Open up chokes or not to open up chokes....

[Woodcock survey]

My results with the BPI spreader were the same as Franks with both 10 and 12 ga. full choke guns. About an opening up of full to light modified, i am going to try removing the wad petals and using deformed shot this winter to see if it will increase pattern size.

[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by Daniel Carter

My results with the BPI spreader were the same as Franks with both 10 and 12 ga. full choke guns. About an opening up of full to light modified, i am going to try removing the wad petals and using deformed shot this winter to see if it will increase pattern size.

it will increase spread by causing "flyers" - i wonder how consistent the patterns will be

[William Davis]

I use spreaders in 30 inch tight choked guns with good results on very close clay targets. Pull one out of my pouch when the target needs it. Hunting close I want more than open patterns, Fast and light too. Open up a 30 inch gun it's not fast and light.

Better to buy a gun built for the job

Willam

[Woodcock survey]

My first spreaders were made using deformed shot after seeing an ad from Orvis some 30 years ago for their spreader using flattened shot, made a device similar to a washing machine ringer [that dates me]. It deforms or flattens about 30 percent of the shot and opens the pattern one constriction. Used for grouse and woodcock early season but in Repro quail 1 it is to much and leaves to many holes in the pattern, only good in mod. or full.

[Bruce Day]

Maybe it's just me but I would get no pleasure in carrying and using a 7lbs plus G 12ga with 30" barrels on woods grouse and woodcock. I wouldn't like carrying the heavy gun and trying to swing it through the brush. I'd be looking for a 26 " light 20 or 16ga and saving the 30" 12 for pheasant or targets.

[James L. Martin]

I have been using spreaders ,mostly Polywads for a long time, most of the time I reload them in 12,16 and 20ga and they work very well. I have also used there factory loads which are also good, I thinks they still make 12ga 2 1/2 inch spreaders. I also have the RST spreaders but they do not open up as good as the Polywads do. The problem with opening up chokes is it has to be done right, I am at the point that I will not have any choke work done on a original gun. When the gun made it a hundred years I will not be the one to ruin it by having the chokes opened up by a local gunsmith. Even when you have what you think are the right chokes for your hunting you will run into shots that will need more or less choke than you have , so there is no perfect choke, so just live with what choke you have and change shells.

[Rick Riddell]

What might not work for some works for others, I'm young and strong enough to carry a 7lb gun all day, the gun fits and swings well. I'm going to enjoy it as much as I can before lighter and shorter guns become a necessity. I hunt early successional covers early in the season where barrel length really isn't an issue. I was just curious if spreaders were a good option or if it would be better suited to have the chokes opened.

[William Davis]

2nd the local gunsmith comment.

Go down a row of vintage SxS guns for sale look at the muzzles, you can spot the poor open jobs right away. Problem for a gunsmith is the guns were bored then regulated, bent to shoot to point of impact. 100 years later were are you going to index the reamer to open chokes ? Before the spot it was bent, after, one barrel more than the other or perhaps it was not bent at all. Result is out of round at the muzzles a good percentage of the time. Other risk is change in point of impact after. It can be done well by a well equipped shop, not cheap work though.

Modern Gun, Remington 870 for example, barrel is formed on a mandrel straight and all the same and easy to ream out. I have a couple of nice SxS guns that were opened before I bought them, they shoot fine, some of them very hard to tell. But if you can tell it's been altered the gun is worth a lot less than unaltered. However it's your gun open if you like.

William

[Rick Riddell]

I'm going to plan on leaving them as is, Polywad seems to be the best choice, does anyone know if the pressures are suitable for Damascus barrels? I sent them an email, hopefully I'll hear back. In the meantime, are there any other spreader loads available?

[King Cobb]

I have used spreaders from RST in my 30 inch, 32 inch, and 28 inch 12s that are all either full/full or full/modified and they have been consistent and murder on dove and quail and of course clay pigeons.