Extended chokes

[NorfolkAYA]

Hi all,

Just looking for people's consensus, extended chokes on a driven day?

The reason I say, I had quite a frank discussion during a day with a bloke earlier. 

I have some extended chokes I use in my ATA 20b. 

He told me I shouldn't be using them on a driven day, and compared it to using a semi-auto, I think he was trying to get the point over that it's not very traditional.

What does everyone thing. 

AtB 

Pete

[Smokersmith]

Personally I use flush, but see no problem with extended.

[Old farrier]

Been using flush and fixed choke this season 

certainly don’t have a problem with the extended ones and will be using them myself when shooting game with non toxic cartridges in the future 

As will the gentleman that you had the discussion with 👍

[royden]

I use flush chokes in my gun because i am too tight to pay out for extended, but if i had payed out for them i would use them at every opportunity i had. As to comparing them to using an auto i cant see that at all. Your gun will look as safe broken with extended chokes as it will with flush.

 

[Scully]

16 minutes ago, NorfolkAYA said:

Hi all,

Just looking for people's consensus, extended chokes on a driven day?

The reason I say, I had quite a frank discussion during a day with a bloke earlier. 

I have some extended chokes I use in my ATA 20b. 

He told me I shouldn't be using them on a driven day, and compared it to using a semi-auto, I think he was trying to get the point over that it's not very traditional.

What does everyone thing. 

AtB 

Pete

What a crock! 😀Use whatever chokes you want. I use both, depending on which gun I take. 

[NorfolkAYA]

This exactly what I thought, I've shot no end of days with extended chokes and never had a comment until now.

[Ultrastu]

He probably  worries what colour socks you wear also  .ignore 

[Weihrauch17]

I think they totally spoil the lines of any gun other than a semi but if you like them I can't see a problem.

Edited December 28, 2021 by Weihrauch17

[vmaxphil]

Blimey I use brightly coloured titanium chokes in my 525 laminate must hang my head in shame in his company then 😞

[TIGHTCHOKE]

My game Beretta is fixed choke as is my clay Beretta.  

 

Tradition can only continue if everyone plays along.

I wear a collared shirt and service tie along with breeks and leather boots that have been polished.

I also offer round a drink at lunchtime.

Very simply put, if you wish to join in with the tradition, do so, it makes the day better.

If you choose to be the renegade and go against tradition you may well not get invited back.

One young chap that  I have coached for years and built him a Beretta to fit gets invited on some lovely shoots.

He is polite, shoots well, knows how to conduct himself in good company and gets invited back.

Edited December 29, 2021 by TIGHTCHOKE

[WalkedUp]

I shoot flush or fixed choke. However the far bigger breach of etiquette and tradition is to point out or mock someone’s difference. Very poor form by the other gun unless he’s a close friend and that sort of ribbing is mutual. Also, the semi automatic comparison is ridiculous and shows a complete lack of understanding - a better comparison would be over-and-under versus a side-by-side. Then it would be a Spanish side-by-side versus an English gun. Then single trigger versus double triggers. Then hammerless versus hammer gun. Then nitro versus black power. You have to draw your own line somewhere, and accept that others draw theirs in different places. 

[Taileron]

11 hours ago, Scully said:

What a crock! 😀Use whatever chokes you want. I use both, depending on which gun I take. 

Fully agree. I cannot see any viable reason why extended chokes would cause anyone to comment. All of my guns have extended chokes, and having bashed one climbing over a fence I was glad they were fitted as a simple choke replacement was cheaper and easier than a costly dent removal. I have a slightly more hardcore view of shooting and firmly believe any shotgun should be accepted, and include the use of semi automatics on driven days. Some people (including myself) have picked up injuries over the years, I have no option other than to use a gas driven semi for recoil removal purposes when shooting over 75 carts, or give up the sport. We bang on about tradition of driven days, which is a good thing in some respects, but a failure to move with the times will only cause a decline in numbers shooting in a sport which seems perpetually under threat. The constant argument over what type of gun is acceptable but the complete lack of comment about lunchtime drinks ( firearms and alcohol??? ) is ignored. We need to encourage more people into our sport rather than put them off.  I have done a fair bit of beating and picking up over the years and have seen birds blasted to pieces by individuals taking shots which were unacceptable regardless of what gun (or chokes) were used. I must however put a caveat on the usage of semi automatics for walked up as littering the land with cases which have been thrown out of site is also unacceptable.

 

I have already put on my Kevlar helmet for the incoming.

[Charliedog]

My guns only out of the slip on peg, i doubt any of the other guns could even tell the type of gun let alone chokes, really is not an issue and if they were serious spend your money elsewhere

[Stonepark]

12 hours ago, NorfolkAYA said:

I think he was trying to get the point over that it's not very traditiona

Was he using a black powder side by side hammer gun handed down from his grandfather with 2 inch chambers, black powder paper cartridges with 1oz of soft lead no6 shot?

If not, he isn't traditional...... 😜

 

Don't worry about what others think, especially with something as small as extended chokes.

Our predecessors used every modern advantage as soon as it came along, whether double barrels, hammerless, over and under, ejectors, smokeless powder etc etc

I have been questioned likewise before but merely queried in return what is traditional that wasn't novel at some point?... and then proceeded to point out all the modern advantages that other gun was partaking in.....

 

[London Best]

2 hours ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

My game Beretta is fixed choke as is my clay Beretta.  

 

Tradition can only continue if everyone plays along.

I wear a collared shirt and service tie along with breeks and leather boots that have been polished.

I also offer round a drink at lunchtime.

Very simply put, if you wish to join in with the tradition, do so, it makes the day better.

If you choose to be the renegade and go against tradition you may well not get invited back.

One young chap that  I have coached for years and built him a Beretta to fit gets invited on some lovely shoots.

He is polite, shoots well, knows how to conduct himself in good company and gets invited back.

I largely agree with Mr. Tightchoke on this, but I won’t be having one of those O/U things!

To be serious though: Only my personal view and I would not impose it on anyone, but sticky out chokes look ridiculous. I just cannot see the advantage of them. Half choke is half choke and full is full, whether it comes out of a 25 inch barrel or a 31 inch with sticky out chokes. I have been known to take the P by rushing up to someone with mock concern and saying, “careful, careful, you have something sticking out of your barrel”.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

6 minutes ago, London Best said:

I largely agree with Mr. Tightchoke on this, but I won’t be having one of those O/U things!

To be serious though: Only my personal view and I would not impose it on anyone, but sticky out chokes look ridiculous. I just cannot see the advantage of them. Half choke is half choke and full is full, whether it comes out of a 25 inch barrel or a 31 inch with sticky out chokes. I have been known to take the P by rushing up to someone with mock concern and saying, “careful, careful, you have something sticking out of your barrel”.

LB I do own several SxS's, they are all fixed choke too.   

[wymberley]

14 hours ago, NorfolkAYA said:

Hi all,

Just looking for people's consensus, extended chokes on a driven day?

The reason I say, I had quite a frank discussion during a day with a bloke earlier. 

I have some extended chokes I use in my ATA 20b. 

He told me I shouldn't be using them on a driven day, and compared it to using a semi-auto, I think he was trying to get the point over that it's not very traditional.

What does everyone thing. 

AtB 

Pete

If you meet again and he has another go, just point out that he doesn't know what he's talking about. Explaining that there's no such thing as semi auto - it's either auto or it isn't which is why the correct term is self loading.

[Scully]

I’m of the opinion that tradition can only be maintained for a limited amount of time, otherwise shooting would simply become even more elitist than it already is ( as it once was ) and a thing of the past and eventually die out. 
I’m all for dress codes as I think standards have to be maintained…..to a degree, but if nothing evolved it would simply cease to be. 
Golf was very elitist at one time also, and like shooting I’m pretty certain there are those who would like to see it remain that way, but new blood, progressive thinking, open minds and new technology opens up sport to others. 
We can still maintain dress codes but accept new technology. 
Are there any golfers using wooden clubs nowadays, or wearing pork pie hats and plus twos/fours? Golf buggy anyone? 
Shooters harp on about tradition, but most are using hammerless guns nowadays. There will be a few using hammer guns but they’re very much in the minority. 
Multi chokes aren’t traditional, but neither are OU’s or smokeless powders. Shotkams aren’t traditional, but neither is Gore-tex or raised ribs.  Hearing protection isn’t traditional, and nor are shooting glasses or walkie-talkies….and nor is steel shot. 
There is a pomposity which pervades some of the shooting classes, but they’re very selective about the things they regard as untraditional ( which translates as ‘ I don’t like it so it shouldn’t be used’ ) and therefore unacceptable, and those they do find acceptable. It makes them appear unapproachable and snobbishly aloof. 
Personally I don’t like a silver choke sticking out of the end of my blacked barrels as it spoils the look, but that’s just me, so I paint them with Zinsser All Coat matt black. I’m a painter so have access to loads of black paint! No one has ever noticed they’re external chokes, or if they have they haven’t commented. 🙂 I tried blacking them with a candle a long time ago, but it’s not very effective. 
The purple ‘Spectrum’ ported extended choke I have in my auto ( sorry, self loader 🙂) I absolutely love, however! 
My old Perazzi has an original blacked external choke in the bottom barrel and a flush Teague atop. I’ve lost count of the number of people who have informed me one of my chokes has dropped out. 
As long as people are safe I don’t care if they use black powder, trap guns, coloured external multi chokes, self loaders or pumps. 

We don’t have to accept much change really, to make shooting more inclusive than exclusive. 

 

[wymberley]

16 minutes ago, Scully said:

I’m of the opinion that tradition can only be maintained for a limited amount of time, otherwise shooting would simply become even more elitist than it already is ( as it once was ) and a thing of the past and eventually die out. 
I’m all for dress codes as I think standards have to be maintained…..to a degree, but if nothing evolved it would simply cease to be. 
Golf was very elitist at one time also, and like shooting I’m pretty certain there are those who would like to see it remain that way, but new blood, progressive thinking, open minds and new technology opens up sport to others. 
We can still maintain dress codes but accept new technology. 
Are there any golfers using wooden clubs nowadays, or wearing pork pie hats and plus twos/fours? Golf buggy anyone? 
Shooters harp on about tradition, but most are using hammerless guns nowadays. There will be a few using hammer guns but they’re very much in the minority. 
Multi chokes aren’t traditional, but neither are OU’s or smokeless powders. Shotkams aren’t traditional, but neither is Gore-tex or raised ribs.  Hearing protection isn’t traditional, and nor are shooting glasses or walkie-talkies….and nor is steel shot. 
There is a pomposity which pervades some of the shooting classes, but they’re very selective about the things they regard as untraditional ( which translates as ‘ I don’t like it so it shouldn’t be used’ ) and therefore unacceptable, and those they do find acceptable. It makes them appear unapproachable and snobbishly aloof. 
Personally I don’t like a silver choke sticking out of the end of my blacked barrels as it spoils the look, but that’s just me, so I paint them with Zinsser All Coat matt black. I’m a painter so have access to loads of black paint! No one has ever noticed they’re external chokes, or if they have they haven’t commented. 🙂 I tried blacking them with a candle a long time ago, but it’s not very effective. 
The purple ‘Spectrum’ ported extended choke I have in my auto ( sorry, self loader 🙂) I absolutely love, however! 
My old Perazzi has an original blacked external choke in the bottom barrel and a flush Teague atop. I’ve lost count of the number of people who have informed me one of my chokes has dropped out. 
As long as people are safe I don’t care if they use black powder, trap guns, coloured external multi chokes, self loaders or pumps. 

We don’t have to accept much change really, to make shooting more inclusive than exclusive. 

 

^^^^^^ This 

As you know, semi auto gets my goat, let's just not start on light modified, modified and light improved modified. 

[Scully]

7 minutes ago, wymberley said:

^^^^^^ This 

As you know, semi auto gets my goat, let's just not start on light modified, modified and light improved modified. 

You’re quite right Wymberley. 🙂

I think ‘semi auto’ is the American term, and I shall forever now refer to them as self loaders; after all, I was a big fan of the FN-FAL as a cadet, which were referred to as the SLR. 
I wouldn’t dream of telling others to do the same however! 😉

[London Best]

1 hour ago, Scully said:

I’m of the opinion that tradition can only be maintained for a limited amount of time, otherwise shooting would simply become even more elitist than it already is ( as it once was ) and a thing of the past and eventually die out. 
I’m all for dress codes as I think standards have to be maintained…..to a degree, but if nothing evolved it would simply cease to be. 
Golf was very elitist at one time also, and like shooting I’m pretty certain there are those who would like to see it remain that way, but new blood, progressive thinking, open minds and new technology opens up sport to others. 
We can still maintain dress codes but accept new technology. 
Are there any golfers using wooden clubs nowadays, or wearing pork pie hats and plus twos/fours? Golf buggy anyone? 
Shooters harp on about tradition, but most are using hammerless guns nowadays. There will be a few using hammer guns but they’re very much in the minority. 
Multi chokes aren’t traditional, but neither are OU’s or smokeless powders. Shotkams aren’t traditional, but neither is Gore-tex or raised ribs.  Hearing protection isn’t traditional, and nor are shooting glasses or walkie-talkies….and nor is steel shot. 
There is a pomposity which pervades some of the shooting classes, but they’re very selective about the things they regard as untraditional ( which translates as ‘ I don’t like it so it shouldn’t be used’ ) and therefore unacceptable, and those they do find acceptable. It makes them appear unapproachable and snobbishly aloof. 
Personally I don’t like a silver choke sticking out of the end of my blacked barrels as it spoils the look, but that’s just me, so I paint them with Zinsser All Coat matt black. I’m a painter so have access to loads of black paint! No one has ever noticed they’re external chokes, or if they have they haven’t commented. 🙂 I tried blacking them with a candle a long time ago, but it’s not very effective. 
The purple ‘Spectrum’ ported extended choke I have in my auto ( sorry, self loader 🙂) I absolutely love, however! 
My old Perazzi has an original blacked external choke in the bottom barrel and a flush Teague atop. I’ve lost count of the number of people who have informed me one of my chokes has dropped out. 
As long as people are safe I don’t care if they use black powder, trap guns, coloured external multi chokes, self loaders or pumps. 

We don’t have to accept much change really, to make shooting more inclusive than exclusive. 

 

Good post Scully.

[Rob85]

I would have told that guy to about turn and fudge off.

As much as I'm a side by side lover I would take an o/u driven shooting if I felt like it, extended choke or not. If I was in your position I would insist on forever being on the peg beside him and get yourself some bright pink nail varnish and give your chokes the once over.

Attitudes like that are like a red rag to a bull with me. I'm all for a wee bit of ribbing and micky taking so long as everyone is smiling at the end of the day. If I owned a shoot and someone was paying 700quid plus for a days shooting and turned up with a hatsan escort, should he be turned away? Hell no, if they were ok with the mickey taking i would have them exchange their hat with a Fez or a sailors hat or suchlike just to lighten the mood.

[Sweet11-87]

 

next time he asks you about them tell him its safety which is the same apparent reason Semi autos and pumps arnt welcome but drink getting passed around before dinner is :s.

extended chokes let you see what youre using at a glance, allows you to tighten them down by hand when the gun is empty without tools and they protect the muzzle to a degree during use.

when lead shot gets banned and everyone moves to steel all of the above become a little bit more important. got a feeling extended chokes will be "traditional" before long

 

[Fellside]

21 hours ago, NorfolkAYA said:

Hi all,

Just looking for people's consensus, extended chokes on a driven day?

The reason I say, I had quite a frank discussion during a day with a bloke earlier. 

I have some extended chokes I use in my ATA 20b. 

He told me I shouldn't be using them on a driven day, and compared it to using a semi-auto, I think he was trying to get the point over that it's not very traditional.

What does everyone thing. 

AtB 

Pete

Don’t worry, you’re not infringing the ‘unwritten code’. Extended chokes went mainstream ages ago. Lots of people use sporters for high birds these days - many have extended chokes as standard. It’s bad form on his part to make a fellow gun feel so unwelcome - and about such a matter of nonsense and trivia at that. Some people imagine that we all have to appear as a shooting character from Downton Abbey or similar…..?!

Tell him your regular gun is a Union Jack painted trap gun with massively extended colour coded chokes …...😁

[NorfolkAYA]

Thanks chaps. It's no skin of my nose, it didn't bother me, as I don't take things to heart. 

Just flabbergasted that he came out with it 🤣🤣