Fixed Chokes/ What are they?

[Ed/Pa]

I have an old double. At some time in the past the barrels were cut, due to a split in one of the barrels. They now measure 27 1/2" long. I assume they were orininally 28". Knowing that the chokes are in the end of the barrels, is there any way to determine what the barrels may be choked? There are no markings on this gun as to what they were originally choked.

 

[Shawnee]

Hi Ed...

Only way to know for sure how the gun patterns now is to shoot it at a patterning board and let the targets tell the tale, and they will.

Good luck!

 

[TexasRifleman]

If you have an internal micrometer you can get a good idea.

Stolen from some random webpage a while back, sorry I can't credit where.

The typical American choke designations of Full, Modified, Improved Cylinder and Skeet are based on the percentage of the shot they put into a 30" circle at 40 yards. These designations later evolved into measured constrictions of the bore by .035" for Full, .020' for Modified .0010" for Improved Cylinder and .005" for skeet. In other words, if your Browning has an internal barrel diameter of .729", an Improved Cylinder choke should have an internal diameter of .719" or ten thousandths of an inch of constriction.

 

[Ed/Pa]

In order to use this chart I see you need to know the internal barrel diameter which I dont know. With an inside mic I can get the inside diameter of the barrels at the ends, but have nothing to compare it to the difference of the actual bore.
Thanks......I'm kind of thinking with a 1/2" off the barrels its probably more like cylinder or open as the chokes were probably elinimated when the barrels were cut........ I've know way of knowing without the correct measuring devices. This may require a trip to a gunsmith , who might have such tools.......Thanks PS .I've used this gun for Grouse and rabbits and its taken a few pheasents in its time......Just was always curious as to what its choked? By the way.This is a 20ga. gun

 

[DWARREN123]

A precaution, if the barrel(s) split before please be careful they or it may do so again.

 

[Steve C]

If the barrel was cut there's little chance of their being any choke left. The old standby test is to use a dime with standard fixed choke 12ga barrels. A dime won't fit in the muzzle of a full choke 12ga shotgun. It barely fits in a modified and with a cylinder, skeet or improved choke it has a little rattle room.

 

[Ed/Pa]

To kill two birds with one stone here.......The barrel split due to mud plugged in it way back around 1940 or so I've been told....guns been shot for yrs with no problem, so I'm not concerned about weakness.

The dime trick I know about , but that wont work in this little 20ga.

Thanks .

 

[Okiecruffler]

I bought one of these http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=985226
when I was buying alot of shotguns. A little expensive if you're just looking at one shotgun, but if you really just have to know.