Changing choke
 

I have read that guns were returned to Parker Bros. to have chokes opened. Is it known how this was done? Is there someone doing it now who uses the same method and tools. Any bad or good experience having this done? I have a 30 inch Parker special steel that measures 40 and 44 thou. I am thinking about opening the 40 to about 18. Any input is appreciated Thanks. Gerald..

Please don't touch those wonderfully tight chokes. To me a 30" gun should have tight chokes. Why don't you just shoot it for a while and if you can't live with those chokes sell it. There are loads of guns with more open chokes that might suit your needs. My input Gerald for what it's worth.

I totally disagree. Unless the gun is some mint condition collector's item open those chokes and make it a useful shooter to you. I had the right barrel of my go-to bird gun opened to improved cylinder in 1966 and have never regretted it one bit.

I have opened chokes in the past. It's not gonna happen again. I would rather find another gun with the choking I was after. The more I shoot the more I like tight chokes. Give it a shot, no pun intended.

If I believe the internet, some day, I will own the last full choke Parkers in the country. Beware those barrel butchers. The ones with the highest reputations, since they get the most business, ruin the most guns.

This is one of those age old arguments that is much more based on art rather than science! If one is a good wingshot, then a full choke gun is useful in any situation, while a cylinder/open choked gun has limitations when it comes to really long shots on tough targets (read clays, wild roosters - geese turkeys). There was a time when I was first shooting live pigeons that i thought my first barrel should be open choked. I have (or had, less and less every year!) very quick reflexes and thought that that open choke would be an advantage. But when I went back and analyzed my shooting, I found that I would lose an occaisional bird that I felt I had center punched. I switched to improved modified for barrel 1, and my first shot dead bird average increased. So, I said all of that to say this, since I have been collecting, I make it a point to shoot different guns as much as possible, but once you open the choke on a gun you cant put that genie back in the bottle.

A recurring debate, but I am glad that this topic is still subject to deliberation.

I respect other's rights to dispose of their property as they see fit, but I cannot reconcile my role as “custodian/steward” with alterations that to me are elective, fundamental and intrinsically irreversible.

CRAP, i just cerakoted my 1178 auto that I shoot ducks with! I have foolishly ruined its collector value in 2119!

Correction 1187

Have you thought about shooting spreader loads in the right barrel. Try patterning it with spreaders you may be surprised.