If I knew that every one that I encountered would be killed at 10 or 15 yards, then modified would be the way to go, because at those ranges the pattern hasn't opened enough to become a " bird" pattern. I'm with you on the distances. My longest has been at 35 yards, and most have been between 25 and 30. And, even with a .665 choke and at 25 yards or so, every now and then a flier will hit the upper breast. I have ordered a .680 choke because I wanted a flush mounted one to shorten the barrel and that's the tightest that I could find in a flush mount.