Barrels

[Malckom]

Do you like fixed chokes or screw in tubes.I have a friend who has a Charles Daly 20 ga O/U with a full and mod barrels.Says it has never been shot. Wants $ 500.00 but can get it for less.Made in Italy.

 

[oneounceload]

While chokes are more versatile, allowing one gun to be used for a myriad of situations, I prefer nicely done fixed chokes. They're less hassle. The gun in question, more than likely, could always have the barrels done to accept choke tubes by Briley or someone similar.

Check the various auction/gun sales sites to see what that model is selling for - remember Charles Daly is just a marketing company. Over the years they have had guns built by some really great companies and some that were so-so.

 

[chas08]

I prefer choke tube barrels for thier versatility. But having grown up in the fixed choke era, I'm not predjudiced againt them. A lot depends on what you are going to use the gun mainly for. The above gun you describe would be a great Pheasant gun but not so good for Bobwhites in tight cover. Its fairly expensive to have tubes installed on a double (at least by Briley) So you have to consider if you are investing more than the gun will ever be worth. And as oneounceload expressed; you have to know what company manufactured the gun some were great such as Miroku (Japan) some not so good.

 

[MCgunner]

I have a full/mod barreled double I don't really use anymore. Just too much choke for doves and now that steel is mandatory for waterfowl, I can't use it for that. I've used that gun on doves, but you really have to be ON that bird with the full choke barrel or it has to be WAY out there or both. I have a 20 gauge double with interchangeable chokes and it's awesome, tune it to the job. I mostly dove hunt with it. However, I think, if the gun is steel compatible, an I/C-Mod fixed choke gun will do about anything. That's what rides in my 20 gauge in the field most of the time.

 

[oneounceload]

Back before choke tubes were everywhere, and you could still shoot lead at waterfowl, upland guns came IC/M and waterfowlers came M/F. For upland, a good IC/M is still one of the best combos out there. While it might be a tad tight for preserve quail over pointers, using lighter loads with a spreader insert will work just fine. Over on another shotgun forum where the focus is more target/hunting oriented, the Master class shooters in sporting clays all seem to be doing one thing - putting in tight chokes and leaving them alone, so it's not necessarily a bad thing.

Personally, I view a 20 as a great upland gun. Depending on your quarry, I would just open them up a little - maybe to IC/M - cheaper than tubes.

 

[rcmodel]

A Charles Daly very likely has chrome-lined barrels.

Opening up the chokes might not be a great idea.

On the other hand, Carlson's will put choke tubes in chrome lined O/U's for $195.

http://www.choketube.com/instal.html

rc