Ball Park Figure: How expensive ?

Do you mean the price of a choke tube or having a fixed choke barrel threaded to accept choke tubes?

The cost of have a screw in choke installed in a open choke pump gun.
Screw In choke plus installation

Probably cheaper to buy a barrel with screw in choke, if there is one.
I recently got the itch for a short Shotgun barrel.
But so has everybody else.
They have gone sky high!
I called a local gunsmith to cut down a long one and yes, this time I’ll take one of those ugly plastic sights. I usually hate them!
The price they quoted me was right at buying a barrel.
I finally bought a 25 inch slug barrel with sights, cylinder choke, no tubes.
I can lob Slugs into the next block!
But I got Screw in Chokes for the 28 inch!
Yes, I have a Hacksaw.
Yes, I thought about it.
These folks got Barrels-

Shotgun Barrels, Used and Replacement Barrels on BarrelExchange.com

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Jimmy, I've never used their service but have some of their tubes. It's what they do.
Choke Tube Installations - Install Choke Tubes into Barrels without Choke Tube Systems | Carlson's Choke Tubes | The Shooter's Choice for Choke Tubes | The Pattern Pros

If not done properly, it can get real ugly,real quickly! especially thin wall tubes...and can change classic gun value also...Carlson's,Briley.....should be no problem....IMHO

You could also consider this offering from Federal. Federal Law Enforcement Tactical ammunition with Flite Control. Keeps 12 gauge buckshot groups very tight in short barreled shotguns.

Results are similar or better than the results from a $200.00+ choke modification to an existing barrel.

https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/c...Product%20Page


Federal Cartridge 132LE 12 Gauge Tactical Buckshot - Ammunition - Streichers

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

At $6.99 per round ??

Depending on the gun, I’d be much more likely to buy a fixed choke barrel in the choke I want than try to add screw in chokes to a fixed choke pump gun, but I’m hard pressed to think of a pump gun I’d put more money in than the initial purchase price.

In my experience, screw-in chokes sound much more useful than they are in practice.

I’m happy with fixed choke Parkers and have never thought I’d do better with screw-in chokes. I’m more likely to blame my misses on operator error than on my equipment.

No sir, $6.99 for a five round box.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

Can't do better than Mike Orlen. He has done many things for me ad always first class work. Try him at this number: 413 256-1630

Search for his prices online, but I can tell you the cost of installing choke tubes and a three tube set should be under $200.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Jimmy, you need to state the purpose for your perceived need of removable choke tubes. Note that I did say Perceived and there is a reason for this. If you have a shotgun with a cylinder bore that you want to use for Home Defense there is no need at all to spend the money on a conversion. Because at distances under 25 feet there will NOT be any measurable difference in the produced group size when comparing a Full and Cylinder choke.

If you want to use your shotgun for Hunting or Sporting (clay) then Choke will matter because the longer ranges involved can make a difference. However range will still provide a graduated necessity with longer range activities making choke choice more important. Basically with Skeet you can shoot with any choke provided you skill is up to it. However for Trap or Sporting Clays there are situations where a Full choke becomes almost essential.

Call Briley. They are the hands down experts. Don’t know what barrel you have but they’d be the ones to call.

I shopped around a bit for a choke installation a couple of years back. At that time, the price from known and reputable choke outfits was around $250, with most charging $30 or so more if you wanted steel shot-rated chokes. I ended p just buying another shotgun!

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Pisgah

Check out the price list on this link, Mike Orlen in Massachusetts.
Now charging $65 per barrel for choke install.
Had him do a Rem 870 cut down and choke install a few years back. Good work, quick turnaround.

Shotgunworld.com • Updated Mike Orlen price list

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John

I have a Remington Model 31 12 Gauge with a barrel chopped off to 18.5".
At 25 yards using #00, #1, or #4 Buckshot it will not put more than 1-2 pellets on a B-29 target.

12 Gauge Slug will group 3-4 inches left of POA.

Ordered several boxes for testing

This. Screw in chokes are over rated in field guns. If you shoot sporting clays you probably want them because courses get changed. Trap and skeet can be shot with fixed chokes. Did it for years without a problem. Never had a screw in choke in a field gun and I hunted birds for many years.

People want tubes these days so that's become standard issue, but I know people who hunt and have never changed a tube in their life.

One of the reasons sxs shotguns with double triggers were so popular was the instant selection of chokes. But few guns have double triggers anymore so the advantage is lost.

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That's just somebody talkin.

Years ago I bought a used police Remington 870 Wingmaster, 18 inch barrel. I came across a Remington Express barrel and it fits perfectly, I just don't shoot 3 inch magnums. I now have a hunting gun with chokes, or a self defense gun by the bed. So, I suggest purchasing a barrel for your hunting excursions, a used one should be inexpensive, less than seventy five bucks.

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Kevin in Oregon

Sorry, but I have to disagree. You must have some old shotguns, since almost every one made in the last 30 years came with a set of screw in tubes. What choke tubes allow is for a gun owner to need fewer guns or maybe only one gun and by changing the choke, you can shoot clays, trap, or skeet. If you have fixed chokes, you will definitely need at least two different guns for skeet and trap alone. Chokes allow the shooter to always have the most effective choked gun for any and all gamebirds or clay shooting event in one gun. Also, you can change chokes when you switch from lead to steel to obtain the same pattern.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

It don’t matter exactly how well these Screw in Chokes perform.
Jimmy wants one!
I want him to have one!

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Yes, I have some old ones. The oldest one is a M97 Win. from around 1917. The newest one that I sold about 5 years ago was Beretta 682. That one had tubes. I've probably owned a dozen or so in my life time. Pumps, O/U's, sxs's and one auto. Some with tubes, some without. I think there's 3 or 4 still in my safe. I don't hunt or shoot competitively anymore and I sold most of my shotguns for that reason.

How many people own one shotgun, one rifle or one pistol? The racks are full of old shotguns without tubes for dirt cheap. Really nice Model 12 Winchesters set there for a song because everyone wants choke tubes.

If you think you need a shotgun with tubes you probably do.

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That's just somebody talkin.

I've been interested in adding choke tubes to my S&W Model 1000 full-choke barrel as well. I've looked for another 2 3/4" modified or improved barrel, but haven't found one. If I could find someone who could add tubes to my existing barrel, I'd definitely consider having it done. I'm really not interested in buying another shotgun.

Jimmy, are you going to USE that shotgun at 25 yards? With an 18.5 inch barrel I suspect that you will be using it at 25 feet or less. I would suggest that you try shooting at 25 feet and see what happens.

In regards to shooting left, that is due to how this specific shotgun fits YOU. With a shotgun the rear sight is your Eye. If you mount the shotgun with your eye a bit left due to fit you will shoot left. Assuming your a right handed shooter one workaround to mash your face harder against the stock. Another is to angle the stock a bit to the right. Most modern Semi auto and Pump shotguns today have the stock mounted with a stock bolt coming from the rear and come with angle shims that can be used to cast the stock right or left. Old school methods were to make up a hardwood angled shim or file the end of the stock at the receiver on an angle.

Jimmie is dealing with a fine old Remington 31 that has already had the barrel hacked, so there is no collector value to consider. Buying a replacement barrel for a 70 year old shotgun might be a bit difficult, not to mention interchangeable issues that might come up. Having the gun converted to screw-in chokes could be a good way to achieve the desired results at minimal expense (at or about $200 for the work compared to $350-plus for another shotgun).

My 870 'Sportsman 12' plain-Jane 870 came with a 21" barrel with vent rib and Rem-Choke system. With the IC tube I can shoot buckshot, slugs, or heavy steel shot with no problems. With the Mod tube the gun is great for pheasants and other game birds. With the Hastings Extra-Full turkey choke the old Remington wins every turkey shoot I show up for. The 21" barrel also allows use for home defense, very comparable to the 18" or 20" riot guns. The only modification I made was to add sling swivels and a leather sling.

I think Jimmie has a pretty good idea and a worthwhile improvement for an otherwise fine old Remington pump gun.

One other thing to consider is when it was cut down was the muzzle squared off to the bore? If not that can throw patterns. A benefit of getting screw in chokes is that the muzzle will be squared off when it is reamed.
The reamers are expensive, but the job itself isn't that complicated.

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Straight shootin'
SWCA#2439

Go over to Shotgun World.com. Lots of great info on your question there. Prices run around $125 dive or take.

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S&W Accumulator

From what I see, a B29 is 1/3 smaller than a B27. The #27 is a 75 foot target and the #29 is a 50 foot target. You said your gun was cut to 18.5 ". A standard riot gun is 20".

How does it shoot at 50'? I consider 50' a long distance for a close quarter combat weapon. The POA slug placement will no doubt not get better with a choke tube.

Having shot hundreds of thousands of rounds of trap, and having had choke tubes once, I never saw them as a substitute for pointing the gun in proper place. I did see them as a pain in the ***** to clean and lubricate, and sometimes remove.

I would not waste the money on choke tubes. Just my .02

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Make sure the muzzle on the barrel is square to the bore.

If the muzzle is off-square even by a small amt,,the shot load or a slug will be pushed to one side,,it works just like a rifle or pistol barrel.

Shotgun barrels are often simply hacksawed off and then by eye squared up with a file. While there is really nothing wrong with this method (I do it that way myself), you have to take great pains to maintain the muzzle being square with the bore itself.

Checking with a square along the outside of the bbl and across the face of the muzzle is generally worthless as the bbl is usually slightly tapered.
You will be chasing a phantom high spot around and around the muzzle every time you check and no matter how much and how carefully you check and file,,it's still there.

A muzzle facing tool, hand turned is the about the easiest way to clean up a cut off shot bbl. You only need to crown the squared cut after that.
That you can do with files and emery cloth.

For the distances like 25yds, I think you'll find you'll need at least a MOD choke, probably a FULL to get those small cluster of pellet groups you are thinking of w/ buckshot.

For a HD though, 25yrds is a long way. 25Ft is even a long way inside most homes. Take a look down the hallway, across the livingroom or the kitchen to the door and it's probably 15 to 20ft at most.

I'd pattern the gun at that range and see what you get after checking the muzzle for square.
Those slugs that are 3 or 4" left at 25yrds won't be too far out of a bullseye at 20ft.

I'm not a fan of choke tubes....

The first thing to do is measusre the exterior diameter of the barrel. It needs to be a certain size or larger in order to accommodate the reaming and thread cutting to accept the choke tubes. I had a set installed once on a SKB O/U trap gun to be able to shoot sporting clays. It was a minimal diameter and only special thin wall tubes could be used. It cost me $350 (inc. the tubes) back about 20 years ago. Measure that barrel before making any calls. Most good gunsmiths can ream, thread and install choke tubes.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244