Shotgun noob questions

[fletcher]

I've never owned a shotgun, and have only fired them a couple times, but I'm looking to purchase a Saiga sometime in the near future, and primarily have some questions about ammunition use (and the stickies didn't quite have all the info I'm looking for):


If I were to purchase a shotgun (namely the Saiga), are there any modifications necessary to allow use of slugs or shot?

Is there a situation/configuration where both could be placed in the same tube/magazine without problems (like blowing up myself or the firearm)?

Is configuration even an issue?

I think I have a general idea, but what exactly are chokes, and what are they used for?

As with handgun/rifle ammunition, are there manufacturers that have particularly "dirty" rounds?


Thanks ahead of time for the answers

 

[Pete409]

No modifications necessary to shoot slugs or shot. You can put both in the gun at the same time in any order with no problem.

Choke is a slight constriction at the muzzle end that will make the shot patterns somewhat smaller, depending upon the amount of the constriction. Some chokes are fixed, i.e. built into the barrel, and can't be changed. Other chokes are changeable, usually by the screw-in insert and can be changed as easily as changing a light bulb. The barrel has to be built originally to accept screw-in chokes, or else you will have to pay a gunsmith $40 to $80 to thread the barrel to accept screw-in chokes. Or, an alternative in many cases is to purchase another barrel that is already threaded (internally) to accept the choke tubes.