Extremely tight patterns are hard to hit with and too-tight chokes can "blow" the pattern, scattering pellets wildly. Most hunters went to a modified choke and began to hit more birds. This also solved the barrel bulging problem. Some goose hunters shooting very big pellets found they might need an improved cylinder for a good pattern.

Now we have alternative materials for nontoxic pellets, some of which are very much like lead. Federal’s tungsten-iron is close to steel and chokes appropriate for steel shot work fine. However, Bismuth, Federal’s tungsten-polymer and the new matrix pellets are soft, like lead. They won’t damage older barrels and may require a return to full choke for long-range results.