POWer Pac choke safety?

[MikeG]

I recently bought a J.C. Higgins Model 20 from a pawnshop. It has the POWer Pac choke with the tubes that screw into the end of a larger, vented tube on the end of the barrel. The choke tube begins an inch or two past the muzzle, leaving a gap. Will petal wads open enough in this gap to catch on the choke tube and create something like a bore obstruction?

If so, can I shoot it with the choke tube removed and have the tube act like a muzzle brake? This might be good for home defense with 00 buck.
Mike