Thanks for the reply, Twicebarrel. It would only be used for ruffed grouse or sharptails, so a 7/8 oz load at less that 1250 would be fine. I'm a bit surprised that a light shotgun like this is choked so tightly. Both barrels are stamped with a 4 which in another thread should mean full chokes. Is that common in the Ithaca 16 gauges?