Two identical 12-bore shotguns fire the same cartridge at a duck 40 metres away. One barrel has a full choke and the other has a cylinder bore. Which statement about the resulting pellet patterns is correct?
- A The cylinder bore delivers a tighter pattern because pellets retain their original spacing
- B Both produce identical patterns because spread depends only on cartridge loading
- C The full choke constricts the shot column at the muzzle, delaying spread and giving a denser pattern at range ✓
- D The full choke scatters pellets wider to increase hit probability
Correct answer: C. The full choke constricts the shot column at the muzzle, delaying spread and giving a denser pattern at range
Explanation
Choke is a deliberate narrowing of the muzzle bore. It compresses the shot column as it leaves, reducing the rate at which pellets diverge, so a full choke holds a dense pattern far beyond the distance at which an open cylinder-bore pattern has dispersed. Spread also depends on cartridge load and range, but at equal range and load the choked barrel is consistently tighter. This principle underlies range estimation from shotgun pellet spread.
Reference: Taylor's Principles and Practice of Medical Jurisprudence, 13th ed.
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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.