opening chokes changing value

[Daniel G Rainey]

When you find a Parker in the grade you want that fits you, but the way the gun is choked is not what you need for the type of hunting you are buying the gun for. Does opening up the chokes reduce value ? Have tried spreader loads once and was not pleased.

[Reggie B]

It does if I am buying, but not if I am selling!

Jokes aside, personally it decreases the guns value to me, but would not completely turn me away if I were buying it to shoot.

[Dean Romig]

If it is a high condition gun in otherwise unaltered condition opening the chokes may have a negative effect on the value of the gun. Especially if it is not done properly. It's not a simple matter of reaming the muzzle several thousandths. Proper and correct choke work on these old Parkers which sometimes have tapers as long as 6" should always be done from the breech to ensure the correct continuation of the choke taper.

Spreader loads generally give you only one less level of choke, e.g., spreader loads will give a full choke barrel a MOD pattern.

What are the chokes in your gun Daniel?





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[John Allen]

I agree with Dean.It is better to leave any high condition "collector" gun unaltered.However,properly opened chokes on a gun that has a little honest wear or has already been altered,(a pad etc.),will not hurt the value.In fact opening the choke to a usable constriction may add value to a shooter.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by John Allen

I agree with Dean.It is better to leave any high condition "collector" gun unaltered.However,properly opened chokes on a gun that has a little honest wear or has already been altered,(a pad etc.),will not hurt the value.In fact opening the choke to a usable constriction may add value to a shooter.

My 28 gauge 26" VHE came to me with Full/Full chokes and with plastic shot collars I was missing a lot of targets so I had the chokes opened to Skeet 1 and Skeet 2 (.008 and .015). It now produces very effective patterns to about 30 yards. Doing so sure added value for me.





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[C.O.B.]

At the end of the day it's your gun and your the guy using it. I'm in agreement if it's a high condition gun I'd leave the chokes alone. I've done it once on a GH 16 0 frame and was very pleased with the results. I bought a DHE 12 with 32 inch barrels that someone opened the right barrel to IC for shooting ducks coming into decoys. IMHO long barrels equate to tight chokes and I sold the gun and bought an unaltered pigeon gun with F/F chokes.

[Tom Flanigan]

Long barrels usually mean tight chokes but not always. I once owned a CE grade 26" fox 20 bore with both barrels full choke. If I am not mistaken, Bill Murphy owned beautiful GH small bore with 26" full choke in both damascus barrels.

I sold the Fox because I bought if for grouse hunting and found the full chokes when I measured the constriction. I didn't have the chokes opened because I don't believe in opening chokes on vintage guns. To each his own, but my personal preference is to leave them alone.

[Harold Pickens]

I have had chokes opened up on avg condition guns that I was buying to hunt with, in my case that means generally grouse and woodcock. My VH 16 and Sterlingworth 16 were both opened to IC/IC from their original M/F chokes. A friend had an IC 16 ga reamer, so that's how they ended up. Shot alot of birds with those guns, and no regrets. I wouldnt open up a high quality or upper grade gun--I'd just shoot as is,, with spreaders perhaps. I have a very nice VH 20 and a DHE 16 that luckily were choked cyl/m as ordred--I would not have changed those guns.
Opening chokes is a hell of a lot better than cutting barrells --I shoot a VHE 20 and GH 16 that unfortunately were wacked down to 26.5" from 28-- great shooters however.

[edgarspencer]

Horses For Courses. One man's trash, is another man's treasure. It's that simple. Pick the gun for the cover and game. I've never shortened a barrel, or opened one up. I just wait for the right one to come along if I didn't yet have it. NO one wanted the cut barrel DHE 20 at Cabelas. The gun room manager thought he had a live one when I offered $2800 and he jumped at it. It's Cylinder and cylinder, 24", and If you hunt the north woods of Maine, you couldn't ask for a better gun.

[6pt-Sika]

Of course to each his own . But for my own personal use I leave them alone .