I am also happy that Tom Flanigan is back with us and would like to hear more from him. His comment about Parker Repros is very pertinent. The chokes in those guns is well above the norm and should be addressed by the owners if they choose to shoot them. I'm not drilling mine out, but I understand why others would like to do so.

When researching the idea of opening up my chokes I'm not positive but I thought I read that Bill said his Parker Repro 28 full choked barrel was .039 I remember thinking at that time that the .039 must have been a typo.

After getting my barrels measured they were .027 & .038 before Kirk opened them up.

Timely discussion as I consider a lovely VH 16's F&F chokes. The two thoughts that are driving my decision to leave the chokes alone are, 1. I have plenty of other more open-choked shotguns. 2. This thing has made it 105 years intact and I can't bring myself to alter the original chokes. The gun, even though it's not a high-value collector piece, still seems "greater" than I am, or at least greater my whims.

I think you're on the right track Dave. If you have plenty of others...





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Yup, Karl, my left barrel has 39/1000s of constriction. I have never shot a pattern, but it should be impressive. I once sold a Merkel 12 gauge with over 50/1000s of constriction.

My Sterly is .044 in each tube

My DH live bird gun is .045 in each barrel and when you center a target it's just dust and that makes me smile. I have a Fox CE with 32 inch barrels and it's choked similarly but not quite as the Parker.

My 16 ga. VH is around .029” in both barrels. It was supposedly owned by a Nebraska farmer. Makes me wonder what shots those F&F barrels pulled off. I often wonder how it was used.

.029 x 2 + Nebraska + corn = Pheasant Gun

Opening chokes
 

For what it's worth, I bought for cheap a well used Spanish 12 gauge with lots of engraving, F/and very F. The seller said the case, which was trashed, was worth more than the gun. I spent too much to have the barrels blacked and opened the chokes to open and a little more open. Someone had shot steel thru those half century old tubes and there was a jelly bean sized bulge in one barrel which I had removed. Refinished the stock. Shoots fine now and she is light as a feather. She is actually pretty, if you need glasses and left them home.

I also have a very nice original condition GH F/F and I won't touch the chokes. I use spreaders and hope for the best. But that old Spanish gun is my go to shooter.