Turkey Choke Tubes
Turkey choke tubes are sold by exit diameter, and the right one depends on your gun's thread and the shell you shoot. These run from .640 to .685 in 12 gauge and .555 to .575 in 20 gauge, with TSS tubes down to .410. Each product name lists the gauge, diameter and thread, and all choke tubes explains how to find yours.
Shop more choke tubes
- All shotgun choke tubes
- Waterfowl choke tubes for the other season
- Benelli turkey chokes, Mobil and Crio Plus
- Beretta choke tubes
- Remington 870 turkey chokes in Rem Choke
- Browning Invector Plus choke tubes
- Carlson's choke tubes
Match the tube to the shell
A turkey choke is half of a system, and the shell is the other half. Carlson's TSS Turkey tubes are built for tungsten super shot loads. Carlson's Long Beard XR tubes are designed around Winchester Long Beard XR shells, with a longer parallel section for tighter, denser patterns. Carlson's Extended Turkey tubes are made for lead and Hevi-Shot. The HS Strut Undertaker HD works with Hevi-Shot, bismuth and tungsten loads, and the Kicks Gobblin Thunder comes in a spread of diameters for each thread so you can tune it to your shell.
Many turkey tubes are not rated for steel. The Carlson's Extended Turkey, the TruGlo Gobble Stopper and the Mossberg XX-Full tubes all say so. Check the product details before you load anything.
Reading the diameter
The number in the name is the exit diameter in inches. A 12 gauge bore runs a little over .720, so a .665 tube squeezes the shot column hard and a .685 squeezes it less. Tighter is not automatically better. The tube that patterns best with your shell at your distance is the right one, and two guns can disagree about that.
Ported or plain, and sight combos
Ported tubes like the Carlson's Long Beard XR and the HS Strut Undertaker HD bleed gas at the muzzle to keep it down after the shot. TruGlo's Gobble Stopper combos pair a turkey tube with TruGlo's Gobble-Dot sight that fits vent rib barrels, for anyone tired of guessing where a bead points at 40 yards.
20 gauge and .410 turkey chokes
Smaller gauges get dedicated tubes too. Kicks Gobblin Thunder and Carlson's TSS, Long Beard XR and Extended Turkey tubes all come in 20 gauge, and Carlson's makes TSS tubes in .410 for Browning Invector, Beretta Mobil and Stevens 301 barrels.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best choke for turkey hunting?
The one that throws the densest even pattern with your shell in your gun. Pick a tube rated for the shot you shoot, then pattern it at 30, 40 and 50 yards before the season.
Do I need a TSS choke to shoot TSS?
Use a tube its maker rates for TSS. Carlson's TSS Turkey tubes are built for it. Check the product details on any other tube before you run tungsten through it.
What size turkey choke for a 20 gauge?
The 20 gauge turkey tubes here run from .555 to .575. Start in that range and let the pattern board decide.
Can I shoot steel through a turkey choke?
Often not. Several tubes here are rated for lead or high-density shot only. If the product details say no steel, believe them.