Aftermarket Choke Installation

Dr Strangelove · 02-17-2003, 10:16 PM

Has anyone ever had a fixed choke shotgun reamed and threaded for steel capable choke tube use? I'm thinking about having an older fixed F/M double converted for steel use on combo upland/wetland birds. Any recomendations on who does this service well? I know about Briley but their prices are nuts. I spoke with one local smith who does work for several shops and was quoted about $220+tax locally for ream/thread/twotubes for my double. I need advice and name/#'s. I don't mind extended tubes. Thanks.

tnbdk · 02-18-2003, 08:15 AM

I recently bought a Belgian Browning A-5 barrel off of Ebay that was fix-choked full. I wanted to shoot steel through it but I was quoted similar prices that you mentioned. The guys over at Allison & Carey's over by Gresham bored it out to a fixed modified for $60. Since I rarely shoot anything other than mod for ducks, I decided to take the cheaper route.

Bait O' Eggs · 02-18-2003, 12:08 PM

Doc you need a patient who is a gunsmith. You could swap him health care for gun modifications.

I am not sure whos prices are more inflated

:tongue:

bigshark · 02-18-2003, 09:25 PM

Strangelove

You get what you pay for on this one. To place a choke in a barrel STRAIGHT you need a lot of very expensive equipment. You might get lucky and you might not. How would you like one barrel to shoot 2 feet low and the other two feet high and a foot or two to the left? Opening the chokes up is a lot cheaper and a lot easier. Even at that I would want Stan Baker in Seattle to do it. Light modified will do a good job. Make sure however that your barrels are braised and not soldered together.
Those old soldered barrels will still seperate with steel shot. You can buy a lot of Kent Impact shells for the money you are talking about spending. Just a suggestion!

Lured In · 02-18-2003, 10:00 PM

Doc... just in case you haven't checked...it may not just be a choke issue. Be sure the barrel itself will handle steel. If not you will be throwing good money after bad. All is not lost if it is not approved for steel. If you REALLY like the gun, get the chokes done and you can still shoot Bismuth shot out of it (no steel though). Be aware at $18+ a box of 10, the chokes aren't the only spendy thing.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

Flatfish · 02-19-2003, 07:24 AM

For what it is worth, I shoot skeet pretty often. While I am awful at the game, I am picking up on some tips.

1- Shoot in front of the bird. Doh!

2- Briley does everyones work for a reason. Choke work is pretty labor intensive, hence the sticker shock. But make darn sure that whoever does the work guarantees it. If they mess the job up you will be buying new barrels. If you think tubes are spendy try the whole kit and kaboodle.

Lured in makes an excellent point about the barrels tolerating steel no matter what.

If it is just for a few duck shoots a year, you may want to consider a soft non toxic shot. And leave the chokes as is.While the shells are spendy, they are much cheaper than a gunsmith.

Mark and the dog.

Chum King · 02-21-2003, 10:29 PM

I would second going with just opening up your existing chokes. I personally like IC and Mod for the barrels on my doubles.

As for concern about making sure that the gun is steel compatible, it is my sense from what I have read that the issue is somewhat overrated. As long as you are shooting a gun that is designed to current SAAMI standards for pressure you should be okay. The main difference in guns designated for steel shot is that they generally have chrome lined barrels. With a non-chrome lined barrel, you will eventually end up with some scoring of the barrel when a pellet is not completely encased by the wad.

A friend of mine did have a Marbles adjustable choke installed on his Remington 870. Obviously this isn't really an option for a double, but he has been quite happy with the results.

big john · 02-23-2003, 06:36 PM

agree with BIGSHARK about STAN BAKER in seattle. over the years, i've had STAN both open up fixed chokes (singles and doubles) and also install screw-in chokes in single barrels, and his work has always been excellent.

i suppose he is still in business; last time i saw him i wondered how much longer it would be before he retired. his shop is in the north end of seattle, in the "lake city" area.