Originally Posted By: Dave in Maine
Depends on the gun and the game.
If you go for grouse and woodcock, IC/Mod is good and you can open it further with spreader loads (which get some discussion and attention on 16ga.com).


I did some patterning last weekend with a variety of gauges and chokes and it was quite revealing. For example, my 16 ga. Sauer BBF is marked full but the patterns are mod. I have a 20 ga. O/U marked IC/mod that is reputed to be tight choked, so I loaded up some spreaders which turned out to be unnecessary as the gun shoots wonderfully broad evenly spaced patterns. Next in like for testing is a Spanish 16 ga. marked mod & full; I'm not going to order 16 ga. spreader inserts just yet...