Field Guide / Shot Sizes & Chokes
Light Modified Choke
Also called: light modified, LM, quarter choke
A slightly tighter pattern than improved cylinder, a good middle ground for pheasants, doves, and sporting clays.
- Type
- Chokes
- Constriction (12 gauge)
- About 0.015 inch
- Pattern at 40 yards
- About 55% in a 30-inch circle
- Best range
- About 25 to 35 yards
- Used for
- Upland birds, Clays
What it is good for
- Pheasants and mixed upland bags.
- Doves and sporting clays.
- Hunters who want a flexible, all-purpose choke.
Where it falls short
- Not tight enough for turkeys.
- Not the best choice for longer waterfowl shots.
- Sits between more distinct options, so it is less common.
Tips
- A good single choke for a gun used for different birds.
- Pattern to confirm what your gun does.
Works well with
- #6 Shot: a common pheasant load with this choke.
- Modified Choke: a bit tighter for longer shots.
Field notes
Light modified is also called a quarter choke by some makers. It is a handy in-between choke for guns that hunt pheasants and doves.
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.