teague/briley chokes

[MirokuMK70]

I have a miroku with standard factory invector (not plus) chokes. Do the teague/briley chokes really throw better patterns
than standard factory ones, or is it all in the mind or dependant on cartridge???

 

Thinking of maybe getting some teagues but don't want to waste my money if there's no advantage to it...

[Sx3 clay breaker]

Idk I've got a brierley 1/4 and 3/4 extended ported chokes and I like them easier to check of they are tight I think it throws a bit better pattern but never paten tested it but at the end of the day if you out the lead in the right place it will work with whatever

 

Atb scott

[Westley]

Hi, with regards to the after sales replacement chokes. I have guns fitted with Teague and Briley chokes. My Miroku is fitted with 2 I/C Briley chokes and I do believe they are far superior to the original chokes and even have the edge over Teague chokes. If I encounter a rangey target, I tighten up the pattern with a better cartridge, otherwise I/C (1/4) in both works for me.

[Westley]

Sorry forgot to add the Briley's are both extended. I have a full set of 6 but only use 2.

[simonix]

I have a Miroku fitted with the invector chokes.

 

Because they are so short in factory flush fit form, my belief is that an extended choke would improve consistent patterning.

 

I bought some secondhand extended teague chokes and although I haven't patterned the gun since, I certainly feel more confident with the performance which I imagine is half the battle! ;-)

 

PS, I bought 1x1/4 and 1x1/2.

 

ATB

[Gordon R]

Spend the money on lessons, rather than throw your money away on bling.

[simonix]

Good advice there from Gordon actually.

 

My scores didn't really improve that much if at all on clays after getting the chokes.

 

Mind you, I was lucky and got the chokes for only £15 each so didn't have to justify a high price tag!

[Paulywauly]

I bought a 2nd hand invector plus teague extended 1/2 choke for my Browning Maxus. Might be purely a psychological advantage, but its shooting powerful well for me. Hitting ducks very hard at 40 yds+.

[MirokuMK70]

Spend the money on lessons, rather than throw your money away on bling.

Thanks for the advice but i'm not bothered about bling - i hate the look of extended chokes and would go for flush. What I want to know is if "quality" chokes improve shot patterns....

Edited December 30, 2013 by MirokuMK70

[Guest cookoff013]

they can improve patterns as each manufacturer and gun manufacturer have different specification on what actually the choke is and what their interpretation is.

 

for instance, my merkel choked 1/2 and 1/1, is classic game, but due to the silly overbore and extreme restrictions its more like 7/8 and xxxxxxxxxxxfull. i cant even get a payne gallway brush through it.

 

i`ll tell you this though, the patterns are well above spec.

 

the briley chokes are quality, and i do favour them i have a full / full set and i like to shoot 7/8oz and other light shells through. but i`m using homeloads too.

for steel i back off and use a cyl set, if i need to.

 

as for the "is it worth it.?" i havent needed another choke or questioned the briley, although i do like the #9s through tight chokes.

[Gordon R]

Unless you pattern every make of choke with every brand of cartridge it is almost impossible to say one is better than another.

 

I have owned every make of choke and the only one with any advantage, for me, was the Muller as it was the lightest and needed no cleaning. I used to own 33 chokes - if memory serves - I used two of them. Now, I use a fixed choke 3/8 and 3/8 - properly done by Nigel Teague.

 

I stand by the statement - changing brand of chokes is largely a waste of money.

[fruity]

Unless you pattern every make of choke with every brand of cartridge it is almost impossible to say one is better than another.

 

I have owned every make of choke and the only one with any advantage, for me, was the Muller as it was the lightest and needed no cleaning. I used to own 33 chokes - if memory serves - I used two of them. Now, I use a fixed choke 3/8 and 3/8 - properly done by Nigel Teague.

 

I stand by the statement - changing brand of chokes is largely a waste of money.

Can I ask Gordon which disipline do you use 3/8-3/8 for ?

[VicW]

I am convinced I kept Nigel Teague and others off the bread line considering the number of chokes I tried over the years and did all that expense improve my scores, no it didn't, not one bit.

Gordon is right save your money.

If asked to recommend a choke I would say extended Teague. The extension is slightly shorter, which makes it less obtrusive and has no slots for a key which rip the insides out of your gun slip. It is easy to keep them tight with your fingers. Extended chokes also protect your barrel muzzle from damage.

 

Vic.

[sishyplops]

I used to be a choke tart, I now use 1/4 & 1/2 for everything bar skeet and dtl, I do however carry 7 1/2 and 9 carts and vary accordingly , also chop and change barrel selector , but don't change chokes on a sporting stand, been AA for years and never dropped out, nearly bought some recently then thought nah save money

[Westley]

Spend the money on lessons, rather than throw your money away on bling.

 

I would not describe a Briley extended choke as 'bling'. The extended choke is far superior to the standard Browning choke, if for no other reason than giving you something to grip with a Stilson wrench to remove the stuck choke after failure to clean and maintain the gun correctly.

[timps]

I agree with Gordon.

 

No choke manufacturer knows what ammo you are going to use and seeing that different ammo patterns differently through the same choke it becomes a bit of a minefield as to which one patterns best.

 

If they said use cartridge brand x with shot size y through this choke I would be a bit more of a believer, as long as the cartridge company did not change components on you.

 

I bought some Briley 1/4 chokes for my old Browning, I could not believe the kills, wow miles better... Or so I thought, when I measured them they were more akin to a standard Browning 3/8 constriction so I could have achieved the same result by buying a standard 3/8 and it was just clever marketing. Tighten up the choke compared to a standard 1/4 but still call it a 1/4 and watch people be amazed at the breaks.

 

People tell me the tolerances are better with aftermarket, however, the choke is based on the constriction of the bore, if the gun makers tolerances are so bad they cannot make a choke then how the heck will they get the bore right?

 

Also what bore measurement do the aftermarket choke guys base their chokes on if the tolerances are all over the place?

 

There is not much you can do to a choke, it starts off at one measurement and tapers to another. You can play about with the length of the parallel section (or lack of it) and the length of the taper. However seeing as the OP is sticking with flush chokes the length of the choke has already been set by Miroku so the aftermarket choke manufacturers are not going to be able to change much apart from clever marketing.

Edited December 30, 2013 by timps

[Gordon R]

Can I ask Gordon which disipline do you use 3/8-3/8 for ?

 

I use it for Sporting, but shoot skeet or DTL with it.

 

Timps - good post.

[Adrian Foster]

I will probably get shot down for the following.

 

Having tried quite a few aftermarket chokes (Berretta Mobil) I have come to the view that they can help or hinder in two respects.

 

Firstly some choke systems are quite short (in the case of the Mobil chokes, 2 inches, and with the invectors shorter than that). The modern chokes, including, for example Mullers, are longer – generally 3 ½ inches. I believe that 3 ½ inches is the optimum length due to most modern chokes (Optimas etc) being around that length but I have no evidence to prove that point.

 

Secondly, some aftermarket chokes may weight more or less than the standard ones and this may change the balance of the gun which the shooter may notice and find a help and/or hindrance. Note the number of ‘mays’ in that sentence. In the case of short chokes (say the 2 inch Mobil) the additional (say 1 inch) extension can add 20g to each choke and thus 40g to the end of the gun. I do notice it so have ended up with Briley titaniums as they weight the same as the standard fit, are easy to check, protect the barrel and I think (because they are 3 inches long) pattern better.

 

I would say however that I do change chokes a fair bit (skeet & 1/4 for skeet, 1/2 and 3/4 for DLT and 3/8 and 5/8 for sporting) but do not change my cartridge.

 

With regard to the issue of weight at the end of the barrel, 40g is about the same as a ‘barrel inch’ – a 32 inch gun has an extra 80g of barrel at the end over a 30 inch gun – so it is reasonable to assume that it could be a factor.

 

Having said of if this, I also agree that once you have bought some chokes (or a set) be done with it and forget them and don’t waste money on different types thinking they will make a difference; I can tell you they don’t, even though its fun sometimes messing.

[fruity]

 

I use it for Sporting, but shoot skeet or DTL with it.

 

Timps - good post.

Ok thanks

[Sandbank]

A few years back I decided to follow the flock and install Teague extended chokes in my two Beretta semi-autos. I could not bring myself to disturb the classic lines of my Browning B325 O/U which remains with the Browning originals.

 

i) One consistent observation I have made is that if my scores are below par for a while with my Browning I get an immediate 10% increase by switching to one of the Teague choked semis.

 

ii) One consistent observation I have made is that if my scores are below par for a while with my Berettas I get an immediate 10% increase by switching to my Browning.

 

After many years of shooting I am slowly coming to the conclusion that killing a target has as much to do with where you point the gun as the gun you use or the chokes you install. Also pointing the gun in the right direction has a lot to do with state of mind, self belief and belief you are not being 'held back' by your equipment.

 

But agree with the wise words of Timps ...... My AL390 has a Teague Skeet choke almost permanently installed which will achieve impressive breaks on even quite distant Sporting targets. A tight 'Skeet' it certainly is.

A bit like fancy clothes shops flattering the ladies by selling them a size 10 which is really a generous 12!!

[matone]

Unless you pattern every make of choke with every brand of cartridge it is almost impossible to say one is better than another.

 

I have owned every make of choke and the only one with any advantage, for me, was the Muller as it was the lightest and needed no cleaning. I used to own 33 chokes - if memory serves - I used two of them. Now, I use a fixed choke 3/8 and 3/8 - properly done by Nigel Teague.

 

I stand by the statement - changing brand of chokes is largely a waste of money.

A wise assesment !

[wj939]

I tried teagues in my beretta, the extended type, but this was purely as I hated flush chokes, loosening them before storing the gun then remembering to tighten them before shooting, obviously this is a bit easier with extended. I did however notice slightly better patterns with them but I could equally say that was probably psychological.

 

Personally I think extended only has the advantage of hand tightening and really if we were to think of the 0.01% of a difference after market chokes probably have I'd rather not pay to keep Mr. Briley et Al in the latest range rover.

 

Put two chokes in and keep to those. One less thing to think about.