TXPHANTOM... I did not want to hijack that other post, so I hope this helps you out some. Anyone else feel free to chime in with anything I've missed....

In a traditional shotgun, the powder ceases burning after about 14 inches into the barrel, so you are not going to loose anything there with an 18.5.

Your choke tube will determine the size of your pattern at different ranges. Think of them as constrictors on the shot coming out of the barrel. Some (Xtra Full/turkey chokes) really "constrict" the opening at the end of the barrel and force the shot to stay together in a tighter group for longer range shots. On the other end...Skeet choke tubes, or even open cylinder would let the pellets open up making a larger pattern in diameter at a closer range.

If your optimum "kill" diameter is lets say a 36" circle with your pellets, then a skeet choke tube might get to that diameter at 15-20 yards while a modified might be 36" at 35 yards and a full reach a 36" at 45-50 yards. (this is just a guess on the distances... just trying to show you how it works.

You want full or xtra full for turkey b/c they are such big birds... you want to put as many pelets as you can on that birds head.

Hope that helps some.

-Greg

Thanks man - that does help…

So what you're saying is that I can keep the 18½" barrel, add a turkey choke and run with it.

But, not all shotguns can have a choke added to it, am I right? I mean the gun has to be pre-set up for it?

Unless it is a really old shotgun it should be able to accept a choke. It may have one already. Look down the barrel and see if there is an extra piece in the end.

Anyways, I think you will do better with the shorter barrel because it will be easier to maneuver the gun through the brush and such

I bought the gun new in I'd say 1991ish. I haven’t even shot in I'd guess 12 years. I don’t think there's a piece (choke) on the end, but I will look. Like I said it's a 1991ish model Maverick with the 18½ barrel. I just don't think there's anything on the end of the barrel.

You got it Phantom.... get a choke and run with it. I think Mossberg has their own line of chokes that will work just fine or you can go with another company. Just keep in mind that different gun manufactures have different thread counts on their chokes and make sure you get one for your gun and not a Remington or Beretta......

I personally think Briley makes the best chokes but again... that's just my opinion... I'm sure you could ask 10 guys and get 7 different options. Just make sure you get full or extra full or anything that says "turkey grave digger" on it and you should be fine

-Greg

Looks like you might be in trouble.... I just looked at their web-site and the new Mavericks with 18.5" barrel are fixed with a cylinder bore which is way too open for turkey unless you shoot them within 10 yards or so.

Mossberg Maverick Site

Looks like you have to go buy a new benelli SBE now

The problem is the Mavericks make a 'security model'... which is the one I have... you cant add a choke to it, u either buy a new gun for $156 at academy or you buy a new 24" barrel for 137.00... seems kinda stupid to buy a barrel for 137 when I can get a new gun for $156.

Tx_Phantom

Don't disagree with you a bit...

-Greg

Tx Phantom...seeing as you are not using shotguns all that much and if you go turkey hunting all you really need is one shot...maybe look at buying a decent used gun..could be a pump.

However if you are planning on doing more types of hunting then you might want to increase your budget on a gun so you can get something that offers more flexibility.

How much money if a fair price for a full choke?

somewhere b/t $15 & $80 depending on what you buy.

You should be able to get a good one for about $30-50 though.

-Greg

somewhere b/t $15 & $80 depending on what you buy.

You should be able to get a good one for about $30-50 though.

-Greg

I saw full chokes and turkey chokes at academy for 21.99.

You might check into whether optional barrels are available for that gun. Sometimes you can add a new barrel that is threaded for chokes, or at least a barrel with a tighter fixed choke. I've heard of folks having threads cut into existing barrels, but that's a recipe for a ruined barrel IMO. Most do not have the wall thickness to do this safely.

I have Briley chokes for all of my Trap/Skeet/Sporting Clays guns, and I'll second Greg's vote for them as the best. With that said, these tournament guns might go through 30,000 rounds or more in a season, so the expensive titanium choke tubes make sense. On a gun that might shoot 50 rounds in a season, they may be overkill.

BTW, there are several configurations of choke tubes out there and a gun made to accept one type won't accept any of the others, e.g. a Browning won't take a Remington tube. Briley makes tubes to fit the popular brands, but not all the possibilities out there.