Which shotgun choke has the tightest shot pattern?

• A. Full
• B. Cylinder
• C. Improved cylinder
• D. Skeet

Answer: (A)

Shot pattern tightness depends on choke constriction—the amount the barrel narrows right in front of the pellets as they exit. The tighter the constriction, the longer the pellets stay together, producing a denser, narrower pattern at a given distance. Among common chokes, the full choke has the most constriction, so it delivers the tightest pattern. A cylinder choke has no constriction, giving the widest pattern. An improved cylinder provides some constriction, narrowing the pattern more than cylinder but less than full. Skeet choke is designed for close-range targets and typically tightens the pattern for short distances, but it isn’t as tight as a full choke. Therefore, the full choke yields the tightest shot pattern.