What choke when using solid slugs

[Hunting_Bunnies]

Hi all

 

Have just collected my new FAC Winchester SX3 semi-auto today and a friend with permission for slugs wants to put some of these through my new gun. I'm slightly concerned - SX3 only came with 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 chokes. Do I need e.g a skeet choke to take slugs safely?

 

(We cut a slug out of a cartridges and tried for size - very, very snug with 1/4 choke)

 

Thanks in advance for your help :blink:

 

BH

[utectok]

want to put them through cylinder I reckon

[new to the flock]

It will depend on the slug as some are made for full choke, some for open, and some for modified. Along with that you have slugs that are made for smooth bores and slugs that are made for a rifled barrel.

 

NTTF

[Mungler]

1/4

[Vince Green]

Commercial slugs are made to go through any choke because the ammunition makers don't want to get sued. However, firing through a full choke may have a small adverse effect on accuracy.

1/4 Choke will be fine.

[Hunting_Bunnies]

The slugs we want to use are Gamebore Buffalos - there's no warning on the side of the box saying particular choke must be used/ avoided. Anyone used these?

 

:blink:

 

HB

[radio1ham]

maybe you can leave the chokes off the gun so then you will have a straight cylinder , but not to sure if you can do that with your gun

i wouldnt put then through a full choke for no one as the preasure would increase to fantastic levels

best be safe than sorry

but straight cylinder would be the best way to go , if unsure maybe ask your local gunsmith or if you know who makes the slugs try and find their phone number and give them a ring they will tell you whats best to use

hope this helps

[MC]

Don't EVER fire a gun without a choke fitted, That is quite possibly the worst advice that has ever been posted on here (and no you don't win a prize)

 

1/4 choke will be OK but if you are in any doubt then either don't do it or give the importers a ring. It used to BWM but I am not sure who it is now.

[al4x]

I guess if you really wanted to be sure you could open a cartridge and drop a slug down the barrel, of it goes straight through fine, If it doesn't it won't be fine. Of course the alternative is read whats written on the box :blink:

[Hunting_Bunnies]

Thanks for the good advice.

 

Had looked on the side of the box - only warning re: max pressure - nothing about chokes.

 

Rang Gamebore this morning. They inform me that technically the slug will go through the gun with full choke, but told that half choke will be fine. Think I'll still use quarter choke just to be on the safe side!

 

 

 

HB

Edited May 22, 2009 by Hunting_Bunnies

[wymberley]

Hi,

True cylinder. Used to shoot boar in Germany and that boring was always recommended for the greatest accuracy. Many slugs (if not all, I'm not certain) are "rifled" for this purpose.

Cheers

[CharlieT]

I use slugs occasionally on deer and find that 1/4 choke on mine gives the best groups.

[Breastman]

If they are the 'finned' slugs (the fins or 'rifling' on slugs is specifically there to be compressed when going through a choked barrel, it does little if anything with regard to stabilisation), i wouldn't go anything tigher than modified (1/2). But see what works best for your gun as 1/4 or even cylinder might give better accuracy. I've dug slugs out of a backstop after firing them through a 1/2 choke and there wasn't much compression left on the fins so that would be as tight as i'd have it personally. (That was with S&B Special Sports slugs btw) :blink:

 

Mark

Edited May 22, 2009 by Breastman

[Hunting_Bunnies]

Have been out and tried the Buffalo slugs - worked fine with 1/4 choke. Barrel was spotless afterwards too.

 

Thanks to everyone for all the useful and practical advice :-)

 

HB

[wannabefisher]

Don't EVER fire a gun without a choke fitted, That is quite possibly the worst advice that has ever been posted on here (and no you don't win a prize)

 

why?

[Harnser]

I guess if you really wanted to be sure you could open a cartridge and drop a slug down the barrel, of it goes straight through fine, If it doesn't it won't be fine. Of course the alternative is read whats written on the box

A solid slug may well drop through the barrel ,i dont know as i have never tried it . But slugs are designed to expand after firing to make a gas tight seal in the barrel for velocity . I wouldnt shoot a slug through a barrel with more than quarter choke .

Harnser .

[Cosd]

why?

 

 

I'm not an expert on this as I have never used them, but common sense would tell you not to put a tight fitting slug to run through the gun choke threads!

 

I'm guessing there would be a good chance that you'l lose some thread and the gun would need to go to a gunsmith.

[Zapp]

why?

 

Because you run a very good risk of ******* up the choke thread, regardless of whether you are putting a slug or shot load through it. In essence you would be stuck with a cylinder choked gun.

 

ZB

[wannabefisher]

Because you run a very good risk of ******* up the choke thread, regardless of whether you are putting a slug or shot load through it. In essence you would be stuck with a cylinder choked gun.

 

ZB

i see. I had assumed there was a safety reason behind it

[MC]

There is a safety reason behind it, the choke tube makes up part of the barrel. The barrel is proofed with a choke tube in and without it the barrel wall is reduced in thickness and therefore not proofed.

 

Not to mention that a choke tube provides a smooth exit for the shot column.

[Devilishdave]

I leant awinchester shotgun to mate, when I got it back it had no chokes in it. I questioned him; he admited to firing it without any chokes in. He thought if skeet gave the best spread then no choke atall would give an even better spread. her had put several 100 cartsridges of bird shot through it. I am glad to say on close inspection there was no damage.

 

Chokes being proofed is a falacy I am sure mine on my browning dont have proof marks.

 

Dave

[BlaserF3]

Barrels are proofed with chokes fitted http://www.gunproof.com/Proof_Memoranda/proof_memoranda.html

 

They are part of the barrel and should be fitted all the time.

 

If you send a gun to Teagues to have chokes fitted the barrels are reproofed to be legal.

[Steel100]

Mostly shoot S&B or Magtech slugs in my Benelli SuperNova - Improved Cylinder 1/4 seems best.

 

+1 re choke tubes. Firstly, as stated firing without the tube can cause permanent thread damage. Secondly, if you then cannot get the choke all the way in and try to shoot it partially screwed in you run the very real risk of having the edge of the choke tube, part in the thread, being bent over and obstructing the barrel as shot / slugs hit it. I've seen two shotguns ruptured at the choke as a result of this, one with a split over over 30cms running back towards the breech - really would be a 'laundry' problem! One good reason to always check that chokes are full seated before commencing shooting.

 

Andy

[neil smith]

I have shot thousands of slugs in my years on the PSG circuit & tried most of the brands out there, most if not all will go through a full choke without causing any damage to a modern auto or pump gun, however greater accuracy will come from a modified or improved cylinder choke depending on gun make.

 

Remingtons seem to be more accurate with a modified choke, Benelli with improved cyl or light modified.

 

I like the S&B sport slug in both the 28g & 32g loads, (cheap & accurate) I also like Remington Reduced Recoil Slugs but alas they are not cheap over here now.

 

N