Variances in chokes?

[Bill Murphy]

We continue to state that a 30" target, or a 24" target, Tatham #7 shot, Dupont Bulk powder, or 40 yards, or 45 yards, or whatever, were the standards or that one combination of the previous was "always" used, when that is not true at all. What combination was used to pattern a certain gun is only the combination that was used on that gun and the only way we know that is to read the order book specifications, which sometimes didn't make it to the finished gun, or the stock book entry, which is the spec for the finished gun, or the original hang tag, which should also be the spec for the finished gun. Guns on the same page of the stock book with the same specifications are often patterned with a different combination of components. Just for an example, my 12 gauge #216,008 was patterned with 1 1/8 ounces of shot and my #216,218 was patterned with 1 1/4 ounces of shot. If we somehow knew the pellet count, it wouldn't mean much unless we knew the weight and size of the load used to shoot the pattern. Early guns were patterned at 40 yards or 45 yards and at a 30" target or a 24" target depending on who knows what. There does not seem to be a standard or a clear cutoff date among various methods.