[nathan]

How come most factory shotguns HD from the big 4 all come in cylinder bores in 18-20 inch long ? Did' nt they have ones with improved cylinders as stock barrels like those in Rem 870 P pre-installed in factory?

[Pete409]

Two reasons:

1. It's cheaper to manufacturer a cylinder (i.e. no choke) barrel, and

2. Cylinder is what most people prefer for a HD gun.

[rcmodel]

IMHO: They should all come with screw-in choke tubes so we can make our own choice.

And also use them for turkey & gamebird hunting, instead of having to buy another exact same gun or barrel with choke-tubes.

Oh wait!
They wouldn't sell as many guns & barrels if they did that, now would they!

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j219/rcmodel/KTOG/1224.gif
rcmodel

[Dave McCracken]

A couple things....

A barrel gauge will show that most modern Cylinder marked barrels have a few points of constriction. These round out patterns a bit and lessen customer gripes.

Most short barrels now made do NOT have screwins because it's a needless complication of a purpose built tool. Short barrels are mostly used for defense and slugs. Neither mission needs choke adaptability.

Any agency or dept using screw in choke tubes on their cruiser guns would find after a year or so that some tubes would be missing, others would be rusted in place, and some blamed for anything from failures to qualify to unjustified shootings.

Those 870 owners who want the best of both worlds can obtain one of the 21" turkey barrels. These are short enough the extra inch or two do not matter when handling and the tubes enable one to pick a pattern for any mission and range.

[sm]

Personally I prefer fixed chokes, and to me the best serious "off the rack" barrel length is 20" in a fixed choke.

21" Turkey is fine, just these have stupid screw in chokes...

I really feel the screw in choke has done more harm than good ...

Off the rack, the old Ithaca Riot gun [20" barrel] with fixed "patterned" like a SKI or IC or Mod depending on loading.

My pet, would be a 21" fixed with a SKII (12 poc) or "lite" Mod ( 15 poc) Though Mod (19 poc.) is proven.
12 or 20 bore...

If, if one does screw in, get external knurled.

Best kept secret is a fixed 23" barrel with 12-15 poc.

Make mine bone stock with English stock...in 12 or 20 ga- we proved these to work...

[dewidmt]

Just buy a 18" slug barrel with the rifle sights. The stock Remington one is choked IC. I use mine for deer huntin, HD, and I even shoot skeet with it. I hunted ducks over decoys a couple times also, using steel shot, it patterns like a modified choke.

[PJR]

Remington LEO guns have come in constrictions ranging from cylinder to modified but the 18.5" non-LEO guns come with cylinder chokes. Perhaps the thinking was that LEO would engage at greater distances than HD would require.

My own informal testing made me less than enthused about both buckshot and cylinder chokes. My PC gun (Predator Control) has a 20" IC barrel.

Screw-in chokes don't belong on a PC gun. One more thing to go wrong.

Paul

[Pete409]

I really don't know why some people dislike screw-in choke tubes. I can perhaps understand the reasoning why law enforcement agencies might not want the changeable chokes (for the reasons that Dave mentioned), but for the individual, the changeable choke tubes provide inexpensive versatility and ease of changing from one choke to another.

Thirty years ago, if you wanted a different pattern out of your present gun, you had to change barrels or have a Poly Choke device installed on the end of the barrel. Today you can get the same results with a $15 choke tube (which can be carried in your pocket) and about 45 seconds of your time.

This ain't rocket science, fellas. If you can change a light bulb, you can change a choke tube. A few drops of oil or a dab of grease on the threads will eliminate problems with stuck choke tubes.

[PJR]

I don't dislike screw-in chokes. I have at least a couple dozen of them. :o

But a shooting coach instilled the philosophy of "reducing the variables" when competing and I believe it's even more critical in PC roles. My 870 has been tested with buck and slug loads with that fixed choke and I have confidence in its performance. I need to know without question that the gun I use to defend my family is the same each and every time.

Fixed chokes for serious work, choke tubes for fun.

[Pete409]

PJR,

Whatever make you happy! If you have more confidence in a fixed choke than a screw-in choke, then that's fine. I won't bother trying to convince you that a screw-in choke tube is FAR, FAR more reliable than the person shooting the gun....... but it is. Have a good day. :)

[sm]

PJR,
I agree with you!

One little detail is, has to do with the older fixed choked barrels and newer barrels.

Granted Win for example really really thought out that Win-choke, and the barrel it screwed into.

Today's barrels: not all are as well made of the metallurgy of yesteryear, and the chamber, forcing cone, and choke, of yesteryear is just not the same.

This is one reason I get really ticked, when someone whacks off an old fixed choke barrel.
They simply do not make that quality anymore.

[sm]

PJR,
I agree with you!

One little detail is, has to do with the older fixed choked barrels and newer barrels.

Granted Win for example really really thought out that Win-choke, and the barrel it screwed into.

Today's barrels: not all are as well made of the metallurgy of yesteryear, and the chamber, forcing cone, and choke, of yesteryear is just not the same.

This is one reason I get really ticked, when someone whacks off an old fixed choke barrel.
They simply do not make that quality anymore.


Stan Baker Bore Diameter Tool.
( I dated myself again huh ?")

Take and old gun and new one exactly like it, screw in the same choke as the old one and read the bore with this tool.

Gimme the old one every time!!

[PJR]

Whatever make you happy! If you have more confidence in a fixed choke than a screw-in choke, then that's fine. I won't bother trying to convince you that a screw-in choke tube is FAR, FAR more reliable than the person shooting the gun....... but it is. Have a good day.
I'm really not sure what your problem is but if you read my post you'd know I have both systems and use both according to the situation.

My confidence in a fixed choke when my safety is at stake is based on experience. To suggest the screw-in is "FAR, FAR more reliable than the person shooting the gun" is a non-sequitor.

You have a good day too. :rolleyes:

[Robert Hairless]

I won't argue with you because I'm right, you're wrong, I don't care what you say, and no one can change my mind. :)

What else would you like to discuss? :D

[rantingredneck]

I have a 20" IC rifle sighted 870, an 18" Cyl bead sighted 870, and an 18.5" Accuchoke heavy wall Mossy 500. They all will do what I need them to do at defense distances. The screw in chokes of the Mossberg make it a bit more versatile and handy as a buckshot deer gun and it goes on a lot of hunting trips. The rifle sighted 870 doubles as my slug gun for deer season too. If the feces struck the air circulation device, It'd be the rifle sighted 870 that I'd grab first, followed closely by the mossy. They are the ones with the most rounds downrange and the ones I have the most confidence in.