Choke Usage

[EdLaver]

My dad has a new shotgun with a choke installed from the factory. What loads can or cant he shoot through it? Can he shoot slugs through it? I dont have experience with chokes or bird hunting but I was wondering in case if he ever needed to shoot 00 buckshot or a slug through it would he be able to with this choke installed.

Thanks

 

[gotgcoalman]

What is the choke size?

 

[KevinAbbeyTech]

You will need to remove the choke from the barrel.

It should say the size on the outside of the choke.

I personally never shoot slugs out of anything but "Cylinder" size choke (no modification).

There are some people who say that using a tight choke with slugs won't hurt, but I've never tried it because I don't want to cause unnecessary wear on the choke.

 

[rcmodel]

You can shoot rifled slugs through any degree of choke. Rifled slugs are much softer then steel shotgun barrels and will go through the choke just fine without damaging it.

Folks have been shooting them through old full-choke shotguns since they were invented in 1931.
The ammo companies wouldn't still be making them if they would damage any gun.

Anyway, if your dads gun is a fairly recent model, it very likely has both threaded choke tubes, and an owners manual that will explane what you should & should not do with it.

Shot restrictions with tight chokes are generally in regard to shooting steel shot.

rc

 

[EdLaver]

gotgcoalman:

I do not know what size it is but its a very thin layered choke that rests just below the inside of the barrel.

 

[KevinAbbeyTech]

Does it say what size it comes with in the manual?

You should read this if you have it.

What model of shotgun is it?

 

[ugaarguy]

Get the tube wrench out of the box and use it to screw the choke tube out of the barrel. All chokes look thin - choke is constriction, measured in thousandths of inches. The side of the tube should be marked with the choke: such as Improved Cylinder (IC or IMP CYL), Modified (M or MOD), Improved Modified (IM or IMP MOD), or Full (F or FULL). Those are the four main constrictions, listed from least to most constriction. Some companies will use * on the side or notches at the muzzle end of the tube, rather than writing, to denote constriction. Generally, but check the manual for your gun to be sure, one * or notch is F, two * or notches is IM, and so on.

Most gun makers recommend no tighter than a Modified choke for lead buck shot, and steel shot of any size, but check the manual for your shotgun. If you don't have the manual most companies have them available for free download on their websites in Adobe PDF format.

Once more - CHECK THE OWNER'S MANUAL

 

[EdLaver]

Its a New England Arms Pardner Pump Turkey gun. He got it for $175 total and mainly for home defense and price. So let me ask this, if he takes the choke out and shoots slugs or 00 buck, the only thing will damaged is the threading at the end of the barrel right? That shouldnt affect accuracy too much I wouldnt think. There is no manual with it he bought it from a co-worker and I cannot find one online for this particular model. Here's a pic:

 

[ugaarguy]

So let me ask this, if he takes the choke out and shoots slugs or 00 buck, the only thing will damaged is the threading at the end of the barrel right?

Probably, but why risk it? The H&R / NEF pumps are compatible with the standard Winchester Win-Choke. That means it's compatible with Browning Invector (not Invector Plus), Mossberg 500, and Colonial Arms. In other words, the Pardner Pump uses the most common choke tubes in North America. You can get a new US made Carlson's brand Improved Cylinder Win-Choke from Brownell's for $17 plus shipping. Go to www.brownells.com and search part # 155-000-092. Better yet, go to any decent gun store and ask for a used Winchester / Browning / Mossberg 12 ga IC choke tube. You should be able to get the used tube for $10 or less.

There is no manual with it he bought it from a co-worker and I cannot find one online for this particular model.

http://www.hr1871.com/Support/manuals.asp

 

[KevinAbbeyTech]

I wasn't suggesting that he leaves the choke out when he shoots it!

You should never do that.

 

[EdLaver]

Thanks to everyone who posted advice. Again I am not a fowl hunter so when it comes to shotgun chokes I am pretty much clueless. Anything else related to firearms is a totally different story. Thanks again!

 

[rcmodel]

Heres you an owners manual.
http://www.hr1871.com/documents/manuals/NEF_Pard_Pump_Manual.pdf

See the bottom of page one for choke tube info.

rc