Stuck Rem-Choke Fix

[Rat-30]

Ok, I know that this would never happen to you, but since my fortune tends to be an example to others, here goes:

I came across a 'deal' on a used Remington 11-87, 21'', rifle-sight, rem-choke with a 'rifled' choke in the bbl.

My issue is that the rifled choke was 'really' in the barrel. My normal flat bar-stock looking choke wrench wouldn't budge it, and started giving my hands fits. Overnight soaking in kroil, no difference. Hot water around the outside of bbl., no difference. More kroil, no difference...

Out comes the Brownells catalog, the choices are various choke tube wrenches, and the end-all 'stuck-choke removal tool', which approaches half the cost of another bbl...

On a whim, I called the local Wally Mart, and thankfully, they had a Remington factory choke tube wrench, the kind with the spinner handle. Now, the good part: It has a 3/8 inch ratchet cut-out in the top center for gubers like me to put some torque on it. A couple of grunts later, and it broke loose, coming right out.

The Best part: Cost of tube wrench: $6.21 with tax.
Moral: Buy two! USE GREASE

Thus endeth the story of used shotgun rem-choke removal. YMMV, and other legal mumbo-jumbo to follow.

All the best,

 

[Dave McCracken]

Thanks for posting that. Every time a tubed gun is shot, the choke should be unscrewed, lubed and re-installed or swapped. A word to the wise...

 

[Al Thompson]

That's a great post. Thanks!

 

[Rat-30]

Thanks, Dave & Al:

Y'all are right- It's good to pull 'em and lube 'em after each shoot - that's one thing that I'm fairly consistent at with my maint. program.

This is my first experience with a stuck screw-in choke, and I'm glad things turned out favorable.

Best,

 

[Rat-30]

Come on now, doesn't anybody else have any stuck-choke success stories to share?

I know that I'm not the only one to come across this 'phenomenon'

Or, are all of you out late plucking your limit of doves?

Remind me to share my dove recipie, later.


Best,

 

[Selfdfenz]

Good story and well written.

I have come close but, so far, have mangaed to get mine out...... so far.

I wonder if anyone that shoots HeviShot has hammer welded one with that stuff yet.
S-

 

[Dave McCracken]

Been close, but brute force and ignorance triumphed again. Did have a friend long ago go through many changes, last I heard he was unscrewing and relubing after every HOUR or so of hunting. Once bitten...

 

[Gearhead Jim]

Birchwood Casey makes a choke tube lube that has a silvery color like spark-plug antiseize. I've been using it with good luck, but seldom fire more than 100 rds between tube changes. Has anyone found something like this that works, or equally important, something they have found that DOESN'T work?

 

[Dave McCracken]

I've used CLP, Slip 2000, Remoil, Gunslick Moly grease and beeswax. They all worked well.

Beeswax is slightly tacky, good for keeping a tube that tends to loosen on its own tight.

 

[Red Label]

Gearhead Jim. I think that stuff you are talking about is anti seize. I use anti seize on all my choke threads and do not have any trouble ever. Note to those who do not know. A LITTLE goes a very LONG way and the stuff is gooey enough that when I get done cleaning the barrel I usually just unscrew the choke and wipe it off and stick it back in. It really stays in the threads

 

[Rat-30]

I use GenPurpose lithium grease I bought at the wally world for under $2.00/tube. It's slick, sticky, cheap and I think that if it's good enough for marine bearings, it's probably ok for a choke tube that'll get hot and maybe wet on a hunt.

I keep a section of plastic tie-wrap about 2" long stuck in the end of the tube (normal-sized grease gun tube), with about 3/4" clean, with the plastic cap over that. When I need some grease, I just open the cap, and dispense just the right amount via the tie-wrap section. I use a clean dry patch to smooth the excess accross the threads, if needed. The difficulty of applying the grease with the tie-wrap end is my feeble attempt to remind me not to use as much grease as 'I think it needs'. Keeps me from wearing the excess, works well enough for me.

I tried oil, but after an extended weekend hunt in the summer, I felt that most of the oil cooked off too quickly for me. Also, storing upright caused the slicker liquids to creep down the bbl. Very light grease seems to work better in my applications. Hope this helps.

All the best,

 

[Rat-30]

Bump for the upcoming Texas Dove Season -

Lube those choke tubes, Gals and Guys!

Best regards,

John

 

[Dave McCracken]

These days I lube with Anti Sieze Compound. Available at most hardware stores, it stays put.