Old Boggy Posted September 18, 2015 Report Share Posted September 18, 2015 Being a bit new to under & overs having shot mainly with side by sides all my life, although I did have a 20 bore Macnab Highlander which had fixed chokes, so the query never arose, I now have a Ceasar Guerini 20 bore with multi chokes which I use quite frequently. My question is, how often should I remove the chokes for cleaning ? I am not obsessed with forever changing chokes and stick generally to I.C & 1/4 for all my shooting which these days is mainly pigeon decoying and walked up game in season, with perhaps 1/4 & 1/2 for flighting, so the chokes remain in the gun for long periods unchanged. Maybe I'm wrong and stand to be corrected, but firmly belief that with the confidence of whatever cartridge is being used and the gun held straight, then it does the job so don't wish to become paranoid about whether the correct choke is being used. To remove the chokes each time I use the gun and clean it seems somewhat excessive. Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated, although I suppose using common sense would tell me every so often, whenever that is !! Many thanks for any replies, OB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 90 Posted September 18, 2015 Report Share Posted September 18, 2015 I remove & thoroughly clean the choke + the barrel threads in A400 every time I use it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckandswing Posted September 18, 2015 Report Share Posted September 18, 2015 I remove & thoroughly clean the choke + the barrel threads in A400 every time I use it I do the same. If you're cleaning the barrels, taking out the chokes, a quick clean and thread lube with choke grease only takes but an extra couple of minutes. If left too long they can be a bitch to get out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westward Posted September 18, 2015 Report Share Posted September 18, 2015 I'm not anal about cleaning. My CG gets done about every 4 or 500 rounds, but I always loosen the chokes before it goes in the safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted September 18, 2015 Report Share Posted September 18, 2015 It needs to become a habit really, any burs or slight lip on tbe chokes could create a build up of wadding or crud, not a good thing to have a restriction at the muzzles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry931 Posted September 18, 2015 Report Share Posted September 18, 2015 I don't like changing chokes once I've found what works for me. Have sometimes left them in for up to a year. When I do clean them it's a pretty intensive job. I get the choke and internal threads perfectly clean with hot soapy water / white spirit. Then make sure they're dry with a hair dryer. Then I completely smother the internal threads and choke exterior with lithium grease. Then do it up as tight as I can by hand with a tapered wrench. Lots of excess grease to wipe off and push tissue paper through the bore. Only take them out many months later on a rainy/boring day. A bit of heat hairdryer/radiator will slacken the threads ever so slightly and then straight out with the tapered wrench again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savhmr Posted September 18, 2015 Report Share Posted September 18, 2015 (edited) Only do mine every few hundred shells. Never had a problem with them sticking. I always check them before they go in to ensure they're in perfect nick (I simply wouldn't use any choke which had burrs or other faults) and put a very light coat of gun oil on their external face. Never had one stick or cause a problem yet. Edited September 18, 2015 by Savhmr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted September 18, 2015 Report Share Posted September 18, 2015 I rarely clean my chokes. I don't think it is particularly important. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted September 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2015 Many thanks for the replies. I thought that cleaning every time the gun is cleaned was a bit OTT but wished to check with those far more experienced in such things than me so will take a balanced view from the replies. Thanks, OB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry136 Posted September 18, 2015 Report Share Posted September 18, 2015 I clean and oil my guns after every shoot, they're spotless! Then again after 10 years in the Army it's normal behaviour for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12gauge82 Posted September 18, 2015 Report Share Posted September 18, 2015 I rarely clean my chokes a few times a year, mostly do it when my guns get wet as I tend to strip them right down clean and dry everything before returning them to the cabinet, never got one stuck yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris1961 Posted September 20, 2015 Report Share Posted September 20, 2015 I clean mine Every time it's been shot even if I only shoot 25 it gets a strip down and clean and oil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salopian Posted September 21, 2015 Report Share Posted September 21, 2015 Multichokes should be kept clean and lubricated, check every time the gun is used that they are clean and tight before use and free to come out after use. A stuck multichoke could be the ruination of your barrels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted September 21, 2015 Report Share Posted September 21, 2015 Bought a semi auto with a skeet choke jammed in it! Broke a key trying to remove it because it had just about seized in the threads. Had to leave it soaking in DP-80 over night then use a heavy duty beretta key to remove the choke and thread cutter to clean out the ****. Ran a chamber brush in a cordless drill into the threads to clean them properly! Then light coat of grease before fitting my 3/4 choke! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eon Posted December 18, 2015 Report Share Posted December 18, 2015 Mine are cleaned after every shoot. Anyone who had seen the proof house disasters would know that these days most problems with shotguns is down to chokes, either damaged or not seated correctly etc etc. Realistically how much longer does it take to clean the he gun when doing chokes as well?? I'm happy to admit that I'm a little anal in my gun care but I shoot a lot and my gun is mint! I took the CPSA safety officer course last year and they had some horror stories regarding chokes and gun care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guzzicat Posted December 18, 2015 Report Share Posted December 18, 2015 If a choke tube is seated correctly,& the perfect fit it should be how can residue find it,s way up the threads?, I never have had any problems over the years, change em if I need to or leave em in . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted December 19, 2015 Report Share Posted December 19, 2015 (edited) Clean my guns after every use but I do leave the chokes in for a few months at a time. I coat both the inside of the barrel threads and plain part of the barrels and ghoutside of the chokes with grease, this makes a gas tight seal when done up with the choke key. Every couple of weeks I check them for turning smooth and then retighten. When I find them slightly grainy when undoing them a bit,out they come for cleaning. Depends how often and how many cartridges you shoot. If you only shoot 25 a week you could get away with checking them regular and cleaning them once or twice a year. Edited December 19, 2015 by figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brett1985 Posted December 19, 2015 Report Share Posted December 19, 2015 if im cleaning chokes, I usually leave them in a pot of carb cleaner overnight. next day, just rinse under water and theyre clean as a whistle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B25Modelman Posted December 19, 2015 Report Share Posted December 19, 2015 I leave it in for barrel scrubbing then it takes a few minute to remove, clean it and the internal thread (Maxus), lubricate and pop it back in...simplze. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerettaSV10 Posted December 19, 2015 Report Share Posted December 19, 2015 As I clean the gun after every trip, being a light or full clean, I take the chokes out wipe over with oily kitchen roll spray with them with gun oil and refit, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted December 19, 2015 Report Share Posted December 19, 2015 I've found WD40 or Castrol penoil the best for removing carbon from chokes. Leave to soak for a few mins and rub with green plastic pan scrubber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted December 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 Many thanks for all your replies and advice. I will take the general census of opinion and now clean after every outing. Not worth taking the chance of ruining the barrels for the sake of a few extra minutes whilst cleaning the gun. Thanks again to all. OB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Bb Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 Many thanks for all your replies and advice. I will take the general census of opinion and now clean after every outing. Not worth taking the chance of ruining the barrels for the sake of a few extra minutes whilst cleaning the gun. Thanks again to all. OB Just make sure you oil or grease the threads before refitting. I use Birchwood Casey Choke Tube Lube, others recommend many other options, Coppaslip or gun greases are supposed to be good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STOTTO Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 I clean and oil my guns after every shoot, they're spotless! Then again after 10 years in the Army it's normal behaviour for me. Non-military types might ‘choke’ on this; “I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its sights and its barrel. I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will...” Full version here, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifleman's_Creed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazbev Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 Cleaning every time is a waste of time in my opinion I know a bit about engineering (30 years) don't forget we are talking about chrome plated metals with an interference fit, unless they are loose there's not a lot to go wrong. There is more chance of you getting crud between the interference surfaces taking them in and out. I do what Henry does a good clean every six months and put copper grease in the threads and make sure I loosen the slightly and tighten them up before I put them away. Mechanics use copper grease on brake components to stop them seizing, you can imagine the temperatures brakes get to There are gunsmiths that would back this up, the fact is some people love to mess with them and it gives them peace of mind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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