke is manufactured from 17-4 stainless steel in a blued, non-reflective finish. It is ported for reduced recoil and muzzle jump and fits Remington shotguns with a .660 constriction. The choke measures 4 x 0.8 x 0.8 inches and weighs 3.2 ounces.
Who Will Use This Most
This choke tube will likely be a good choice for those who are looking for an affordable option. At the price it’s going for, you get superior shooting and excellent durability in one nice package. So, you’re getting quite the deal. If tighter shooting groups are what you want, you’ll get it with this Carlson’s choke tube.
Bottom Line
The Carlson’s Choke Tube will definitely be a favorite among budget shooters, especially if you want something that will perform better than most of those cheap, crappy tubes that claim to be good but offer disappointing results. Rest assured, just because it’s reasonably priced doesn’t make it cheap at all. Give this a go and you won’t be sorry for buying it.
A fine choice for the hunter looking for the best choke with the top turkey hunting loads. If you don’t mind spending a bit extra on each load, you really can’t go wrong with this one.
Runner-up:
Primos TightWad Turkey Choke
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Most new buyers of this product were budget shoppers looking for something that was durable and easy to install. This choke tube fit their needs and they surely were not disappointed after testing this out. They managed to shoot their turkeys ranging from 25 to 45 yards. The shooting groups appeared to be tighter when the target was situated from longer distances, according to one user. Overall, they were also quite happy with the ease of installation and the ability to stay secure after an easy, tool-free install.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Tighter shooting groups are generally what a turkey hunter wants. That's almost a guarantee with this choke tube. It can go a pretty good distance and deliver consistently tight shots that can make a kill shot easier than without a choke tube. For something that is affordable for most budgets, it is excellent in quality and gives you a lot more than what you'll pay for compared to the really cheap choke tubes that will be inferior in quality and performance.
The Tightwad Turkey Choke from Primos is a compact and durable addition for your shotgun. The choke features a chrome alloy steel construction, which is durable enough to resist shocks and the consistent pressure of exploding gas. It has rounded ports on most of its end part, so the recoil gets compensated to some extent.
This product produces tight enough groups to shoot precisely around 45 yards plus. This makes your turkey hunting sessions even easier since you can shoot turkeys from longer distances.
Turkeys are quite attentive birds, so the choke greatly improves your chances of success, meanwhile gathering more kills. This product has a knurled finish on its end, so it is easy to remove it with bare hands, thus not requiring any wrench or tools. It also has variants available for a 20-gauge and other shotgun brands as well.
Who Will Use This Most
This will in all likelihood come in handy for most turkey hunters that are looking for a newbie-friendly choke tube. If you have never used a choke tube for turkey hunting and need something of a starter model, then you’ll definitely want to give this bad boy a closer look. While it might be a good starter, it could be something you can keep around for a while longer.
Bottom Line
The Primos TightWad Choke Tube definitely lives up to its name. You can tighten this bad boy up and you can get tighter shooting groups at any given range. You’ll be quite happy with this even for the price that it’s going for. It’s another affordable turkey choke tube that will give you a lot more than what you paid for.
This turkey choke from Primos is ideal for ranged shooting of turkeys. It is available in both 12 and 20-gauge variants, all at an exceptional price.
Best for the Money:
Primos 69405 Jelly Head Mag Lure
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
A lot of new users were quite happy with this turkey choke tube, and for good reason. For one, they were able to shoot tighter groups at various distances. However, one user said that the farther he shot, the tighter the groups were. So, he managed to hit a few turkeys with good clean kill shots from about 40 to 50 yards out. Overall, new users also reported that the durability was excellent and the tube stayed nice and tight even through a good number of shots.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This choke tube will have the ability to tighten shot groups when the distance increases. That’s always a good thing for those who want to knock down targets from farther away as opposed to close range. So if you’d rather hit a turkey from 50 yards rather than 30, you might want to consider getting this choke tube for your own hunting applications. There is no question that you will get many clean kill shots out of this. Don’t be surprised if you get these results consistently.
The Primos 69405 jelly head Mag 12ga choke tube utilizes an extended taper and fluted ports to tighten patterns up to 20 percent and reduce recoil. The black-t coating helps prevent rust and corrosion, even in the harshest environments.
This choke will increase the range and pattern density of your Remington 870 while giving a great pattern that will take out the target. It measures 8 x 4 x 1 inches and weighs 3.52 ounces.
Who Will Use This Most
This will be excellent for hunters who have a penchant for long-range hunting. By long-range, we’re talking anywhere between 40 to 60 yards (anything that a shotgun can reach). If you love your Remington 870 shotgun and want the perfect accessory to make it stand out when it comes to turkey hunting, this just might be exactly what you've been looking for.
Bottom Line
The Primos Hunting Jelly Head Maximum Range Turkey Choke Tube will definitely give all the other tubes a run for their money. If you love shooting turkeys from a good range, then you’ll almost guarantee yourself a chance at being effectively accurate with each successful hunt. If improving your kill shots is a priority for you, this choke tube is the solution for that.
While the Primos jelly head choke tube does live up to its promise of tighter patterns and lower recoil, it doesn’t have the flexibility of some other chokes for accepting loads with a range of shot sizes.
4. Indian Creek Black Diamond Strike Choke Tube
[amazon fields="B07C8FR887" image="1" value="thumb" image_size="large" image_align="center" image_link="none"]
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
As expected, a lot of the new buyers were pretty impressed with the choke tube. They were impressed with the performance and even the construction of the choke tube itself. One user said that he was confident in the choke tube’s ability to last long since he needed something that would give him consistent accuracy each time he went out hunting for turkeys.
Sure enough, he wasn’t disappointed when he managed to drop two toms in one day, only a few hours apart. Overall, the new users were able to install this in a short amount of time, resulting in an immediate change in shot patterns.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This choke tube is perhaps one of the most durable on the market. It’s made from high-quality steel that will take on each round that you fire off. After nearly 100 rounds, this thing will still be producing consistent results when it comes to accuracy. So, it won’t scuff up, get damaged, or loosen up, regardless of how often you use the shotgun. If durability is something that matters to you a whole lot, this turkey choke might just be perfect for you.
The Black Diamond Strike choke from Indian Creek is precision engineered and designed to accommodate all lead and hybrid heavy loads with shot sizes from #4 through # 8. It gives consistently great patterns at 40 and 50 yards and is proven to increase pattern density by 40% or better.
Who Will Use This Most
This will be great for any turkey hunter who wants a long-term solution for choke tubes. Since this turkey choke tube is built like a tank, it will in all likelihood be more than enough to grab it for your own personal use. It can go years or decades without needing to be replaced. If that’s what you’re looking for in a choke tube, then this choice is a no-brainer.
Bottom Line
The Indian Creek Black Diamond Strike Choke Tube will probably stand out as the go-to option for those who are looking for superior durability in a choke tube. Yes, they’ll expect tight shooting groups in the process, but they can certainly benefit from the ridiculous longevity of this tube due to the high-quality materials that were used to manufacture this puppy.
With precision machined construction and the ability to handle multiple shot sizes, the Black Diamond Strike is a fine choke for the Remington 870 and will make your next turkey shoot a big success.
5. Hunter Specialities Undertaker Turkey Choke
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Reports
Most of new users were looking for a solid, yet dependable choke tube that was affordable and was good for a starter model. Sure enough, they were happy with this choke tube for its ability to produce tight shooting groups. On average, the groups were tight when targets were situated as far as 30 to 40 yards out. One user even said that he was able to knock down his targets quickly and easily. He said that his shots were all over the place prior to installing the choke tube.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This turkey choke tube will certainly give all the other affordable choke tubes a run for their money. Yes, it’s durable and it can tighten shot groups at a good distance. But where it falls short is that it won’t travel too far like some others. That’s perhaps the only downside of it. But if you don’t really care for long-range shooting, then this might be the choke tube you’ll want to have.
The turkey choke from Hunter Specialities has been specifically designed for Remington 20-gauge shotguns. This item features a long body with a blued finish that resists wear and tear. The steel body makes it durable and long lasting.
The choke has a full three inches of length with two inches of choke area for maximum condensation of the shots. It is good for turkey shooting and works with both Remington and Charles Daly shotguns. This product has double ridges on the end, both of which are knurled for a better grip during removal or installation. It works exceptionally well at a range of 30-40 yards.
Who Will Use This Most
This choke tube will be an excellent starter model. If you want to upgrade to something different in the near future, you’re more than welcome to. But if you want something to start off with slowly and be able to cover a good distance, this choke tube will certainly be of service. Don’t underestimate its ability to deliver tighter than usual shooting groups, because it will give you good clean kills like nothing else.
Bottom Line
The Hunter’s Specialties Undertaker Turkey Choke Tube will no doubt be a good tube to have on hand if and when you want something that will be reliable for the newbie turkey hunter. It probably won’t take you far as some others, but you can bet that it won’t disappoint you when you first give it a try.
The Undertaker Turkey Choke is long enough to project a good shot pattern at close range. It is easy to install and remove and is specific to Remington shotguns only.
6. Truglo Bone Collector Turkey Choke
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Many new buyers were satisfied with this turkey choke. They said that it was easy to install and was able to handle many turkey shots without sustaining damage. One user said that he was quite happy that he didn’t need to use tools in order to install this on his 20 gauge shotgun. Furthermore, he was able to knock down a couple of tom turkeys in one day thanks to the tight shooting that he got out of this choke tube.
Why it Stands Out to Us
One of the things that stood out was the installation of this choke tube. You won’t need any kind of tool to install this on your shotgun, a huge plus if the last thing you ever wanted was complicated installation procedures (or relying on a gunsmith to install a choke tube). On top of that, it’s a choke tube that is built to take on all kinds of shots. So, it will last you through many turkey hunts and many turkey hunting seasons. In other words, it’s built for the long run.
The Bone Collector Turkey Choke from Truglo is a sturdy and durable piece of equipment featuring a superb glossy finish. The choke has been precision CNC machined and shoots projectiles in a smackdown tight pattern, which is apt for hunting turkeys. This ensures that you don’t miss out on the target, and punch in enough shots to bring the turkey down.
The choke features wrench-free installation, which makes the choke easy to install and remove. It accepts all turkey loads, including heavy shot. This product is meant for 20-gauge shotguns, however, it is only meant for shooting lead shots. It features ports that also help with reducing the recoil of your shotgun, so the choke also works as a compensator.
Who Will Use This Most
This will be great for turkey hunters who would use this for the sake of tighter shooting groups and for the purpose of keeping something around for years or decades down the road. As long as you take great care of your shotgun, your shotgun will take care of you. Even better when you install something like this turkey choke tube.
Bottom Line
The Tru Glo Bone Collector SmackDown Choke Tube will certainly benefit a lot of turkey hunters in many ways. But it will come down to better kill shots and superior durability that can be hard to match. If you want a choke tube that might be the last one you’ll buy for a long time, this could be the obvious choice for you.
The Truglo Bone Collector choke is easy to install and produces tight enough groups for hunting turkey, as well as other game.
What is a Turkey Choke and Why is it Important?
A turkey choke is a cylindrical tube that is screwed into the muzzle of the shotgun. They are usually interchangeable, allowing users to swap one for another, but some guns come with fixed chokes that cannot be removed.
The turkey choke is specially designed to make the shot effective for killing turkeys. It constricts the shot pellets as they leave the shotgun muzzle, while somewhat reducing the shotgun recoil.
With the right combination of ammo and choke, the pellet spread can be effective at the range the hunter needs, leading to better accuracy and increasing the probability of a lethal shot.
The constriction of the shot pellets makes the spread much denser and ensures that a properly aimed shot will allow the pellets to evenly hit the turkey’s head and neck.
Photo credit: outdoorlife.com
What to Look For When Buying a Turkey Choke
The main goal of purchasing a new turkey choke is to ensure consistency, uniformity, and pattern density.
Range
Keep in mind the range at which you plan to shoot the turkey, then plan for the spread to be shaped accordingly at that range.
While the specifics may vary, you generally want to see a minimum of 12 pellets in the head/brain and spinal column of a turkey target. The more the better in this case.
You will need to do some experimentation with your gun, your turkey chokes, and your ammo to find the best fit for your requirements.
Ammunition
Your choice of ammunition for turkey shooting will impact the performance of your choke. For optimal results, try out a selection of 2.75-, 3-, and 3.5-inch shotgun shells in #5 and #6 lead shot.
The velocities for these loads will range from 1,100 to 1,400 fps, and shot charges from 1.5 to 2 ounces. You can try some #4 shells as well, to see if they work.
Some excellent options for ammo include non-toxic turkey loads such as Hevi-Shot, Federal’s Heavyweight, and the now discontinued Xtended Range from Winchester.
They use heavier shot than normal lead pellets, but they are pricier. You can also opt for specialized turkey shells like Winchester’s Long Beard XR and Federal’s 3rd Degree, which are a little expensive but could be the right shells for you.
Types of Turkey Chokes
What are the different types of turkey chokes available and what are the benefits associated with each?
All of the aftermarket choke tube manufacturers have one or more types of tight patterning shotgun turkey chokes, and here we’ll look at each one of them.
The first type is called a cylinder or cylinder bore. It provides a pattern density of 30-35% and is suited for home defense shotguns and Foster-style slugs.
The second type is called an improved choke. It provides a pattern density of 40-45% and is suited to home defense, taking upland birds in heavy cover as well as trap/skeet shooting or waterfowl over decoys with steel.
Photo credit: rem870.com
The third type is modified choke. It gives pattern density of around 50-55% and is a versatile type, suited to trap/skeet shooting, waterfowl with steel non-toxics, and upland birds in all types of cover.
The full choke has the tightest constriction and provides a pattern density of 70-75% at 40 yards. The full choke is the most accurate type due to the very tight constriction of the shots when they come out of the barrel.
Due to this, the lead pellets don't spread as wide as they could with less constraining chokes like the cylinder choke or perfected cylinder choke.
While all chokes are calculated at a distance of 40 yards for standard comparisons, a full choke can still accurately travel much farther than 40 yards, sometimes up to 60 yards away. It's all dependent on the number of pellets you have in your shells.
This type is suited to hunting late season upland birds (e.g. pheasants, prairie grouse, and turkeys) with high-tech ammunition.
Finally, the extra full choke can provide pattern density of over 75% and is used for turkeys with lead or softer, non-toxic shells, but is not advised for steel shot.
Perks of Getting a New Turkey Choke
A turkey choke will definitely be handy and beneficial to so many turkey hunters. Without one, your hunting success may not be optimal. Here are a few of the perks you can enjoy if you invest in a new turkey choke:
Tighter Shooting Groups
It’s no secret that we all want tighter shooting groups. That means better accuracy and also the ability to get better, cleaner kill shots. Without a turkey choke, your shots might be all over the place or inconsistent (depending on how often you shoot).
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Better Recoil Reduction
Believe it or not, recoil reduction would be a good thing, especially if you want to keep firm control over your shotgun and make your shot’s follow-through nice and smooth. Plus, recoil can throw off your shots if you have literally no control over your shotgun.
Ready to Go in a Moment’s Notice
There are many turkey chokes that you can add on in about a minute or so. Once added on, it will be ready to deliver the tight, clean kill shots that will make your turkey hunt a success. In fact, you’ll be able to notice the changes instantly. Don’t be surprised if that happens with the turkey choke that you end up choosing.
Conclusion
A turkey choke will help you hunt effectively by constricting the shotgun pellets into the most effective spread at the range you need to take out the gobbler. Choosing from the options available will mean experimenting to find the best one for your gun, ammo, and shooting preferences.
Keep in mind the goals of consistency, uniformity, and pattern density when selecting the right turkey choke for your gun. Any of the chokes on our list of recommendations should do a fine job of turning your Remington 870 into a turkey slayer.
