Question On fixed choke shotguns and slugs and buckshot.

[Heywood]

Hey Guys.
Correct me if I'm wrong but the choke on most fixed choke side by side shotguns is improved cylinder and modified choke.Are these chokes suitable to shoot slugs and buckshot through?I know because of their lightness they wouldn't be ideal for that purpose but just occasional use?

Thanks in advance.

 

[jmr40]

It depends on the gun. MOST doubles with 26" barrels have IC in the right barrel and MOD. in the left barrel. Longer barrrels have MOD. in the right barrel and FULL in the left barrel. But there are plenty of exceptions so you just have to check each gun.

I have shot buckshot and slugs through doubles. Buckshot was fine, slugs accuracy beyond 10-20 yards was not acceptable for hunting in my experience. As long as you use Foster type slugs you should not harm your gun regardless of choke. I don't think it would be a good idea to use the newer sabot slugs in anything but a rifled barrel, although I doubt they would hurt the gun.

 

[CajunBass]

I'm with jmr. I've shot a lot of buckshot through a double gun, and seen even more shot through them with no problem. My grandfather had an old A.H. Fox that was full/full and was downright deadly with No. 1 buck. If that gun cracked, (and it made a very distinct sound for some reason, almost like a rifle) you might as well get your drag rope out. There was meat on the ground.

I've never fired any slugs through a double gun, but I'll bet the accuracy wouldn't be there if for no other reason poor sights. For slugs I'd want a single barrel gun with rifle sights.

You hear a lot of talk about open cylinders being better for buckshot. I don't know. I never knew anybody who used open cylinder for hunting. Modified was about as "open" as anyone used, and full was the choke of choice for a buckshot only gun.

 

[Dave McCracken]

It depends.

First,modern shotguns made after WWII will safely fire both slugs and buck. Accuracy may suffer from too much choke with slugs and pattern the same with buck. Only way to find out is to try.

And get a decent smith to measure the bores and chokes. The difference between them is the actual choke, though anomalies occur.

It's relatively easy to get one barrel of a double shooting decently with a slug, but not both. I'd try Rifled Slugs and Brenekkes in the open barrel.

HTH....

 

[huntsman]

Correct me if I'm wrong but the choke on most fixed choke side by side shotguns is improved cylinder and modified choke.

Not really, I had a 28" barrel that was full and fuller. I get good results with a mod/full chokes using a Brenneke classic in the right tube (mod) and #4 buck in the left (full).

 

[PJR]

I upland hunt in bear country and have tested my sxs with buckshot and slugs. No two guns and slug combinations are alike. My current upland gun puts two Federal LE slugs within a couple of inches of each other at 25 yards. I don't know what happens at longer ranges but my intent for this gun is short range work if required.

Regardless how your gun is choked shooting slugs and buck won't be a problem in a modern gun but to find what works best in your gun requires some time at the range.

 

[Heywood]

Thanks guys.My knowledge of shotgun chokes is very limited so the primary concern was whether it would be safe to use them in it.Thanks again.