That's a good post and will print out and see if I can absorb it. I am a home shop machinist which is a whole different thing than somebody that knows what he is doing. If you see any gaps in my understanding please point them out.
My observation on opening chokes is the difficulty in setting up. When the guns were built rough barrels were wired together and spread apart with wedges while regulated for point of aim. Ribs laid when it was right. Regulated is simply bending the barrel and if so it's not likely the hole is straight. Setting up on the inside to ream is luck of the draw, how much did they have to bend to regulate and were did the barrel bend. Are you setting up before or after the bend.
Outside same thing, barrels rough then hand stuck for taper weight and finish. Is it likely the outside matches the inside ? not very likely. Last problem is the choke itself. My guess is the desired degree of choke was rough cut in the barrel blank, then hand lapped while testing the gun. One of the Parker trademarks is a long choke, all mine are about 5 inches long, if machine altered I can't see how the reamer can duplicate the long tapered choke, reamers don't taper unless ground to taper before the tool is used. Is that a problem ? probably not, but you are giving away the Parker signature chokes.
Last looking at rows of Parkers at a large nearby shop, picked over inventory no doubt, the opened chokes can be spotted with your eye, out of round. Get one that looks round look inside you can often see the short choke with reamer marks were it was opened last few inches not the full taper. No doubt about it altered chokes are obvious and reduce the guns selling price.
My take away is altering the choke is never a good thing to do, much better to buy a gun that is choked like you want than try to make a long tight Parker into something not intended by the Factory. Having said that I have had Pump gun
Chokes altered with good results. Not expensive guns, barrels factory made by machine, round inside and out before altering. And if one gets messed up cheap to buy another barrel.
William
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