Choke question
 

When a gun goes back to Parker Bros to have the bbls shorten from 28 inches to 26 inches, do they restore the length of the choke back to 4 inches? I have read on other threads that the length of the chokes is about four inches.
Is it possible to restore the chokes once the bbls have been cut? Or are you stuck with 2 inches of choke.
I have no idea but I would say Parker Bros would do it right.
thanks in advance for your input.

Angel...

Angel,
Many times the barrels were shortened in order to remove choke. Some choke could be put back by back boring the barrels. As far as length of choke goes I think anywhere from 3" to 5" is pretty normal for a Parker.

Thanks Larry!! Would 2 inches of choke be as effective as the 3-5 inches?

Angel, in response to your last question, the answer would likely be "No". The reason being, Parker Bros. developed some of the very best patterning chokes in the American gun making industry with a long ogee taper ending in a 3/8" or so parallel section at the muzzle... so a gun with 2" of the real business end of a finely developed 4+" choke lopped off certainly would not be as effective as probably any original Parker Bros. choke.

Angel, Generally speaking the longer the transition from bore to muzzle(choke)there is less deformation of pellets thus a more even consistant pattern.

Parkers made prior to the Remington buyout were bored with an ogee profile in the choke area and were known for throwing very even, consistant and hard hitting patterns. That is why I cringe when someone wants to open their chokes. I don't know if any of the barrel guy's are able to duplicate a Parker factory choke.

What about if a gun was sent back to Parker Bros for "credit" with 28 inch bbls and was later resold with 26 inch bbls. What then?

Ok Angel....Give it up...What did you buy?.....:rolleyes: Some good pictures of the muzzle ends of the barrels could help solve this mystery.

Two possible scenerios....New 26" barrels were fitted to the gun or the 28's were bobbed.

No pictures yet but she's a 16 ga Lifter:shock: The owner says there's a very small space between the bbls.

Hmmmm.... may we ask what grade??

If there is documentation that it was sent back to Parker Bros. later to be resold with 26" barrels it is my opinion that a different set of barrels was likely fitted. Or the original barrels may have been cut by Parker Bros. and if a letter supports this then it is considered to be a "factory modification" and does nothing to negatively affect the value.

She's an O grade with pistol grip and plain twist bbls. The screws are not perfect but she's a beauty. Nice brown patina on bbls. You can't even see the twist pattern, ser. # 18720.