[Guvnor]

I have a single shot 410 that has a full choke. Its good for stationary targets like squirrels but way too tight for wingshooting. I was thinking of having the choke reamed out to Improved Cylinder to use it on quail out to 20 yards.

Can a gunsmith do this, or is choke reaming only really available on the larger gauges?

Anyone know a ballpark estimate on how much this might cost?

[rcmodel]

It can be done if you can find a gunsmith with a reamer for .410.
That might be hard to do though.
And probably more expensive then a more common 12 or 20 ream job.

Have you considered just cutting it off behind the choke and making a Cyl bore out of it.

I believe it would work quite well for 20 & under yard quail.

Or, Briley will ream & thread for choke tubes for $130 + choke tubes.
http://www.briley.com/2009/screwchokepricing.html

rc

[Guvnor]

Hmm...might not be worth the expense then. After all, the gun was only 100 bucks. I was thinking a cylinder bore might be too open...but since it wouldn't cost me anything, I guess it wouldn't hurt to try and see how it patterns.

Thanks.

[rcmodel]

There is a thing called a "Jug Choke" that can be done to a Cyl bore to tighten the pattern a little. It has been used since muzzle-loader days to tighten the pattern of a Cyl bore barrel.

Basically, all it amounts to is opening up a short section of the bore about an inch behind the muzzle.

The shot hits the "jug" and fills it, then is forced back down to bore size again before it exits the muzzle. Just like a real choke.
I have done it with a brake cylinder hone on 12 bores and it works pretty good actually.

Might be more of a problem on a .410 though, as they don't make brake cylinder hones that small.

The other thing you could do with your $100 gun is slot a wood dowel rod and chuck it in an electric drill.

Use "flaps" of emery cloth in the slotted dowel to open up the full choke yourself a little at a time while testing patterns. It's not rocket science to do it.


It would seem to me though, with good .410 shells using plastic shot cup wads, a Cyl bore would pattern just about right for short range quail hunting.
I know darn well it would be better then a full-choke .410 anyway!

rc

[Guvnor]

Thanks again. Its starting to seem like a good idea to make it a 20in. cylinder bore. Where I am going to hunt it is pretty dense and im thinking the quick and light single shot would be perfect for a long day of carrying.

[Guvnor]

Do you know how far back a full choke would extend down the barrel? Is cutting off 2-3 inches enough to remove the choke or should I take off 4-5 inches to be sure?

[rcmodel]

2" - 3" should get it all.

You should be able to see it if you hold the barrel up to the light and look through it with your eyes squinted just right. :D

rc

[justashooter in pa]

a full choke is only about 8 thousandths of an inch, so difficult to "ream out", but you can see it in good light.

[Jim K]

If you decide to polish out that choke using a dowel rod, be sure to finish up with very fine (1000-1500 grit) or you will have a lead mine in that barrel.

Jim