Value
 

Does a silvers pad on a gun reduce the value ? If the widower's peak is still behind the silvers pan ? Thanks in advance.

did it originally have one?

was the stock cut to install it?

just my opinion -

on a shooter grade VH - probably not

a higher grade- that originally had skeletal butt plate - yes

stock had been cut - even more

another value question
 

Does opening up the chokes of a grade 4 or 5 gun reduce the value ? Would you better off to use the spreader type loads and how effective are they ? Thanks to everyone in advance,

Daniel I will let others give heir opinions on how much opening chokes effects value on graded guns, but offer my experience on Spreader loads.
I have only used RST Spreader loads, so these shells are what I base my comments on. I started using Spreader loads in 28 to 12 gauges about 6 years ago mainly in 9 shot. I am very pleased with the results and would not consider opening up the chokes on my nicer guns when Spreaders are so readily avalible and perform great.

IMHO I would not open the chokes on a grade 3 or higher and if it was a high condition VH/VHE I wouldn't do that either. I just sold a nice straight grip 32inch DHE 12 mainly because these long barrels should be tightly choked and someone opened up the right barrel to IC. It made for a nice clays gun but it wasn't original and I bought another gun that was original.

Regarding the spreader loads I have used the RST shells with good success. I have a Boss 20ga hammer gun that's very tightly choked and the RST shells proved very effective on a close course 5 stand. I will be buying some RST 16 spreaders as I have two guns that are choked IC/F for this falls bird hunting.

To answer your original question yes IMHO opening the chokes will detract from the guns value and I would NEVER cut off a stock for a pad. If it has a non original style pad such as a Pachmayer I'd replace that with a period correct pad such as a Silvers.

JMHO but on a graded gun in reasonably nice condition, opening chokes is nearly as significant in devaluing the gun as bobbing the barrels a couple of inches in order to attain the same result.






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It's your gun and you may do as you wish, but I would not touch the chokes on a Parker gun. Use spreader loads for hunting, and smoking clays with Full and Full gives you confidence on the clays course.

How did a question about a recoil pad at the butt end of a gun morph into modifying the chokes at the very far other end? :rolleyes:

Because the OP asked.

In my opinion it depends on if the gun has records to support what the chokes should be.
If a high grade gun has records that say mod/full, and it is high condition, then i would think it would be an issue for most if the gun was altered to be choked otherwise.

If there is no records on it, and the work is done properly, then who cares.