choke and shotshell selection

[226]

Greetings. I've a few questions about sxs shotguns with various choke configurations.

Would I be able to shoot LE low recoil OO buckshot through Modified and / or Improved Cylinder chokes?

Also, I was also told by someone who I believe to be very knowlegable that I should not shoot steel shot through Full or IM (improved modified) chokes.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Yes for the first.

Probably for the next. New shotguns can handle it but oft more open chokes work better.

 

[226]

Thanks Dave.

Yes for the first.

Probably for the next. New shotguns can handle it but oft more open chokes work better.

 

[226]

another question...

When a sxs has a M/F choke, does that mean the right bbl is modified, and the left full?

 

[Fred Fuller]

As a rule, the right barrel is the more open choke and the left is tighter.

lpl/nc

 

[Sistema1927]

Yes for the first.

Probably for the next. New shotguns can handle it but oft more open chokes work better.

Isn't it the other way around? Yes for the second (Improved Cylinder) and probably for the first (Modified).

Improved Cylinder is .010" constriction and Modified is .020 (in 12 gauge). Improved Cylinder is the more open of the two.

(Edit 2/21: Now I see, I was looking at the answer as only applying to the first question. Sorry for any confusion.)

 

[226]

I'm not Dave, but I took his answers to be yes for my 1st question ("LR OO buck through M or I/C"), and probably for my 2nd ("steel shot through F or IM").

But who am I to squelch any discussion when I'm satisfied to sit back, s/u and listen / learn?

 

[only1asterisk]

.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Sistema,

The first question was: Would I be able to shoot LE low recoil OO buckshot through Modified and / or Improved Cylinder chokes?

And the answer was Yes to both parts of the question. Some reduced recoil loads pattern quite well through Mod chokes. You are correct that Mod is tighter than IC. But with lead loads, it isn't a problem.

The 'probably' answer was to indicate that 226 should probably NOT shoot steel shot through tighter chokes (ImpMod or Full) in older shotguns that might not be suited for steel shot.

As I understand it, that's what was meant by the answers above. HTH,

lpl/nc

 

[Dave McCracken]

Lee nailed it, as usual.

 

[226]

The 'probably' answer was to indicate that 226 should...

226 = Don

Great information everyone! Pretty much what I've come to expect at THR.

I have another question. Since this Uggie comes with Full and Modified chokes, will I be able to shoot my Federal LE 132 OO low recoil hd loads through the left bbl (full choke)?

The sxs I am speaking of is a nib (back in the 80s) Ugartechea model 30 RFH 12ga F/M 28" bbl shotgun from Precision Sports. The seller said they were getting out of the Uggie import business and had a sale I think so he picked up a few. He claims it is unfired, nib with box and paperwork. The gunsmith I'm thinking of taking it to for a look over is at Bass Pro, next to the Fine Gun Room.

I plan on using it for hunting birds and take up shooting skeet (not a new years resolution, so it actually has a chance of happening). As with all of my firearms, she may also pull hd duty. Thus my shotshell questions.

I'm going to post the e-mail advice I got from the knowledgeable source I mentioned earlier. He is an elderly British gentleman who now resides in the states. I met him at a SHOT booth earlier this month and became fascinated with sxs', and of course the sxs he represented (not an uggie). Here are some of his replies.

dont shoot steel if you have Full and IM. get them opened to at least
Mod & I/C.

I mentioned Bismuth shot in that you know it is safe to use in any
barrel regardless of the chokes unlike steel it is soft.
The Gamebore cartridges are good, I remember that firm from its start
years ago in the UK, and their tungsten matrix shot is safe in all
barrels I understand, and you would not have to worry about your chokes
being too tight for this shot.

You can use 2 1/2 inch cartridges in an _______, I might add that the
2 1/2 is the standard cartridge in the UK. It will bring most birds
down at normal ranges, theres no need for these massive American loads
really, but tradition dies hard.

There are no shotshell restrictions with the Mod ____, just to use the
correct cartridge length it was proved for, and the corect load.
As far as I know, all steel shot cartridges that you buy are loaded
with plastic cup wads, and as long as the chokes are not too tight for
steel, you should be ok.

If you are a reloader, It may be wise to use fibre shot cups. The rule
of thunb is that you only need half the choke required for lead with
steel shot. Steel shot holds together better in flight. and for example,
.015" of choke will throw a full choke pattern. If you can afford
bismuth shot cartridges, then you can shoot those in any choke
configuration. If you have too tight chokes in a gun, like Full or Improved
Modified, this can result in bulging at the choke with steel.
You can also get screw in chokes fitted for Steel shot, which I think
is the way to go, except in the case of a best English gun.

Usual old writings by gun writers, they just spead alarm and
despondency, Of course if you use steel shot not in a cup wad, you will get
scoring of the bores, and of course with too tight a choke you will get
problems. I dont know if chromed bores would be susceptable to damage by
steel shot. However there is no need for chromed bores in a gun. It was
first brought in as a guard against rusting, but in this day and age of
non rusting primers in cartridges, it is not needed.
If you do decide to order an ______, you can order it with chokes
open enough for steel, or with barrels slightly thicker to allow for
fitting Briley steel shot choke tubes

 

[Dave McCracken]

Full choke oft's a bit much for buck. Modified is about the break point for choking with 00.

Lead 00 will not hurt your shotgun. It just might not pattern well.