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.
__________________
There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter...Earnest Hemingway
|
Hybrid Mode