opening up chokes

[William Davis]

Chance of the average gunsmith doing a good job on a gun that was hand regulated by bending the barrels before the ribs were laid, less than 50 % in my opinion. No straight true spot to index the reamer. That’s why you see so many out of round muzzles. Single barrel mass produced shotgun it’s a simple job hand made SXS not so.

William

[Tom Flanigan]

I probably shouldn't add my voice to those who say don't touch the chokes on a Parker, but I feel compelled to. You didn't ask for opinions but I guess you are getting it anyway. It's just that myself and a lot of other Parker people cringe at the thought of messing with Parker chokes for all of the reasons mentioned. There is no going back. If the gun doesn't suit you as is, you may want to consider selling it and getting one that is what you need. There are plenty of Parkers out there with opened chokes.

But the net of it is, it is your gun and you can do what you want with it. I just hope you don't do something you might regret someday. There is no going back.

[Setter Man]

I have used Bachelder, Orlen and have a Repro with Eyster now. Orlen has done several barrels for me over the years and his work has been fine. Bachelder did a good job as well. Looking forward to Eysters work. We patterned the barrels first and made sure the gun fit me the way it should. His work is about 2x Orlen but I will pay that knowing exactly what I am getting. That being said, I regret opening the chokes on a couple of guns. Once done you can never go back.

[Dave Erickson]

My comments are coming from a rank Parker amateur, so take them for what it's worth. I finally shot my first Parker yesterday, a 16 gauge VH with 30" FxF barrels. I didn't break every clay out of the 50, but when I ran the first couple stations I was immediately relieved that I didn't open the chokes! (what a nice shooting gun!) The tight chokes seems to work just fine near or far. Mind you, I bought the gun for fun on the range and a duck hunt now and then, so my thinking might not apply to your needs.

[C.O.B.]

I have come to appreciate tighter chokes esp in guns used for clay targets. You can tell where your hitting or chipping and when your right on it's impressive. A choke combination I have learned to appreciate in the uplands is IC/F especially for big birds like pheasant or later in the season when shots might be a bit further. A spreader in the left barrel will make that full choke more of a modified also.

Opening the chokes is like getting a tattoo it's there forever.

[Rick Riddell]

Not to throw a wrench in the topic, but if at some point in time the barrel get honed doesn't that affect the choke? So you go from full to xtra full by barrels being honed, at that point would opening the chokes be beneficial?

To the OP:
Mike Orlen hands down, he has done it for me, I sent him a note, he called and we worked it out. I havent had any regrets! His prices are cheap but that doesn't mean shoddy work, sometimes expensive is just what it it is.....expensive.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Rick Riddell

Not to throw a wrench in the topic, but if at some point in time the barrel get honed doesn't that affect the choke? So you go from full to xtra full by barrels being honed, at that point would opening the chokes be beneficial?

Only patterning it would give you the answer to that question.





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[Tom Flanigan]

I can't speak from experience since I've never had a barrel honed. I never saw a reason to take metal out of the barrels although it does make cleaning a bit easier. Corn cob bores don't bother me as long as they are safe to shoot. Honing will remove some of the shallow pits but I don't think removing any metal from inside the barrels is a good idea with any gun.

[charlie cleveland]

daniel the full choke gun that you cannot hit with gives you the chance to tell the wife you gona buy a gun with more open chokes since you cannot hit with a full choke gun...now you got 2 guns instead of one.....charlie

[Daniel G Rainey]

Charlie Do not have a wife to answer to but when I did she always say do what you need to do.