A cylinder choke

• A. is an unconstricted barrel. The shot string spreads quickly
• B. has a slight constriction. It allows the shot string to spread fairly quickly
• C. has moderate constriction. The pellets stay together longer, making the shot string denser and more useful at longer ranges
• D. has tight constriction. The shot holds together even longer, making this choke good for squirrels, turkey, and other game shot at 40-yard and longer

Answer: (A)

Understanding how choke constriction affects shot spread and range helps you see why this description fits a cylinder choke. A cylinder choke has no constriction; the bore diameter isn’t narrowed at all. Because there’s nothing to guide or compress the shot column, the pellets begin to spread soon after leaving the muzzle, producing the widest pattern of all chokes. This makes it most useful for very close-range shooting where a broad, forgiving pattern helps hit moving or close targets. In contrast, any constriction tightens the shot column, keeping pellets together longer and creating a denser pattern at longer distances, which is why other chokes are described as having slight, moderate, or tight constriction.