I recently acquired an old J.C. Higgins (High Standard) 12ga with an adjustable choke. I think it is/was a pretty good concept. It allows me to change from cycl bore all the way to extra full choke with a simple twist. I have not yet tried to pattern it (and don't know much about chokes) but, I wonder why they are not that popular today.
Old adjustable chokes-not popular?
- Thread starter jr45
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The swappable choke tubes are more popular. With tubes, you can also switch out the "lead-only" tube for one that can be used with the new "Un-Leaded" required for waterfowl and othet hunting in some areas.
Not sure that the older 'turn to adjust' chokes can be used with steel/bismuth/tungsten loads.
Not sure that the older 'turn to adjust' chokes can be used with steel/bismuth/tungsten loads.
You CAN, but it may not pattern as predicted. The lead v. non-lead loads respond differently to chokes. Not sure of why; probably has to do with the charactersistics of the shot itself, and the plastic wad surrounding the shot.
{Sound of Foggy heaving a huge "sigh!"} It was so much simpler when lead was the only material used for shot....*grumble*snort*not-so-muffled-cursing*
{Sound of Foggy heaving a huge "sigh!"} It was so much simpler when lead was the only material used for shot....*grumble*snort*not-so-muffled-cursing*
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Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
Your Dial A Duck choke should be fine with nontoxic shot on the open settings. Stay with Cylinder and IC.
The patterning board is your friend. The marks on the chokes are educated guesses. Only actual patterning shots will tell what a given setting will do with a given load.
I'm not the biggest fan of the adjustable chokes, but they do work.
The patterning board is your friend. The marks on the chokes are educated guesses. Only actual patterning shots will tell what a given setting will do with a given load.
I'm not the biggest fan of the adjustable chokes, but they do work.
MCgunner
Member
I had an old Mossberg/Revelation I traded for when steel was mandated about 1980. I bought a new Mossberg barrel for it so I could shoot steel. The poly chokes are cool, though, instant selectability, but the old ones, at least, were a big lump on the barrel, sorta ugly and don't blend well with vent ribs.
The old adjustable chokes (assuming they were installed correctly to shoot to point of aim) work GREAT. The only reason for their lack of popularity today is their LOOKS.
If you are a person who belives that "pretty is as pretty does", then the adjustable chokes are indeed beautiful.
OTOH, if you are a purist who wouldn't be caught dead owning a gun with an adjustable choke on the end of the barrel, then they are ugly as sin.
If you are a person who belives that "pretty is as pretty does", then the adjustable chokes are indeed beautiful.
OTOH, if you are a purist who wouldn't be caught dead owning a gun with an adjustable choke on the end of the barrel, then they are ugly as sin.
chas08
Member
Pete, I think you nailed it. If manufacturers still offered factory adjustable chokes I think you would see more of them. They blended better with the barrel and ribs than the aftermarket add ons. I hunt duck with a close friend who uses a Ted Williams Model 300 (Winchester 1400) with a factory adjustable choke. It blends with the rib so well that you don't even see it when the gun is shouldered. He never adjusts it any tighter than modified when shooting steel, and he has shot a ton of it. I would snap one up in a heartbeat if I could find one that didn't look like it had been drug down a dirt road. Steel shotcups have improved dramaticaly over the last 20 years. Scuff throughs and swaging are for all practical purposes, non existant, in todays modern, quality steel shotshells. I've looked at almost every spent shotcup I find in my decoy spread, over the last two seasons, and haven't found a scuff through yet. Steel tends to pattern tighter than lead so a looser choke setting works better as a rule. However, steel doesn't compress like lead so a tight choke setting tends to blow the pattern or "ring" the barrel. A bit of common sense is required. You shouldn't shoot steel in any of the "Old Classic" tight choked, thin walled barrel guns. But for what you have, I'd say, go shoot some Ducks.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Did someone say steel shot?
http://www.truglo.com/content/products/firearm/choke_tubes/titan_adjustable.asp
$99 bucks at Cabala's.
rcmodel
http://www.truglo.com/content/products/firearm/choke_tubes/titan_adjustable.asp
$99 bucks at Cabala's.
rcmodel
RetiredLawman
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The Polychoke II is also rated for steel shot.
Much better than screw-in tubes for me. The Truglo is also very handy.
The Polychoke II and the Truglo are screw-ins that you can just leave in the barrel. Beats having to fool with tubes.
Much better than screw-in tubes for me. The Truglo is also very handy.
The Polychoke II and the Truglo are screw-ins that you can just leave in the barrel. Beats having to fool with tubes.
machinisttx
Member
The only poly choke I have experience with patterned very poorly, probably because it was shredding the wads.
oneounceload
member
any regular "swappable" choke Modified or less that I have seen is rated for steel, the caveat being one constriction more open from the same choke for no-tox
adjustables....as has been stated, just not the "purtiest", but if it works, go for it
adjustables....as has been stated, just not the "purtiest", but if it works, go for it
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