Best Waterfowl Choke Tubes of 2021 – Ultimate Buyer’s Guide

| Last Updated June 4, 2021

Your hunt will only be as good as your gear.

When hunting waterfowl, the kind of shotgun choke tube you bring for the occasion can have a dramatic impact on the hunt’s outcome.

Let us show you the best waterfowl choke tubes so you have the best chance of bagging plenty of birds on your next outing.

Comparison of the Best Waterfowl Choke Tubes

IMAGEPRODUCT
  • 12-gauge
  • Best overall
  • Stainless steel material
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  • Threaded for easy barrel fitting
  • Made from high-quality materials
  • Runner-up for best overall waterfowl choke tube
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  • 12-gauge
  • Stainless Steel
  • Best for the money
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  • Stainless steel
  • No need for tools to install
  • Best long-range waterfowl choke tube
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  • 12-gauge
  • Made from stainless steel
  • Best waterfowl choke tube for Winchester SX3
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  • 12-gauge
  • Stainless steel
  • Best waterfowl choke tube for Benelli
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What Purpose Does a Choke Tube Serve?

Most shotguns will come with a factory choke tube already installed. This tube will not be designed specifically for hunting waterfowl. But all choke tubes serve a few similar purposes.

Customize Accuracy

All shotgun choke tubes alter the distribution or spread of your shot after it leaves the shotgun barrel. Different types of choke tubes allow you to customize the shot spread of each trigger pull, so you can customize the function of your shotgun for the type of bird you are attempting to hit. Shotgun choke tubes can alter your spread to make it wider or tighter, and thus, improve its range.

Improve Range

Many shotgun choke tubes can improve the effective range of your firearm. They do this by constricting the spread of your shot to some degree, allowing it to travel further ahead before impacting the environment or your target. This can be essential when hunting waterfowl and hitting them as they fly away.

Improve Pellet Lethality

Shotgun choke tubes can also drastically impact the lethality of each shot. Being able to kill your target with a single trigger pull is vital for a successful hunt. Shotgun choke tubes can increase the force each pellet has by restricting its spread, making the overall shot more lethal and improving your odds of killing a waterfowl in a single shot.

How Do I Choose a Waterfowl Choke Tube?

Here is how to choose a waterfowl choke tube:

Constriction

Consider the constriction of your choke tube before finalizing a purchase. Different styles of duck hunting will call for different constriction ratings for your tube. If you hunt in open areas and can see your targets from far away, you should choose a constriction that affords tighter accuracy and a tighter spread. Alternatively, hunting waterfowl up-close calls for a shotgun tube with a wider shot spread. This can improve your accuracy up-close.

Extended or Flush

These are the two variants of choke tubes to consider. Extended tubes offer better performance and can usually be installed without the use of extra tools. You will be more accurate with such a tube. Extended tubes also sometimes reduce recoil and muzzle movement through the use of vents along the sides.

Flush tubes need tools to install but can also be worthwhile if you have a gunsmith handy.

Material

The material of your waterfowl choke tube is critical. Some materials resist water damage and can last for a much longer time. Others have camouflaging materials that can make you harder to spot by your prey. Matte tubes are ideal when hunting waterfowl at close-range, thanks to their incredible ability to hide you.

Review of the Best Waterfowl Choke Tubes

Below are the best choke tubes for waterfowl hunting. Let's learn more about our top picks:

Best Overall:
Hevi-Shot 12-Gauge Mid and Extended-Range Waterfowl Benelli/Beretta Choke

PROS

  • Very accurate
  • Reduces muzzle sway
  • Easy to install without tools
  • Resistant to corrosive damage
  • Comes with mid and long-range variants

CONS

  • A little shiny
  • Not very long
  • Markings might wear off

What Recent Buyers Report

Those who’ve most recently used this pair of chokes report that they work accurately and effectively each time. Swapping between the mid-range and long-range chokes only takes a few seconds, so you won’t waste precious time changing your choke before you’re ready to take your shot.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The choke’s solid construction and fantastic accuracy make this a prime choice for waterfowl hunters. This choke tube further features vents at the muzzle that can ease the sway of your shotgun barrel after each shot. This also improves your accuracy overall. It's nice that you can choose between a mid-range or long-range version of the choke, as well.

Who Will Use This Most

Waterfowl hunters that prefer to hit their targets from afar will get a lot of use out of this choke. Its easy installation will also appeal to hunters that prefer to take care of their own gear and control all aspects of their primary weapon. Of course, Benelli or Beretta users will get the most use out of this choke set.

Bottom Line

This pair of shotgun chokes is an ideal choice for self-reliant hunters who enjoy getting their targets from mid to distant ranges. They’re an ideal choice if you’re less concerned with hitting ducks that fly right over your head.

Runner-up:
Patternmaster Anaconda Choke Tube

PROS

  • Excellent for bird hunting
  • Reduced recoil right out of the box
  • Super-durable and well-constructed
  • Easy to attach on most waterfowl shotguns
  • Can help shots go a bit farther than normal. Specifically, it can take shots up to 60 yards out

CONS

  • None

What Recent Buyers Report

Most recent buyers wasted no time talking about how great this choke tube is. They added this onto their shotgun in just a minute thanks to the threads that made installation a lot easier. Once added on, they noticed a few immediate benefits. One was a reduction in recoil. One user was speechless when he was able to feel less recoil and gain more control over his shotgun. As a result, he landed a couple of ducks within a 50-yard radius.

Why it Stands Out to Us

On paper, this looks like one of the easiest to install choke tubes on the market. Sure enough, it is. Not to mention, it’s one of the toughest, considering that it’s made from high-quality steel. Every accessory you add onto a waterfowl shotgun should be just as durable and solid in construction as the shotgun itself. Plus, it’s a necessary tool to make every shot more enjoyable than the last.

Who Will Use This Most

This is a choke tube for those who want to waste little or no time with complex installs. It’s also for those who want something that is super-durable and able to get down and dirty with the shotgun itself. So long as you take the best care of your shotgun, this accessory will definitely serve you in the long run. And don’t forget, you get a good amount of recoil reduction out of the deal, so that’s more control for you and better, more accurate shooting for the perfect kill shot.

Bottom Line

The Patternmaker Anaconda Choke Tube might be the runner-up at this point. But it can be a legitimate threat to the Hevi-Shot between now and the next year. It’s super-easy to install and can take on the bumps and bangs of waterfowl hunting. This choke tube was built for waterfowl hunting and will perhaps be the go-to choke tube for any waterfowl hunter.

Best for the Money:
Carlson’s Choke Tubes 12-Gauge Waterfowl

PROS

  • Resists water damage
  • Easy to swap between them
  • Laser-markings for easy identification
  • Comes with three chokes for all ranges
  • Long parallel section to improve accuracy

CONS

  • A little pricy
  • Accuracy varies drastically between tubes
  • Length can make them unwieldy in a hurry

What Recent Buyers Report

The most recent users of this waterfowl choke set have almost all great things to say about the purchase. The chokes are comprised of high-quality materials and deliver a fantastic performance. Most users are also impressed by how easy it is to swap out the choke tubes between each other.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The ability to have a choke tube on hand for close, mid, and long-range shooting is phenomenal. With this tube set, you’ll have everything you need, no matter what type of hunting situation you find yourself in. Being able to adapt is a great advantage for any waterfowl hunter.

Who Will Use This Most

Waterfowl hunters who can hit their targets at any range will get the most use out of this set. They can swap out the durable choke tubes as they maneuver from location to location in a flash, so they’ll never be limited to a single accuracy range.

Bottom Line

This versatile choke tube set is a perfect choice for hunters that like to remain mobile. Try these corrosion-resistant, accurate choke tubes and you’ll be as pleased as those who’ve already experienced their excellence.

Best Long-Range Waterfowl Choke Tube:
Kick’s High Flyer Choke Tubes

PROS

  • Installs easily
  • Vents improve muzzle sway
  • Reduces recoil of each shot
  • Parallel design reduces flyers
  • Works with both lead and steel shots

CONS

  • Not the most durable choke tube
  • Doesn’t increase pellet lethality much
  • May change shot pattern from what you are used to

What Recent Buyers Report

The most recent users of this waterfowl choke tube report that their accuracy has skyrocketed. This is an excellent choke tube, according to most users, for hitting waterfowl in-flight and from far away. The improved recoil control and the long parallel design of the tube allow your spread to tighten, even at a distance.

Why it Stands Out to Us

This waterfowl choke tube stands out for increasing the accuracy and its ease-of-use. Being able to install it without the need for tools is a great benefit for self-reliant hunters. It’s assistance in the recoil department make this a great long-range choke tube, as well. You’ll be able to make follow-up shots more easily.

Who Will Use This Most

Hunters who prefer to hit their targets from far away will get the most value out of this choke tube. This is a specialist tool for long-range hunting rather than a short-range tube, and is designed to spread your pellets far and wide.

Bottom Line

While an increase to lethality would make this even better, this shotgun choke tube delivers consistent performance at long ranges and is an ideal choice for hunters who prefer to stand back from their targets. This is a hunting choke tube through and through and should not be used for self-defense or for reactionary shooting.

Best Waterfowl Choke Tube for Winchester SX3:
Carlson’s Browning Invector

Carlson's Choke Tubes Sporting Clays Choke Tubes for Winchester/Browning Invector/Mossberg 500/Weatherby & Savage 12Ga

PROS

  • Has a lifetime warranty
  • Has a matte finish to reduce glare
  • Works for multiple shotgun models
  • Includes choke wrench for installation
  • Excellent markings for easy identification

CONS

  • No recoil reduction
  • Not the easiest to install
  • Only good for mid-range

What Recent Buyers Report

Hunters who have most recently used this waterfowl choke tube praise its overall performance and its lethality retention. It fits well on a variety of shotgun models and manages to deliver hard-hitting pellets and is easy to install on your own. Shot patterns are reported to be tight and accurate.

Why it Stands Out to Us

This waterfowl shotgun choke caught our eye because of its lethality, when combined with a Winchester SX3. As a choke tube designed for high-performance and camouflage, you’ll be able to use your Winchester in conjunction with the tube for maximum effect.

Who Will Use This Most

Hunters that appreciate accuracy and camouflage will appreciate this tube the most. The matte finish will reduce the glare of your weapon and keep you out of sight of waterfowl as you move in close or reach the ideal position to take your shot. When you do pull the trigger, you’ll enjoy increased shot tightness overall.

Bottom Line

This is a great waterfowl choke tube for hunters that already have good recoil control and who have other camouflage aspects to go along with it. Take advantage of a lifetime warranty to get the most out of your purchase and never be without a capable tube for your Winchester SX3.

Best Waterfowl Choke Tube for Benelli:
Carlson’s Choke Tubes Cremator

PROS

  • Recoil is reduced
  • Reduces muzzle sway
  • Resistant to corrosive damage
  • Matte finish improves camouflage
  • Can be purchased for a variety of ranges

CONS

  • Not easy to install
  • Often shakes itself loose
  • Mid-range shot pattern could be tighter

What Recent Buyers Report

The most recent users of this waterfowl choke tube report that it holds patterns very well, depending on which range you decide to purchase. The ports do a great job of reducing the recoil for each shot.

Why it Stands Out to Us

This shotgun choke tube is a great choice for Benelli users. The tube’s ability to retain an excellent shot pattern, regardless of the range variant you choose is second to none. Since the asking price isn’t too expensive, you might consider purchasing one of these tubes for each of the three ranges to cover all your bases. You’ll be able to swap them out relatively easily without the need for an advanced tool set. The reduced recoil is a nice bonus.

Who Will Use This Most

Frequent or dedicated Benelli users will get a lot of use out of these choke tubes. They fit really well on those shotguns and deliver consistent performance across the board with a stainless steel shell and a matte finish. That means you won’t have to worry about the tube degrading over time or revealing your location to keen-eyed waterfowl.

Bottom Line

This waterfowl choke tube is a great choice for budget hunters and Benelli users alike. It’s accurate at designated ranges and does a great job of keeping your location hidden. Overall, it’s a fantastic, versatile tube model that most hunters will appreciate.

What Do I Need to Know Before Buying a Choke Tube?

Before purchasing a shotgun choke tube, keep these major things in mind.

Type

The type of choke tube you purchase will affect its ideal use. Super-full or extra-full tubes are ideal for hitting stationary targets or bigger birds like turkeys. Full tubes also have tight constriction and a dense pattern and are sometimes used for hitting waterfowl from afar. Modified tubes are by far, the best type of tube for waterfowl hunting. They deliver 60% of your shot’s total pellets in a 30-inch circle at about 40 yards. This is a great all-around range for hunting waterfowl, even if you move slightly closer or farther away.

Improved cylinder choke tubes are even less constricted and are much better for hitting waterfowl up-close or for pursuing agile birds at close quarters. Cylinder chokes, as you might expect, have virtually no constriction and distribute most of your total pellets in a wide area. Finally, skeet chokes are used for skeet shooting and close-range targeting. 

There’s no right or wrong answer for what kind of tube you want to purchase. But modified is likely your best bet.

Camouflaged

If your choke tube is camouflaged, you’ll be less likely to be spotted by the waterfowl you are hunting. Camouflaged tubes are almost always a better choice than glinting ones.

Ideal Loads

Consider the ideal load for a particular choke tube before you buy one. You might have some loads or pellets already around, so it might benefit you to pick a shotgun choke tube that already works well with that type of load. Otherwise, you may have to purchase different ammunition for your shotgun to get the most benefit out of your new choke tube.

Conclusion

All in all, the ideal waterfowl choke tube will be the one that works the best at your ideal hunting range and with your particular shotgun. Remember to think about the load you use and your preferred hunting distance before making a final purchase and you will get the most bang for your buck. Happy hunting!

People Also Ask

You might have a few lingering questions about waterfowl choke tubes and their use. Even experienced hunters often don’t know all there is to know about choke tubes. Let’s tackle those questions now before you head out to your next hunt.

What Chokes to Use With Steel Shot?

Generally speaking, hunters that use steel shot should go for a modified choke tube. These choke tubes offer decent constriction but are usually made of exceptional materials that project the shot farther and improve accuracy as a whole. Steel shot is also fairly lethal, making it a good combination with the medium-range offered from a modified tube. 

What is the Best Steel Shot for Duck Hunting?

The Kent Upland Fasteel Steel Shot is a great choice for waterfowl hunting. They’re 2 ¾-inch shells and loaded with #5 shot and typically project at about 1400 ft./s. It delivers lots of killing power and is usually enough to knock birds down, even if it doesn’t kill them outright.



My name is Caleb and I am obsessed with hunting, fishing, and foraging. To be successful, you have to think like your prey. You have to get into the mind of your target - and understand Big Game Logic. If you have any questions, or just want chat about your latest hunting score or big catch, you can reach me at admin@biggamelogic.com. Read more about Big Game Logic.