[Dave McCracken]

John turned the battered piece of steel in his big hands. It once had been an expensive aftermarket choke tube in someone's shotgun. Now, it was junk, and also an object lesson.....

John works at PGC. He's also a former state trap champion and an experienced shotgunner.

He dug the tube out of the traphouse on Range 10 today. It was embedded in the rear wall facing the shooters.

It's not hard to figure out the backstory. The tube got loose and launched like a slug.

If a choke tube is loose enough for some gasses to get behind it and push the tube out, the tube is toast.

So is the barrel it came from. The unprotected and thin metal where the threading is cut will expand and thus no other tube will stay in.

That trap gun is now suitable for skeet only. At best.

Extended tubes can be tightened with fingers only in a twinkling.Flush tubes take a wrench or tool, but it takes not much longer. Please check your tubes frequently.

Your barrel and your friends will thank you for it.....

[ArmedBear]

For those who don't remember the choke wrench, you can get a pocket knife that includes one. If, like me, you habitually carry a pocket knife, you'll have a choke tube tightener.:)

http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/swissarmyexpress_2020_60232307

http://www.swissknivesexpress.com/wehiwichtuto.html

[dagger dog]

Dave and ArmedBear have the bases covered for sure.

But don't forget that screw in choke LUBE! If you ever had one stuck you know where I'm comin' from!

[Dave McCracken]

AB, yup, Beretta sells a multitool with one also.

Colonial tubes can use a standard quarter piece. Good idea.

[buick_man]

Hey Dave McCracken in MD,

You any relation to AL McCracken who used to live off of Conneticut Ave. in Kensington, MD. ??

[Virginian]

I usually have a quarter on me. Unless it's almost payday or something.

[Dave McCracken]

Probably not, Buick,unless he came out of Clearfield County, PA. Pop was born there, and 4 generations before him.

Lots of us up and down the Appalachians. Mostly descended from Scots displaced after the Battle of Culloden, 1746.

But we digress.

Right, Virginian. There's two in my range box.

[Dirty Bob]

Thank you for that post. It's good to remember such things! I try to make a point of checking each time I get ready to shoot, but your reminder will help to motivate me!

BTW, the NEF tubes tighten with a quarter, as well.

Regards,
Dirty Bob

[Larry Ashcraft]

Reminds me of the time I was hunting pheasants with my brother twenty some years ago...

He used a Mossberg with a Polychoke (well, it worked for him, and I couldn't argue with his shooting). We flushed some birds in tall weeds, fired, and the Polychoke went flying off into parts unknown.

We looked for a while, and then gave up. When we got back to town, we checked on the price of a new Polychoke, and then drove back out and looked some more. Never did find it.

Happily, he uses a Citori these days... :)

[Dave McCracken]

Bob, I shot a couple trap rounds after the kids program today. I found myself checking after each station.

Larry.....

Mossberg to Citori. Ah, progress.......

[Larry Ashcraft]

My dad wasn't much of a shotgunner, but his belief was; shotguns should be pumps, and they should be full choke.

I changed his mind many years ago with a Remington 11-48 with a mod barrel, and later on with a Citori with Invectors.

But that deserves its own thread...

[f4t9r]

thanks for the reminder. I'll remember next time i go out

[Snarlingiron]

Nice one, Dave. I have never seen one launched, but I have found mine as much as 1/4 to 1/3 turn loose a number of times. Maybe I should tighten them a little more forcefully.

[Dave McCracken]

That was quite common, Larry. A long barreled repeater "Choked down like a rifle" was the norm. My first 870 with its 30" Fuller barrel was typical.

Progress. I shoot the same targets now with LM that I used Full on then and get better patterns.

You're welcome, F4.

Snarlingiron, Maybe you should or maybe check more often.