Choke

[Eric Grims]

I am looking seriously at a 16 gauge trojan Remington era gun. I have yet to measure the chokes but it is advertised as original with IM/FULL constriction. I was not aware that IM was all that common as a label in the thirties and thought that it would maybe be in the range of what would be considered a modified choke. Different tables seem to have different ranges.
Also I was wondering if buy it and I find it does seem too tight for upland shooting when I pattern it I would consider opening it. I have heard different things about the way parker choked their guns. Is there a recipe regarding length of choke etc that I would specify to a gunsmith?
Thanks!

[Eric Grims]

Just measured another 16 gauge we always referred to as modified and full. The modified barrel is a little tighter than the modified markings on my gauge. Be nice to have a more sophisticated choke measure.

[Gerald McPherson]

See how it shoots in the field you may be surprised. Gerald

[John Campbell]

gman:
Mr. McPherson is right. Get the gun, shoot it for pattern and impact, then take it afield. If it works for you, don't mess with it. Truth be known, there is way too much psychology attached to choke in America.

Best, Kensal

[Dennis V. Nix]

I believe Improved Modified was quite common on Parkers from the descriptions of guns I see advertised. My GH is Improved Modified and Full and I like it. I used it on pen raised pheasants last month and it did a great job. I never needed to use the full choke barrel. Personally I would not change the chokes as I would want the original Parker chokes left in the barrels. I wouldn't hesitate to use RST spreader loads though in my GH for quail though. A 16 gauge Trojan sounds like a great gun for about all game you might encounter.

[scott kittredge]

I am looking seriously at a 16 gauge trojan Remington era gun. I have yet to measure the chokes but it is advertised as original with IM/FULL constriction. I was not aware that IM was all that common as a label in the thirties and thought that it would maybe be in the range of what would be considered a modified choke. Different tables seem to have different ranges.
Also I was wondering if buy it and I find it does seem too tight for upland shooting when I pattern it I would consider opening it. I have heard different things about the way parker choked their guns. Is there a recipe regarding length of choke etc that I would specify to a gunsmith?
Thanks!

best way is to shoot it a pattern board 30" at 40 yds . constriction will give you a ball park on what it should shoot. scott

[Bruce Day]

If I am guiding and shooting backup, or the birds are getting up wild and I have to make the shot, this is the gun I use.

1910 GHE damascus 12 with chokes .040 R, .042 L. 1 1/4 oz at 1200fps. Something about tight Parker chokes that gets the job done. I'd be very cautious about messing with those wonderful Parker chokes.

[Dean Romig]

Use spreaders if you need to open the pattern up. Don't alter original Parker chokes.... although, Remington did cut the chokes by a different method than Parker Bros. did and from what I've read, the Remington choke tapers are not as long as Parker Bros. nor did Remington cut the chokes with an ogee taper.

I have no idea how a Remington Parker patterns as compared to how an earlier Parker Bros. patterns - all else being equal.

[Dave Noreen]

Remington could cut some good chokes, witness the great patterns from the Model 31 TC Trap Guns. I thumbed thru my Remington paper from 1934 to WW-II. In 1934 they offered their shotguns with full, modified and cylinder bore, except for the Model 32 Skeet Gun which was improved cylinder in both barrels. By 1936 they had introduced their "Special Skeet Boring" and also offered Full, modified or cylinder. By 1938 they were also cataloguing improved cylinder. Bottom line, none of my Remington catalogue from 1934 through 1942 offer an improved modified choke. The Remington era Parker catalogue states "The barrels of PARKER guns, including the "TROJAN" are furnished with any combination of borings desired--from true cylinder to extreme full choke."

Down in New Haven, in 1931, Winchester added improved cylinder and improved modified to their choke offerings.

[Eric Grims]

Well I bought this gun. Been looking at it for about a year and finally jumped in. Remington era 16 ga. # 1 frame Trojan. Very tight, clean bores , some case remaining, Nice wood, used but cared for. Ser.# 238737. Only issue was a non original dogs head butplate but i will put a period rubber recoil pad on it. Real pleased. I have a sentimental spot for this model. I like the # 1 frame because I like the 1 oz 16 ga. load for patterning and hitting power and have a 0 frame 20 ga. for 7/8 oz. I hope to introduce it to some farm pigeons soon.

[Dean Romig]

I wonder if that dog's head buttplate might not be original to the gun...?

Remington didn't necessarily follow every detail of Parker Bros. protocol when building their Parkers.

Does anyone else have a Remington Trojan with a dog's head buttplate I wonder?

[Eric Grims]

We discussed this here before and I was told that it was common to pencil or mark the last couple numbers of the gun on the inside of the butt plate. I pulled the plate and there was nothing but it was not shiny new. LOP is 14" to front trigger so it does not appear that the gun has been shortened. Fit of the plate is very nice. Gun seems to fit and length is good so I may not need a pad. Will shoot it first. I can always put a trojan plate on it as there seem to be some originals pop up and I can get a repo if I want.