Removing and Re-Installing a PolyChoke

[ReadyontheRight]

What are your opinions on cutting down a barrel with a Polychoke, removing the Polychoke with a torch and re-installing the Polychoke on the shortened barrel?

I have a line on a nice (yet a beater) 16ga Browning A5 with a Polychoke on a 28" barrel.

I would like a short-barrel grouse gun. Seems like a perfect opportunity. Removing and re-installing the Polychoke makes sense if it's do-able.

Has anyone done this? I have read a bit about it..."use a vice as a heat sink"..."heat the barrel, not the Polychoke". Has anyone done this? Warnings, tips and tricks appreciated.

 

[Al LaVodka]

Send it back to Poly-Choke.
Al

 

[oneounceload]

Or send it to Briley and let them install choke tubes

 

[scchokedaddy]

first off you need to look around and find out what its worth! might be surprised. then look around and you'll find that 16 gauge ammo is getting kinda scarce and downright pricey!!! Have been 16 gauge fan for 40 years now and in the last year had to stop shooting 16's and go to 20 or 12. love the 16 for clays.trap and clays. last case of shells I found was 73.00 at wally world, same price ar Bass Pro at the time,but they didn't have any. that was for "cheap Remington". Pheasant loads were 105.00 for case!!! that was 2008. But on other hand you can get Charlie Boswell at CompnChoke to thread the barrel in invector thread and get chokes for anything you to do with the gun. Have been using him for about 10 years now,and allways end up with point of aim point of impact. some people don't go through the trouble to insure this result. pm me if you have questions. [Molderators I hope I am not out of line by mentioning Mr. Boswell, but I have seen many problems when done by others and feel its worth trying to help someone avoid these pitfalls, Sorry if I was in wrong, not trying to advertise for them.] Good Luck and God Bless sam

 

[ReadyontheRight]

Thanks for the ideas!

I have been carrying around a bunch of 16ga shells for years without a 16ga shotgun. I'm not sure where I got them.

I have always wanted an A5 and a 16ga, so this seems like a good way to go for less than $200. Someone engraved an ID number into the receiver. The value is trashed, but I don't care since it's a great price and I am not likely to sell it.

If I could get the barrel shortened so that I can hold it right-handed, barrel-down and not touch the ground, and make it either Improved Cylinder or adjustable choke, I think this would make an excellent brush gun for grouse hunting.

I will, of course, shoot it as is first if I get it.

 

[rcmodel]

First, it simply won't fit back on the barrel after you shorten it.

Barrels are tapered, and get progressively thicker the further back from the muzzle you go.

Your barrel would have to be turned down on a lathe to fit the PC adapter, or else the PC adapter reamed out to fit the barrel.

There is also a matter of getting it soldered back on straight enough to shoot where it looks.

It can be done, but not with a propane torch, a set of channel-lock pliers, and an oven mitt.

rc

 

[ReadyontheRight]

First, it simply won't fit back on the barrel after you shorten it.

Barrels are tapered, and get progressively thicker the further back from the muzzle you go.

Your barrel would have to be turned down on a lathe to fit the PC adapter, or else the PC adapter reamed out to fit the barrel.

There is also a matter of getting it soldered back on straight enough to shoot where it looks.

It can be done, but not with a propane torch, a set of channel-lock pliers, and an oven mitt.

rc

That's the info I was hoping to not hear. Certainly makes sense though. The ideas above are definitely the way to go. Thanks!

 

[mothernatureson]

lop it off!

Why not lop off the barrel to the desired length? If your looking for a grouse gun, this would be a good set up. Most hunters, myself included shoot much tighter choke than necessary anyway, and use nothing but skeet or ic on my ou shotgun. Its not like the old days with fullchoke barrels most shotguns had fullchokes, look at the standard model 12 , 30 inch barrel full choke. with the development of better wads and tighter patterns, a cylinder bore bird gun is no handicap. My duck gun shoots steel best with skeet or ic choke. good luck

mothernatureson

 

[ReadyontheRight]

"...It can be done, but not with a propane torch, a set of channel-lock pliers, and an oven mitt. ..."

Not even with a Tactical Oven Mitt?

Why not lop off the barrel to the desired length? If your looking for a grouse gun, this would be a good set up. Most hunters, myself included shoot much tighter choke than necessary anyway, and use nothing but skeet or ic on my ou shotgun. Its not like the old days with fullchoke barrels most shotguns had fullchokes, look at the standard model 12 , 30 inch barrel full choke. with the development of better wads and tighter patterns, a cylinder bore bird gun is no handicap. My duck gun shoots steel best with skeet or ic choke. good luck

mothernatureson

I am actually thinking about doing that exact thing and seeing how cylinder bore patterns. I am guessing not too bad for Grouse hunting.

Anyone know a good, inexpensive place to cut down a barrel and add a bead sight?

 

[Dave McCracken]

All decent smiths can shorten a barrel the right way and mount a bead.

Dunno about grouse, but a riot length, chokeless barrel on an 870 can work very well in the brush on woodcock and quail. Trust me...

 

[TrapperReady]

With regards to cutting down barrels and grouse hunting...

The best grouse gun I own is a Winchester Model 12 that was originally fixed full choke with a 28" barrel. As it was in "beater" condition when I got it, I cut about 4" off the barrel, which effectively removed the choke.

The patterns out of the (now) cylinder bore are very even, and in the tight thickets, the shorter barrel handles much better.

On the few times I've shot sporting clays with it*, I've had very good success, even on longer targets. Cylinder often works better than people think it will.


* The gun in question is a short-chambered 16ga, so ammo is a bit pricey. Therefore I don't tend to shoot a lot of targets with it, but for bird hunting it's great!