Elevate Your Turkey Hunting Success: The Carlson's Head Hunter .650 Rem Choke

Are you a dedicated turkey hunter constantly seeking to refine your setup and maximize your chances of a clean, ethical harvest? Do you find yourself asking, "What's the best choke tube to achieve devastatingly tight patterns with my Remington shotgun?" or "How can I extend my effective range for those wary gobblers without sacrificing shot density?" If these questions resonate with you, then optimizing your shotgun's performance is paramount, and the right choke tube is often the missing piece of the puzzle.

The challenge in turkey hunting lies in delivering a sufficient number of pellets into a small, vital area – typically the turkey's head and neck – at varying distances. Standard factory choke tubes often fall short, producing patterns that are too open at critical ranges, leading to wounded birds or missed opportunities. This is where specialized turkey chokes, like the Carlson's Head Hunter Rem Choke with a .650 constriction and Black Nitride finish (JPCBN12A1/650), come into play. This precision-engineered accessory is designed to transform your 12-gauge Remington shotgun into a highly effective turkey-taking machine, providing the dense, consistent patterns you need for confident shots.

Why a Specialized Turkey Choke is Essential for Success

For hunters pursuing North America's most elusive game bird, the difference between a successful hunt and a frustrating one often comes down to equipment optimization. Here’s why a dedicated turkey choke is not just an upgrade, but a necessity:

• Pattern Density: The primary goal of a turkey choke is to constrict the shot charge more effectively than a full or extra full choke, pushing the pellets into a tighter, more concentrated cloud. This increases the number of pellets impacting the target, improving the probability of hitting vital areas.
• Extended Effective Range: A denser pattern allows for more consistent performance at longer distances. While ethical hunting dictates shooting within your comfort zone and skill level, a superior choke can extend your effective range, meaning the distance at which you can reliably place enough pellets for a clean kill.
• Shot Consistency: A well-designed turkey choke, matched with the right ammunition, creates a uniform shot string. This minimizes "holes" in your pattern, ensuring that every shot is as effective as possible.
• Ammunition Versatility: Modern turkey loads, including those utilizing Tungsten Super Shot (TSS), bismuth, and other heavy-hitting alternatives, perform optimally with specific choke constrictions. A specialized choke is designed to handle these advanced loads, maximizing their terminal ballistics.

Introducing the Carlson's Head Hunter Rem Choke: Precision for the Pursuit

The Carlson's Head Hunter Rem Choke is a premier choice for serious turkey hunters utilizing 12-gauge Remington shotguns (compatible with Rem Choke system models such as the popular Remington 870, 1100, and 11-87). This choke tube is not just another accessory; it's a testament to precision manufacturing and performance optimization. It features a specific .650 constriction, carefully chosen to deliver optimal pattern density with a wide range of modern turkey loads, from traditional lead to high-density TSS.

One of the standout attributes of this choke tube is its durable Black Nitride finish. This advanced coating isn't merely for aesthetics; it provides exceptional resistance to corrosion and wear, ensuring your choke tube performs flawlessly season after season, even in challenging weather conditions. It's built to withstand the rigors of the field, from damp mornings to dusty blinds.

Key Features and Benefits of the Carlson's Head Hunter Choke

Let's delve into the specific advantages that make the Carlson's Head Hunter .650 Rem Choke a top-tier choice for turkey hunters:

• Optimized .650 Constriction:
  • This specific internal diameter is meticulously engineered to achieve extremely tight and consistent patterns, concentrating the majority of the shot charge into a small target area at typical turkey hunting distances (e.g., 30-50 yards).
  • It effectively strips the wad from the shot charge, allowing the pellets to fly true and maintain their intended trajectory, leading to superior downrange energy and pellet count within the vital zone.
  • Many experienced turkey hunters and ballisticians consider constrictions in the .650 to .665 range to be ideal for achieving dense patterns with modern high-performance turkey loads, especially those containing Tungsten Super Shot (TSS).
• Durable Black Nitride Finish:
  • Corrosion Resistance: The black nitride treatment creates an extremely hard, corrosion-resistant surface. This is critical for a component exposed to the elements, preventing rust and degradation that can affect performance and longevity.
  • Wear Resistance: This finish also significantly increases surface hardness, protecting the choke from wear caused by repeated firing, cleaning, and general handling.
  • Reduced Friction: The slickness of the nitride finish can also contribute to smoother wad passage, potentially reducing flyers and contributing to more uniform patterns.
• "Rem Choke" System Compatibility:
  • Designed specifically for Remington's popular Rem Choke system, ensuring a perfect fit and reliable performance with a vast array of Remington 12-gauge shotguns. This includes the ubiquitous Remington 870 Express and Wingmaster, Remington 1100, and Remington 11-87, among others that utilize this standard threading.
  • Easy to install and remove, allowing hunters to quickly switch chokes for different hunting scenarios if desired (though for turkey, this choke is typically a set-and-forget solution for the season).
• High-Quality Construction:
  • Manufactured from high-grade 17-4 stainless steel, known for its strength and corrosion resistance. This premium material ensures the choke tube can withstand the intense pressures of modern shotshells.
  • Precision CNC machined to exact tolerances, guaranteeing consistent performance from one choke tube to the next and eliminating inconsistencies that can lead to erratic patterns.
• Designed for Modern Turkey Loads:
  • While capable of handling lead shot, this choke truly shines when paired with advanced, non-toxic loads like TSS, bismuth, and tungsten-alloy shot. Its design helps to optimize the performance of these denser, smaller pellets for maximum pattern density.

The Science Behind the .650 Constriction

Understanding why a .650 constriction is so effective for turkey hunting involves a bit of shotgun ballistics. When a shotgun is fired, the shot charge, encased in a plastic wad, travels down the barrel. As it reaches the choke tube, the wad is designed to "peel away" or separate from the pellets. A precisely designed choke like the Carlson's Head Hunter ensures this wad stripping process is efficient and consistent.

The .650 constriction creates a significant, yet controlled, squeeze on the shot charge. This compression helps to:

1. Reduce Pellet Deformation: By guiding the pellets smoothly into the constricted area, it minimizes individual pellet deformation, which can cause flyers and open up patterns.
2. Optimize Wad Stripping: The abrupt but consistent constriction aids in cleanly separating the wad from the shot column, preventing the wad from disrupting the pellet swarm as it leaves the muzzle.
3. Enhance Pattern Density: The result is a much tighter group of pellets. At 40 yards, for instance, a well-patterned shotgun with a .650 choke and appropriate ammunition should ideally place 80% or more of its pellets within a 10-inch circle, a density crucial for consistently anchoring a tom.

This level of control over the shot string is vital because, for a clean turkey kill, you need multiple pellets to strike the brain and spinal column. A sparse pattern, even with powerful pellets, simply won't guarantee this.

Durability and Performance: The Black Nitride Advantage

The Black Nitride finish on the Carlson's Head Hunter choke tube is more than just a cosmetic upgrade; it's a significant functional enhancement. This process, also known as QPQ (Quench-Polish-Quench) or salt bath nitriding, involves diffusing nitrogen into the surface of the steel, creating an extremely hard, corrosion-resistant layer.

Benefits of Black Nitride:

• Superior Hardness: Increases the surface hardness of the steel, making it highly resistant to abrasion, scratching, and wear, ensuring the choke's internal dimensions remain consistent over countless shots.
• Exceptional Corrosion Resistance: Provides a protective barrier against rust and corrosion, even in harsh, damp hunting environments or when exposed to acidic residues from shotshell combustion. This reduces the need for constant oiling and maintenance.
• Enhanced Lubricity: The treated surface exhibits improved lubricity, reducing friction between the shot charge and the choke walls, which can contribute to more consistent patterns.
• Matte, Non-Reflective Finish: The black, non-glare appearance helps hunters remain concealed, preventing unwanted reflections that could spook wary game.

This robust finish ensures that the Carlson's Head Hunter choke tube will remain a reliable part of your turkey hunting arsenal for years to come, maintaining its performance characteristics regardless of the conditions you encounter.

Compatibility and Installation

The Carlson's Head Hunter Rem Choke (JPCBN12A1/650) is designed to seamlessly integrate with any 12-gauge shotgun that utilizes the standard Rem Choke threading system. This is a very common and widely adopted system, found on many popular Remington models.

Compatible Remington Shotgun Models (12 Gauge) include, but are not limited to:

• Remington 870 Express
• Remington 870 Wingmaster
• Remington 1100
• Remington 11-87
• Remington Versa Max
• Remington V3

Installation is straightforward: ensure your shotgun is unloaded and pointed in a safe direction. Unscrew your existing choke tube using a choke wrench (if required) and screw in the Carlson's Head Hunter until it is hand-tight, then give it a slight snug with the wrench, ensuring it's flush with the muzzle. Always consult your shotgun's owner's manual for specific instructions regarding choke tube installation and removal.

Optimizing Your Turkey Rig: Tips for Patterning

Simply installing a new choke tube isn't the final step; proper patterning is crucial to unlock its full potential and ensure ethical hunting practices. Here’s a guide to optimizing your turkey rig with the Carlson's Head Hunter:

1. Select Your Ammunition: Start with the specific turkey loads you intend to use for hunting. Different brands, shot sizes (e.g., #4, #5, #6, #7.5, #9 TSS), and pellet materials (lead, bismuth, TSS) will pattern differently through the same choke. It's often recommended to test several options.
2. Choose a Realistic Distance: Begin patterning at common turkey hunting ranges, such as 30, 40, and 50 yards. Place large sheets of paper or cardboard with a turkey head target drawn on them.
3. Use a Stable Rest: To eliminate shooter error, use a solid bench rest or shooting sticks to ensure consistent aim.
4. Fire Multiple Shots: Don't rely on a single shot. Fire at least three to five shots with each ammunition type at each distance. This will give you a representative idea of the pattern consistency.
5. Analyze Your Patterns:
   • Count Pellets in the Kill Zone: Draw a 10-inch circle around the turkey's head and neck vital area. Count the number of pellets within this circle. Aim for a high pellet count (e.g., 80-100+ pellets for TSS loads) for reliable kills.
   • Observe Pattern Distribution: Look for even pellet distribution with no significant gaps or "holes" that a turkey's head could slip through.
   • Identify Flyers: Note any pellets that significantly deviate from the main pattern, as these can indicate an issue with the choke, ammunition, or gun.
6. Document Your Results: Keep detailed notes on choke, ammunition, distance, and pellet counts. This data is invaluable for making informed decisions about your setup.
7. Ethical Range Determination: Once you have analyzed your patterns, you will clearly understand your effective ethical range with that specific choke and ammunition combination. Never shoot at a turkey beyond the distance at which you can consistently place a lethal pattern.

By following these steps, you'll gain confidence in your setup and ensure that when the moment of truth arrives, your Carlson's Head Hunter Rem Choke and chosen ammunition deliver the precise performance needed for a clean, humane harvest.

Ethical Hunting and Responsible Use

The power and precision offered by the Carlson's Head Hunter .650 Rem Choke come with a responsibility. While it significantly enhances your shotgun's patterning capabilities, it does not guarantee a kill. Ethical hunting practices dictate:

• Positive Identification: Always be 100% certain of your target.
• Clear Shot Opportunities: Only take shots when you have a clear, unobstructed view of the turkey's head and neck. Avoid body shots.
• Knowledge of Your Limits: Never attempt shots beyond your proven effective range, as determined by your patterning sessions.
• Follow-Up: Be prepared for a follow-up shot if necessary, and always retrieve your game promptly.

This choke tube is a tool designed to aid in efficient and humane harvesting when used responsibly within these ethical guidelines.

Why Choose Carlson's Choke Tubes?

Carlson's Choke Tubes has established itself as a leader in the firearms accessory market, known for its commitment to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction. When you choose a Carlson's product, you're investing in:

• Expert Engineering: Their choke tubes are designed by experts with deep knowledge of ballistics and shotgun performance.
• Precision Manufacturing: Utilizing advanced CNC machining, Carlson's ensures every choke tube meets stringent quality control standards.
• Reliable Performance: Hunters worldwide trust Carlson's for consistent and repeatable results in the field.
• Dedication to the Outdoors: Carlson's understands the needs of hunters and shooters because they are hunters and shooters themselves.

The Carlson's Head Hunter .650 Rem Choke (JPCBN12A1/650) embodies all these principles, making it a dependable choice for your most important hunts.

Availability

The Carlson's Head Hunter Rem Choke 12 Gauge Turkey Black Nitride .650 (JPCBN12A1/650) is available for purchase at DEGuns. Visit DEGuns.com to equip your Remington 12-gauge shotgun with this elite turkey choke tube and experience the difference precision engineering makes in the field.

Feature	Specification	Compatibility
Product Name	Head Hunter Choke Tube	12 Gauge Shotguns
Brand	Carlson's	Remington Rem Choke System
Model Number	JPCBN12A1/650	Remington 870, 1100, 11-87, etc.
Gauge	12 Gauge	Works with Lead, TSS, Bismuth loads
Constriction	.650	Optimal for Turkey Hunting
Finish	Black Nitride	Enhanced Durability & Corrosion Res
Material	17-4 Stainless Steel	High Strength & Wear Resistance
Primary Use	Turkey Hunting	Improved Pattern Density