What Are Improved Cylinder Chokes (and How to Use One)

Investing your time in mastering shotgun fundamentals is essential to being an accurate, safe, and ethical hunter. Aside from gun handling and marksmanship, having a deeper understanding of the various modifications you can make to your shotgun is critical for success in the field.

That's where knowledge of chokes, specifically improved cylinder chokes, can make a significant difference between bringing birds home or putting holes in the sky.

What Is an Improved Cylinder Choke?

For starters, a shotgun choke reduces the diameter of the shotgun barrel at the muzzle. The smaller the diameter, the tighter the spread, or shot pattern, after the pellets leave the barrel.

The improved cylinder choke reduces the bore of your shotgun by 0.010 inches. It's a favorite of many hunters because it creates a shot pattern that works in many hunting scenarios.

Depending on your shotgun's barrel length and the ammunition you're using, this choke typically produces a pattern that puts around 55% of the pellets within a 30-inch circle at 40 yards. 

When to Use an Improved Cylinder Choke

Each type of hunting choke works best at different distances and with different loads. In the case of the improved cylinder choke, it truly shines in the 20-35-yard range, which is ideal for:

• Upland hunting for quail, dove, grouse, and early-season pheasant that may flush closer
• Small game hunting for rabbits and squirrels in more open areas
• Duck hunting over decoys
• Skeet and sporting clays

This choke delivers denser patterns that outperform other chokes when you need to fire quickly at shorter distances. That's why it's my favorite for hunting quail in thick cover.

What Are the Benefits?

The improved cylinder choke is a favorite for newer hunters because it allows more room for error on fast-moving targets. The broader shot pattern increases your hit probability while still having enough density to punch through dense cover at a closer range. 

Another benefit of this choke is its ability to handle a variety of pellet sizes and loads. Since the barrel restriction is relatively slight compared to the barrel without a choke, you can shoot steel loads and buckshot without deforming the pellets, leading to more consistent patterns and improved accuracy. 

How to Use an Improved Cylinder Choke Effectively

Like all shotgun chokes, the improved cylinder choke is designed to excel in certain shooting conditions.

When selecting a choke, consider these three factors:

1. Expected shooting distance. For this choke, try to stay within the sweet spot of 20-35 yards. You can't beat the improved cylinder if you're walking up close to quail and pheasant or calling in ducks to your decoys. If the situation requires shots beyond 35 yards, consider switching to a tighter choke like a modified or improved modified.
   
   
2. Shooting Environment. For working birds and small game in dense cover where you can get in under 25 yards before your quarry flushes, the improved cylinder's shot pattern maintains enough density to cut through the foliage while delivering plenty of pellets to your target. 
   
   
3. Target Speed. The improved cylinder's shot pattern is ideal for fast-moving quail, ducks, and rabbits. The wider spread allows more coverage and room for error as long as you properly lead the target.

Your choke selection is crucial, so consider these factors carefully before heading out to hunt.

Select the Right Ammunition

Not all ammunition can be used in every choke. This is due to the malleability of the pellets as they collide with each other when exiting the muzzle.

For example, steel pellets can't be used in full or turkey chokes because steel doesn't compress. If the pellets are too hard to be compressed as they travel through the choke, the choke or barrel will expand. With enough shots fired, you may end up permanently damaging your barrel. 

Fortunately, the less restrictive improved cylinder choke is suitable for a wide range of ammunition, such as:

• Lead Shot: Affordable and excellent for upland birds and small game.
  
  
• Steel Shot: Required for waterfowl hunting by federal law. Steel shot also gives you more pellets in a load since it weighs less than lead. For example, a one-ounce load of size four pellets will hold 189 steel pellets but only 135 lead pellets.
  
  
• Non-Toxic: Pellets made from bismuth or tungsten are used where lead shot is prohibited. Bismuth offers more density than steel but less than lead and is an effective and lethal option for waterfowl. Tungsten, which has nearly twice the density of steel, is also used for waterfowl and has become a lethal favorite for turkey hunters.
  
  
• Buckshot: Buckshot is used for larger game like deer because each cartridge contains larger but fewer pellets than small game loads. A 12-gauge, 2-3/4-inch shell will hold eight pellets of 00 buckshot, each measuring 0.33 inches in diameter. For comparison, the same gauge and length shell with size 6 shot will hold 253 pellets.

For most hunting scenarios that call for an improved cylinder choke (fast-moving game under 30 yards), you'll get the best results with lighter and faster loads — size 7 or smaller shots — to maximize the pattern while maintaining enough impact energy on the target. 

Testing and Practice

Aside from reading this guide, the best way to familiarize yourself with the benefits and limits of using an improved cylinder choke is to take it to the range and test it with different loads at the distances you'll most likely encounter while hunting. 

Here are two easy ways to get to know how your choke performs:

1. Pattern Testing. Place a paper game target or piece of cardboard with a 30-inch diameter circle at 30 yards. Fire different types of ammunition and count how many pellets are in the game target's "kill" zone or within the circle. You'll want at least half of the pellets inside that zone. Make sure to record your results for future reference.
   
   
2. Shooting Clay Pigeons. Spend time shooting trap, skeet, or sporting clays with the improved cylinder choke and different loads. See which gives you more leeway for error and at what distance you're consistently missing.

These range sessions also provide outstanding opportunities to practice quickly mounting your shotgun, working from different positions and angles, and leading fast-moving targets.

Don't Leave Home Without the Right Choke

Many upland hunters won't leave home without an improved cylinder choke. The choke's versatility for close to medium-range targets and outstanding balance between pellet density and spread make it nearly ideal for almost every hunting situation. 

While becoming proficient with a shotgun and understanding chokes are critical parts of becoming an effective hunter, they are just one of the many skills you need to master to safely and ethically harvest wild game. 

Being a hunter is about more than just having the right equipment. You have to have the knowledge to use that equipment effectively and responsibly. That's why successful hunters continually work to improve their skills through hunter education courses like those offered by ilearntohunt.

Our state-specific comprehensive courses cover firearm fundamentals, first aid, field skills, and more. So, before you get your license for your next hunt, make sure you've met your state's requirements for hunting education. Start by choosing the online ilearntohunt course for your state and start learning!