Cost of opening up chokes on a SxS

[Old Boggy]

Having fairly recently purchased a 16g AYA Model 400 side by side shotgun I wish to have the chokes opened up. It is a cracking little gun with 26 inch barrels and ideal as a hide gun for decoying. However, I understand that these were made predominantly for the Spanish market in the 60s, prior to the models made for the British market and this one is choked 1/2 & full which seems too tight for use decoying at birds between 25 to 30 yards. It has been checked on a pattern plate using my favoured fibre wad cartridges and does indeed throw very tight patterns, certainly too tight for my accuracy at these ranges.

It's purchase didn't break the bank so to spend a bit on having the chokes opened up to say, 1/4 & 1/2 , or even possibly I.C & 1/4 seems a suitable solution. 

I propose to use an independent gunsmith rather than go via a gunshop but was wondering what I would expect to pay to have this done prior to approaching said gunsmith. This assumes of course that a 16g poses no problems (or additional cost) against a 12g, namely the different equipment being used. I have absolutely no idea whatsoever, so a ball park figure is required at this stage so that I can start saving my pension !!! 

I thank anyone in advance of any replies received.

OB

 

[greenergp]

I had my sons AYA 12 bore opened out from full to half and it cost £50, it was an independant Gunsmith that did the work.

[bruno22rf]

I've always paid £50 the pair but cash so it may depend on how well you know your Gunsmith.

[Old Boggy]

Thanks for the replies chaps.

If I could get it done for about £50, I would be very pleased. Always deal with cash anyway.

Chris, I know the gunsmith fairly well so will ring him today to see.

OB

 

[JRDS]

I had one done a while back cost £40 per barrel.

[Robertt]

Just try 1/4 in your right barrel and see how you get on.

Full choke can be a handy choke to have up your sleeve and once it's out you can't put it back.

 

[haynes]

I had my aya opened out from 1/2 and full to 1/2 and 1/2, so one barrel opened out cost me 40 quid. Great choke combo. It's what I use in all my guns.

[motty]

Leave it as it is. You may be surprised how well you get on with it.

[Guest stevo]

Or maybe see if you can get some fibre in your favourite shell. 

It may open a little better and give you something more like a 1/4 - 3/8th and 3/4 - 7/8th 

worth a go for the price of a box of shells.  

[Smokersmith]

23 hours ago, Old Boggy said:

It has been checked on a pattern plate using my favoured fibre wad cartridges and does indeed throw very tight patterns

 

4 minutes ago, stevo said:

Or maybe see if you can get some fibre in your favourite shell. 

[Guest stevo]

11 minutes ago, Smokersmith said:

 

Well spotted Steve haha 

its early mate ? 

to the OP please ignore my dizzy moment. 

Edited April 6, 2018 by stevo

[Old Boggy]

1 hour ago, stevo said:

Well spotted Steve haha 

its early mate ? 

to the OP please ignore my dizzy moment. 

Not a problem Stevo, but I might just take Motty's advice and give it another go with the current chokes before making a decision. After all, years ago, many of us probably used tightly choked guns not even knowing or bothering what they were, I know I did and just got on with it. Perhaps I should concentrate more on the accuracy and not getting hung up about the choking.

Thanks again for the replies,

OB

[Robertt]

I have just acquired an AYA No 2. Initially it was measured at 1/2 & 1/2. 

Had it double checked at the weekend and it is in fact 3/4 & 1/2.

 I went for some practice with it on Wednesday, on Sporting and Skeet and I can honestly say that the misses were well missed by reading the line wrongly or a poor mount and so on but not down to choke.

Quite a few clays on the Skeet layout were spectacularly smoked. 

If you're pulverising incomers whilst decoying a lighter load may be a consideration. 

 

Edited April 6, 2018 by Robertt

[dougall]

11 hours ago, motty said:

Leave it as it is. You may be surprised how well you get on with it.

I would certainly go give it a go in the field first....just see it as some choke in right barrel more in left and don't get too hung up on the 'nominal'...pattern plates v 'real world' are often 2 very different things...

[oldypigeonpopper]

hello, going back to the 1970s/1980s  a lot of foreign most spanish then side by sides were made with barrel chokes of half and full, i did not do any formal pheasant shooting back then just beaters day, the odd walk up, vermin day but most pigeon decoying, i had 2 side by sides and an early O/U bored out to improved and 3/4, this was advocated ideal chokes for hide shooting, interesting now for me is the 525 i now have is the first multi choke i have owned, not used much but nice to own, good luck OB what ever you decide