Elevate Your Turkey Hunting Success: The Definitive Guide to the HS Strut 00662 Undertaker Choke Tube

For dedicated turkey hunters, the pursuit of a wary tom is more than just a pastime—it’s a passion that demands precision, preparation, and the right equipment. Unlike general bird hunting, harvesting a turkey requires a concentrated, high-energy payload delivered with pinpoint accuracy to ensure a quick, ethical kill. This is where the right choke tube becomes not just an accessory, but a critical component of your shotgun system. If you've ever asked yourself, "What's the best way to get tighter patterns for turkey hunting?" or "How can I extend my effective range on gobblers?", then optimizing your shotgun's performance with a specialized turkey choke is your answer.

The HS Strut 00662 Undertaker Choke Tube, specifically designed for 12 Gauge shotguns utilizing the WinChoke system, including popular models from Mossberg and H&R, is engineered to provide the supreme pattern density and extended range that serious turkey hunters demand. This isn't just another choke tube; it's a precision instrument crafted to give you a definitive advantage in the field, helping you transform those challenging long-range shots into confident, successful harvests.

Why a Specialized Choke Tube is Essential for Turkey Hunting

Many hunters initially rely on the factory choke tubes that come with their shotguns. While these serve well for a variety of general hunting scenarios, they rarely offer the extreme constriction and pattern efficiency required for turkey hunting. Turkeys present a relatively small, vital target area (the head and neck), necessitating a dense cluster of pellets within a tight pattern to ensure an ethical and clean take-down.

Key challenges in turkey hunting that a specialized choke addresses:

• Small Target Area: The kill zone on a turkey is compact.
• Varying Shot Distances: Turkeys can appear anywhere from close range to 50 yards or more.
• Need for Penetration: Turkey skulls and necks require significant energy transfer.
• Ethical Harvesting: A tight pattern reduces the chance of wounding and ensures a swift kill.

An ordinary full or extra-full choke might offer some constriction, but it often lacks the precise internal geometry and specialized materials needed to truly optimize turkey loads for maximum pellet count within the critical pattern radius. The HS Strut Undertaker is engineered from the ground up to solve these specific challenges, turning your reliable 12 gauge into a precision turkey hunting machine.

Understanding the HS Strut 00662 Undertaker Choke Tube: Features and Benefits

The HS Strut 00662 Undertaker stands out due to its thoughtful design and robust construction, focusing on delivering unparalleled performance for turkey hunters.

Uncompromising Material: 17-4 Stainless Steel

One of the most significant features of the Undertaker choke tube is its construction from 17-4 Stainless Steel. This isn't just any stainless steel; it's a precipitation-hardening martensitic stainless steel renowned for its exceptional properties, particularly valuable in firearm components:

• Superior Strength and Hardness: 17-4 SS offers an excellent combination of high strength and hardness, making it highly resistant to the immense pressures and stresses generated by modern, high-velocity turkey loads. This ensures the choke tube maintains its structural integrity and precise dimensions over countless shots.
• Outstanding Corrosion Resistance: Hunting environments can be harsh, exposing equipment to moisture, mud, and fluctuating temperatures. The inherent corrosion resistance of 17-4 SS protects the choke tube from rust and degradation, ensuring its longevity and consistent performance year after year.
• Durability and Longevity: The robust nature of 17-4 Stainless Steel translates directly into a choke tube that can withstand repeated use and resist wear, outlasting lesser materials. This means a reliable performance you can count on for many hunting seasons.

Durable Blued Finish

Complementing the robust 17-4 stainless steel, the HS Strut Undertaker features a classic blued finish. This traditional firearm finish is not merely aesthetic; it serves a crucial protective role:

• Enhanced Corrosion Protection: While 17-4 stainless steel is inherently corrosion resistant, the blued finish adds an additional layer of protection against rust, especially in damp or humid conditions.
• Reduced Glare: The matte, dark blued finish minimizes light reflection, which is important in the field for maintaining stealth and preventing glare that could alert a keen-eyed turkey.
• Aesthetic Appeal: The blued finish provides a professional, classic look that complements most shotguns.

Knurled Design for Easy Handling

The knurled exterior of the Undertaker choke tube is a practical design choice that significantly improves user experience.

• Effortless Installation and Removal: The textured surface provides a superior grip, allowing for easy hand-tightening and removal of the choke tube without the need for additional tools in many cases. This is particularly useful in the field where convenience is key.
• Secure Fit: The knurling ensures that once tightened, the choke tube remains securely in place, preventing loosening during recoil or transport.

Non-Ported for Consistent Patterns

The HS Strut 00662 Undertaker is a non-ported choke tube. This design choice is deliberate and contributes directly to its performance as a turkey choke:

• Consistent Pattern Density: Non-ported chokes typically maintain a more uniform and dense pattern compared to ported designs. Porting, while useful for recoil reduction or muzzle rise, can sometimes introduce minor disruptions to the gas and pellet stream, potentially leading to slightly less consistent patterns. For turkey hunting, where every pellet counts, consistency is paramount.
• Reduced Muzzle Blast and Flash: Without ports, there's no redirection of gasses outwards from the muzzle, resulting in a quieter shot and less muzzle flash. This can be beneficial for hunters who are sensitive to noise and helps maintain stealth, especially when a follow-up shot might be necessary in a rare scenario, or for less disturbance to nearby game.

Optimizing Your Shotgun: Compatibility and Installation

The HS Strut 00662 Undertaker Choke Tube is designed for 12 Gauge shotguns that utilize the widely popular WinChoke system. This includes a broad range of shotguns, most notably many models from Mossberg and H&R.

• Mossberg Shotguns: Many Mossberg 500, 535, 835, and 935 series shotguns, among others, feature the WinChoke interchangeability. It is always recommended to verify your specific model's choke system before purchase.
• H&R Shotguns: H&R (Harrington & Richardson) also produced numerous 12 gauge shotguns with the WinChoke standard.

Installation is straightforward:

1. Ensure Safety: Always unload your shotgun and verify the chamber is clear before handling any components.
2. Clean Barrel Threads: Before installing any choke tube, ensure the barrel threads are clean and free of debris. A quick wipe with a clean rag and a light application of choke tube grease or anti-seize compound is highly recommended.
3. Thread In: Hand-tighten the HS Strut Undertaker into the muzzle end of your shotgun barrel.
4. Final Tightening: Use a choke tube wrench (if supplied with your shotgun or purchased separately) to give it a final snug turn. Do not overtighten. The knurled design allows for a good hand-tightening, often sufficient in the field.

Proper installation and regular cleaning of your choke tube and barrel threads will ensure optimal performance and longevity.

How the Undertaker Improves Your Turkey Hunt

By combining its specialized internal geometry with the robust 17-4 stainless steel construction and non-ported design, the HS Strut 00662 Undertaker provides tangible benefits that translate directly to increased success rates in turkey hunting:

• Tighter, Denser Patterns: The primary benefit is its ability to constrict the shot charge more effectively, resulting in a significantly tighter pattern at typical turkey hunting ranges. This means more pellets on target within the vital head and neck area.
• Extended Effective Range: With a denser pattern, your effective range can be stretched further. While ethical hunters always strive for closer shots, the Undertaker provides the confidence and capability to cleanly take a bird at 40, 50, or even 60 yards, depending on your ammunition and patterning results.
• Increased Pellet Energy on Target: By keeping pellets grouped tighter, more of the shot's kinetic energy is delivered to the intended target, increasing the likelihood of a decisive and humane kill.
• Confidence in the Field: Knowing your shotgun is optimized for turkey hunting provides immense confidence. This mental edge can be just as crucial as the physical equipment when faced with a challenging shot opportunity.

Pairing Your Undertaker with the Right Ammunition

While the HS Strut Undertaker is a highly effective choke tube, its performance is amplified when paired with appropriate turkey loads. Modern turkey ammunition has evolved significantly, with options like:

• Lead Shot: Traditional lead loads are effective, especially for closer to mid-range shots. The Undertaker will significantly tighten these patterns.
• Bismuth Shot: Non-toxic bismuth shot offers good density and energy transfer, making it a great alternative to lead in areas where lead shot is restricted.
• Tungsten Super Shot (TSS): TSS is a game-changer for turkey hunting. With its incredibly high density, TSS pellets retain energy and penetrate exceptionally well, even at longer ranges. The HS Strut Undertaker is robust enough to handle the pressures of TSS loads and will deliver absolutely devastating patterns with this ammunition.

It's crucial to experiment with different brands and shot sizes (e.g., #4, #5, #6 lead; #7, #9 TSS) to find the combination that patterns best with your specific shotgun and your Undertaker choke tube.

The Critical Step: Patterning Your Shotgun

Purchasing the best choke tube is only half the battle. The single most important step for any serious turkey hunter is patterning their shotgun with their chosen ammunition and the HS Strut 00662 Undertaker choke tube.

What is patterning? It's the process of shooting at large paper targets (usually 40-inch squares) at various ranges (e.g., 20, 30, 40, 50 yards) to observe how your chosen ammunition and choke combination distributes its pellets.

Why is it critical?

• Optimal Range Determination: You'll discover your shotgun's true maximum effective range with your specific setup.
• Identifying Hot Spots: You'll see where the densest part of your pattern is.
• Confirming Consistency: You can check for flyers or voids in the pattern.
• Confidence Building: Seeing is believing. A well-patterned shotgun instills incredible confidence.

Take the time to thoroughly pattern your shotgun with the HS Strut Undertaker. It's an investment of time that pays dividends in the field with more successful and ethical hunts.

Beyond the Choke Tube: Holistic Turkey Hunting Success

While the HS Strut 00662 Undertaker choke tube is a fundamental piece of the puzzle, achieving consistent turkey hunting success also involves other key elements:

• Scouting: Locating turkey roosts, feeding areas, and travel corridors before the season.
• Calling: Mastering various turkey calls to draw in wary birds.
• Camouflage and Concealment: Blending into the environment to avoid detection.
• Patience and Persistence: Turkey hunting often involves long waits and requires a calm demeanor.
• Legal Compliance: Always be aware of and adhere to local hunting regulations and bag limits.
• Ethical Hunting Practices: Always aim for a clean, humane kill. The Undertaker helps achieve this by delivering maximum lethality to the target.

Why Choose the HS Strut Undertaker from DEGuns?

When investing in a crucial component like the HS Strut 00662 Undertaker Choke Tube, purchasing from a reputable source is paramount. DEGuns is a trusted provider of firearms and shooting accessories, offering:

• Authentic Products: Ensuring you receive a genuine HS Strut Undertaker choke tube, engineered to precise specifications.
• Reliable Service: DEGuns is known for its commitment to customer satisfaction and efficient service.
• Expert Support: Access to knowledgeable staff who can answer questions about product compatibility or general shooting accessories.

The HS Strut 00662 Undertaker Choke Tube is a small but mighty upgrade that can dramatically enhance your turkey hunting experience. Its robust 17-4 stainless steel construction, blued finish, knurled design, and non-ported precision make it a top-tier choice for any 12 Gauge shotgun owner utilizing the WinChoke system, including popular Mossberg and H&R models, who is serious about maximizing their turkey hunting success. Invest in precision, invest in confidence, and give yourself the edge you need in the spring woods.

Frequently Asked Questions about Turkey Choke Tubes

Q: What is the main benefit of using a specialized turkey choke tube like the HS Strut Undertaker?
A: The primary benefit is significantly tighter and denser pellet patterns at extended ranges, which is crucial for delivering enough pellets to the small, vital head and neck area of a turkey for a clean, ethical kill.

Q: Is the HS Strut 00662 Undertaker compatible with all 12 gauge shotguns?
A: No, it is specifically designed for 12 Gauge shotguns that use the WinChoke system, commonly found in many Mossberg and H&R models. Always verify your shotgun's choke system before purchase.

Q: Can I use steel shot with the HS Strut Undertaker?
A: While the 17-4 stainless steel construction is very durable, most turkey chokes are designed for lead, bismuth, or tungsten (TSS) loads. Steel shot can be harder on tighter constrictions. Always consult the manufacturer's guidelines for specific choke tube and ammunition compatibility to avoid damage. The Undertaker is primarily optimized for lead and denser non-toxic turkey loads.

Q: How often should I clean my choke tube?
A: It's recommended to remove and clean your choke tube after every use, especially after extended shooting sessions. Regularly clean the choke tube threads and the barrel threads to prevent carbon buildup and ensure easy installation and removal.

Q: What is "patterning" and why is it important for turkey hunting?
A: Patterning is the process of test-firing your shotgun with your chosen choke tube and ammunition at large paper targets at various distances to see how the pellets distribute. It's critical because it shows you exactly how your specific setup performs, helps determine your maximum effective range, and builds confidence in your equipment.

Q: Where can I purchase the authentic HS Strut 00662 Undertaker Choke Tube?
A: The HS Strut 00662 Undertaker Choke Tube is available from reputable firearm and accessory retailers like DEGuns, ensuring you receive a genuine product with reliable service.

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HS Strut 00662 Undertaker Choke Tube Specifications

Feature	Detail
Product Model	HS Strut 00662 Undertaker
Gauge	12 Gauge
Choke System	WinChoke (Compatible with Mossberg, H&R)
Purpose	Turkey Hunting
Material	17-4 Stainless Steel
Finish	Blued
Design Elements	Knurled, Non-Ported
UPC	021291006626