Extended Choke info please.

[Frenchieboy]

I have been out getting used to my new (Per-Owned from Wabbitbosher) shotgun at a clay shoot today. I didn't doo too well, but I did better than some there which made me feel better. Anyway. to cut a long story short the gun came with 5 chokes, which was fine but they are not a matching set. Two are marked Cylinder and Imp Modified and the other three are marked 10, 7 and 3. These have been checked on a choke guage to give me an idea of what is what and it turns out that they are:- Cylinder, Half, Three Quarter, a "tight" Three Quarter and a "tight" Full.

OK,I know that choke guages are not too exact and just a guide but at least they gave me an idea of what I have and it appears that I do not have one that is the equivilent of a quarter choke.

I would like to get a new set of matching chokes and it was suggested that I should maybe think about a matched set of extended chokes. That sounds fine to me but as I am new to multi choked shotguns can someone please explain to me (In laymans language) what advantages an extended choke has over the chokes that I have which screw in by hand and protrude about a quarter of an inch beyond the barrels.

If it helps the gun is a Laurona 3 inch Magnum Over and Under with 28 inch barrels which I want to use as a general purpose gun for clays, rough shooting and if the chance comes up for wildfowling.

[clayman]

Dont waste your money - it matters not if its flush, extended, ported, fancy coloured rings - the result is the same on the pattern plate.

 

Choke regulation for exact linear progression is something Nigel Teaque can achieve if you've got £500 to spare, but it wont make a jots difference to your score unless you at Digweed's level.

 

The fact that scores are disappointing is unlikely to be anything to do with chokes.

 

A matched set of regulated chokes might make 1-2% score difference if you are in world class - and at that level it counts for a world championship or runner up - but at your level spend your money on:

 

First:- Better cartridges - cheap fast carts waste up to 30% of the pattern as flyers. A quality 24g with good edge pattern definition can give you more effective pellets in the 30" circle than a cheepo 28g - and it wont knock you about either.

 

Second:- Get lessons - proper mount, good foot work, a proper understanding of target analysis, visual pick up, correct gun hold, how to dry mount, prepare, swing and the different ways of applying lead.

 

Absolutely no point at all in worrying about the chokes until all the rest is sorted out - although its always a really good learning exercise to go out and pattern your existing chokes on wallpaper or whatever. at 30yds, shoot every choke with, say no 8s. Take a look at what you have on the paper sheets. All your really need to know is what does each choke I have already do, when I put this cartridge through it.

Edited September 23, 2012 by clayman

[VicW]

If the chokes you have screw in by hand and protrude beyond the barrels then it sounds like you already have extended chokes.

 

Performance wise there is little to choose between extended chokes and flush/non-extended chokes.

However they are easier to identify,change and they protect the end of your barrels from damage.

 

Vic.

[clayman]

The old series Laurona used a stubby choke with an extended knurled thumb grip with G spanner holes in it for tightening. Extension is only about 7mm - proper extended, ie Teague / Mandel / Briley etc have around 30mm of extension. This creates a longer tapered tube improving edge pattern definition on 3/4 and full, but not much change on more open chokes. Unless you are a FITASC shooter or Olympic Trap needing the best of patterns from your tighter chokes, the only advantages in the chokes are easier changing / identifying.

I'd debate barrel protection - seen more blown barrels with extended than with flush, as flush increases the effective metal thickness on the barrel end for knocks, while extended create leverage back to the threaded area when knocked.

The Laurona is a perfectly competent gun for general bashing about, black chrome barrels an excellent feature - and they are sturdy and reliable - but they are not high class guns and no-body I'm aware of makes off the shelf extended sets for these.

Lincoln Carerra extended choke blown out

Edited September 23, 2012 by clayman

[Gerry31]

Hi pete Mandel make chokes to suit your gun but not cheap 120 quid a set of 5

[clayman]

I stock and sell both Teague and Mandel - but the chokes are for the later series - I haven't one of the old guns with the short knurled end chokes in stock to check, but as far as I know they stopped fitting these short chokes around 1990, and they are not compatible / interchangeable with the later / current series. Any-one know for sure??