ODD CHOKE BORING PATTERN
 

I just purchased a Parker VHE 16 GA with 30" barrels and 2 7/8" chambers on a 1 frame that weighs 7lbs 6oz.. The right barrel, with .662" bore, is choked at .028" with nice progressive taper beginning at 4" from muzzle. The left barrel, with .662" bore, has choking beginning at 4" from muzzle which gradually tapers to .022" of constriction (.640" bore) at 1 inch from muzzle. From 1" to the muzzle the boring opens in a gradual taper to .012" (.650") at the muzzle.
This is not the product of a muzzle end choke modification which would result in parallel walls not tapered.
Has anyone ever heard or seen this type boreing pattern before?
Bob Jurewicz

Sounds to me like someone wanted to reduce the choke in the left barrel. While it is a lot more choke, it is along the line of Winchester's WS-1, Remington's SKEET, and Savage's skeet cylinder for their Ansley H. Fox skeet guns. There exists an Ithaca drawing for such a style choke --

Attachment 102328

but I've not measured an NID skeet gun that has it.

Thank you Dave!
The idea is similar to the concept used in that Ithaca right barrel.
If weather permits I will pattern both barrels tomorrow and see what the patterns look like.
Bob Jurewicz

With those 2 7/8-inch chambers you'll need some 3-inch 16-gauge shells!!

Bob, I do some re-choking work using special tapered reamers and have occasionally seen (two) distinct tapers along the choke run on unmolested Fox and Ithaca barrels. Typically the trailing (forward) taper is sharper. As you know tapered choking must be done from the breech end unless it's done with "draw reamers" on a dedicated lathe setup. Yours sounds factory done to me and I look forward to seeing your patterning results. You might consider doing at least 3 shots per barrel to average the counts. JME.

Thank you Frank and Dave for your valuable responses!
I did have a bit of time to throw a couple of loads at paper. I'm sorry to say my pattern technique will dissapoint Frank. I use 50 YD Pistol Targets at 30 yds. They measure 21" x 24". I have tested my guns this way for many many years (it works for me). I used RST 2 1/2" 7 1/2 Lites.
I'm always a little shacky so they are not centered, but they tell me what I need to know.
The right barrel is one that I usually get with full choke. The left barrel is comparable to my results with Modified choke barrels. I was surprised that the left threw as tight a pattern as it did.
The picture below is not good, but conveys the idea.
Bob Jurewicz

And here is the gun.
Bob Jurewicz

Do a search on TULA chokes. They were developed about 1960 by TULA arsenal based on a Cutts compensator. While ventilated, they are of a similar profile and dominated International skeet in the 60's and 70's. Interesting reading.

Nice gun, would you not think those are factory chokes, probably special order? I have a 1917 VHE 20 26 inch, with full 3 inch chambers which I suspect they were not done at the factory.
Any thoughts?

That right choke pattern looks like it would be good for 40 - 45 yards.





.

Bob: I agree with ArtS 's comment regarding TULA chokes. Also, I have seen a bunch of older guns, including muzzleloaders have what is called a "Jug" choke put in them to change cyl to a tighter choke. The old-time turkey shoot/card meat shoot guys out here in the Southern Midwest did it on a regular basis with barrels having all kinds of choke in them. Some were threw such a tight pattern they would blow the card off the post.

Just some thoughts.

In the case of the choking in the left barrel I am assuming it was done to open the choke and produce a larger shot pattern? But, why the left barrel?
Bob Jurewicz

I've got a Remington FE-Grade Trap Gun that reportedly had belonged to an old Pennsylvania pigeon shooter and it has had the choke opened in the left barrel.

"Blowing the card off the post" ranks right up there with Tula chokes dominating International Skeet. Neither has any truth attached to it. Sorry guys.

Today I sent for a letter on this gun. I really don't expect that Parker did that left barrel choking-but you never know.
Bob Jurewicz

Bill: "Blowing the card off the post" was a general comment by the shooters. I did see it happen once and the card did blow off the post at the shot. It was shot to hell and back when it was presented at the score table. If memory serves this was in a little town deep in SE Missouri.

I cant say much about TULA chokes but they were a popular option from Hal DuPont in his Krieghoff skeet guns

Harry,
You did not read my post carefully enough. I said I was not steady and that accounts for the off center patterns.
Bob Jurewicz