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Adjusting fixed chokes


14Supersport04
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Hello folks,

I have been looking at a few side by side shotguns on gunwatch and guntrader and i have seen a couple that fit my needs in terms of barrel length, chamber, rib style and weight but they are all 1/2 and full choked or full and 3/4 etc, i would like 1/2 and 1/2 or 1/4 and 1/2 so i was wondering if it is possible to have the choke opened up, if so does anyone have any idea who could do it and how much it would cost.

Atb, supersport

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Adjustable reamer and you can do it yourself!

DIY job with adjustable reamer is certainly feasible if the barrels are not chrome-lined and you have:

(1) a long extension handle for the reamer, so that it can be entered from the breech;

(2) a source of bushes to keep the reamer aligned in the bore (or a lathe on which to make them);

(3) prior experience of using reamers in thin-walled tubes (it's easy to get a reamer jammed if you are not careful);

(4) enough patience to take out just 2-3 thou in each pass.

It can be difficult to get a good finish with an adjustable reamer, so the choke area may need honing or lapping afterwards.

 

OK if you're an experienced engineer with time on your hands. I've done it myself (on an inexpensive gun). But for most folk, it makes sense to have a professional gunsmith do the job with fixed-size reamers.

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I have just had an old Breda o/u changed from half/full to quarter/ half. Cost me £60.00

 

Can see how they open them up but how do they close them up? Unless they leave the half as half and open the full to quarter which would swap the barrels over or am I not seeing it right due to nearly a bottle of red wine?

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It may be worth bearing in mind that a lot of 'live' pigeon guns have the choking you mention, and it may be worth considering how widening the chokes will effect the value of any such guns should you buy one with a view to opening the chokes.

Good point scully, is a live pigeon gun largely different to a game gun as this is what the gun is described as?

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Best if you can go direct to the guy that actually does it rather than the gunshop who will mark the work up double or more

DIY job with adjustable reamer is certainly feasible if the barrels are not chrome-lined and you have:

(1) a long extension handle for the reamer, so that it can be entered from the breech;

(2) a source of bushes to keep the reamer aligned in the bore (or a lathe on which to make them);

(3) prior experience of using reamers in thin-walled tubes (it's easy to get a reamer jammed if you are not careful);

(4) enough patience to take out just 2-3 thou in each pass.

It can be difficult to get a good finish with an adjustable reamer, so the choke area may need honing or lapping afterwards.

 

OK if you're an experienced engineer with time on your hands. I've done it myself (on an inexpensive gun). But for most folk, it makes sense to have a professional gunsmith do the job with fixed-size reamers.

Yep

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Good point scully, is a live pigeon gun largely different to a game gun as this is what the gun is described as?

Not significantly so, as far as I know, apart from the choke restriction and probably the longer barrels. A mate has two and uses them both as his game guns, although one is a hammer gun. He has left the choking as original. They don't feel significantly heavier than their equivalent game models, unlike sporters and game guns of today.

They are lovely guns and he uses them well.

I'm no expert so it may be worthwhile contacting Bonhams or some other auctioneer or a RFD in the know to see what effect ( if any ) opening them up would have on their value.

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Not significantly so, as far as I know, apart from the choke restriction and probably the longer barrels. A mate has two and uses them both as his game guns, although one is a hammer gun. He has left the choking as original. They don't feel significantly heavier than their equivalent game models, unlike sporters and game guns of today.

They are lovely guns and he uses them well.

I'm no expert so it may be worthwhile contacting Bonhams or some other auctioneer or a RFD in the know to see what effect ( if any ) opening them up would have on their value.

Thanks Scully, i will be clay shooting tomorrow and I will have a chat to the guys in the shop.

Atb, Supersport

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It may be worth bearing in mind that a lot of 'live' pigeon guns have the choking you mention, and it may be worth considering how widening the chokes will effect the value of any such guns should you buy one with a view to opening the chokes.

 

My old SbS hammergun (see signature) is allegedly very tightly choked. I'll only ever use it for clays but leave the choking exactly as it was made as I regard it as a historic gun and wouldn't want to change it even though it's not remarkably valuable. At least it still gets used and enjoyed (and admired). It'll still be doing its job long after I'm gone.

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