THE PILGRIM
Member
It don't matter exactly how well these Screw in Chokes perform.
Jimmy wants one!
I want him to have one!
Jimmy wants one!
I want him to have one!
Screw In Shotgun Choke
- Thread starter jimmyj
- Start date
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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BourbonCowboy
Member
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.
scooter123
Member
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.
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
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.
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.
The reamers are expensive, but the job itself isn't that complicated.
Go over to Shotgun World.com. Lots of great info on your question there. Prices run around $125 dive or take.
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
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....
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.
