Which two shotgun chokes are best suited for hunting small, fast, close birds?

The best choice for hunting small, fast, close birds is the combination of improved cylinder and modified chokes. Improved cylinder is designed to provide a wider shot spread, which is beneficial for hitting fast-moving targets that may be within close range. This choke is particularly favorable for situations where the shooter needs to quickly acquire and lead the rapidly darting birds, allowing for a higher chance of success in connecting with the target.

Modified choke, while still providing a bit tighter shot pattern than improved cylinder, also offers flexibility. It allows for effective range while still accommodating situations where birds may be flying at varying distances. The combination of these two chokes enhances the shooter's ability to adapt to the unpredictable nature of hunting small birds, which often require quick and accurate shots at various ranges.

Using full or extra full chokes limits shot spread, making it less advantageous for close-range shots, as it can result in less forgiving accuracy due to a narrower pattern. Similarly, while modified and full chokes can be useful, they are better suited for hunting at slightly longer distances rather than under the quick draw conditions presented by small, fast birds. The same reasoning applies to using the skeet choke, which, while wider than full, does not perform as well as the improved