Field Guide / Shot Sizes & Chokes
Improved Modified Choke
Also called: improved modified, IM, three-quarter choke
A tighter choke for long-range pheasants, ducks, and geese, and for turkeys with some loads.
- Type
- Chokes
- Constriction (12 gauge)
- About 0.025 inch
- Pattern at 40 yards
- About 65% in a 30-inch circle
- Best range
- About 35 to 40 yards
- Used for
- Ducks & geese, Upland birds, Turkey
Safety: Use steel shot only in choke tubes marked for steel and in guns rated for it. Tight chokes with steel can damage a barrel, so follow your shotgun's manual.
What it is good for
- Longer waterfowl and pheasant shots.
- Hunters who want more range than modified.
- Some turkey and predator loads, if the choke is rated for them.
Where it falls short
- Can be too tight for close shots.
- Not suitable for all steel loads.
- Patterns punish poor aim.
Tips
- Use a choke rated for the shot you shoot.
- Pattern the exact load at the distance you hunt.
Works well with
- BB Shot: a common size for longer waterfowl shots.
- Full Choke: the next step tighter.
Field notes
Improved modified is also called a three-quarter choke. It is popular with hunters who need a bit more range than modified but do not want a full choke.
Related guides
Pellet counts, patterns, and ranges are typical figures, not guarantees. Pattern your own shotgun with your own loads at the distances you hunt, and follow the shotgun manual for which shells and chokes are safe. Nonlead shot rules and legal shot types differ by state and area; our state resources directory links to each state's official regulations.