CAS Win '97 questions

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incorrigible

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We took a 12 ga Win '97 from a 30" down to 20" barrel. So now two questions for those with experience in CAS.

The previous brass bead sight was .12" but was wore down to a nub. Seeing as we have to replace it now anyway, any recommendations on the size of the front bead for CAS?

Second is there was a full choke on the 30" that is now laying on the floor. For the distances of CAS is a choke really required... and if so what are there any recommendations for a type to be screwed in? Ok... three questions then:)
 
At CAS shooting distances, you could get by without any bead at all if you wanted, and to my mind the size of any bead you do put on as an "aiming aid" won't really matter. One sees lots of cylinder bore cut-down shotguns .... 97's and others .... in CAS and for almost all situations they work just fine. (A really tough knock-down target could present some difficulty, but those seem to be rare these days ....)
 
My 2 Winchester M97's have been cut to 18 1/2" and had screw in chokes by Colonial Arms installed
http:// www.colonialarms.com/

I like screw in chokes as I shoot a lot of non SASS sanctioned club matches, who don't necessarily follow the distances from firing line to target that the SASS manual specifies. In fact some of these matches the targets are at least twice the distance that SASS specifies. Keep in mind, at club matches Match Directors are not limited to the book if the club is not affiliated with SASS. Also some clubs have steel reactive targetry that won't go down with a simple 12 gauge #8 shot, but switching from an open cylinder choke to a full choke makes the difference. With these screw in chokes, if you have a quarter in your pocket, you have all the tools you need to change the choke.
 
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My 2 main CAS 97s have 19 inch barrels with screw in mod chokes. However the chokes are not removable as I had it drilled and tapped for the largest bead I could find, rite through the barrel and choke. Some of the 97 barrels are too thin to reliably hold the screw in bead once they are tapped for a choke, I had no more problems once I tapped through the choke. I find that the modified choke gives me a good pattern at CAS distances and have never had a problem with any reasonably set knockdowns with 7 1/2 or 8 shot. It will also reach out to some of the longer setup targets and works well on the occasional flyer. Just my 2 cents worth.
 
At CAS distances, I haven't seen a knock down that wouldn't fall, with a solid hit, with a 12 ga.
At CAS and longer ranges, the shot column really doesn't open that much. The cut down length is more for handiness, in my view.
I like the bead on my cut downs, as it will help getting the muzzle on target and cut down on the number of times you have to re-shoot a knock down that doesn't when you pull the trigger.
 
My 97 was cut down to 24" from 30. I like it better than the shorter 20" or so, but that is just my preference.

(I like a rifle over a carbine too most of the time, maybe because I am 6'1" with very long arms).

I did not replace the bead yet, nor the choke, and have been quite happy with it's performance to date. It still shoots more reliably than I do.
 
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