Recently purchased a quality (IMO) used O/U but it's choked F/F which isnt very useful for much nowdays. I want this to be an upland/recreational clays gun. Question is, should I install tubes or just get the barrels opened up? I like the idea of interchangeable chokes but something seems wrong about modernizing the gun, and the price scares me a bit. What would it cost approx. to have tubes installed vs. just reeming out the barrels? Also, if I decide to just open the chokes up, what should I open them to? Thanks.
Choke Help
- Thread starter Mds694
- Start date
I've opened up quite a few full choke barrels and I aim for just a bit more than Modified - somewhere around .710 diameter which will do away with a Trap gun but it works great for Steel or Upland shooting - be sure to pattern different loads, you might be surprised at how different loads/manufacturers will change your pattern - I have an expanding reamer that I simply run into the barrel using a variable speed drill, some cutting oil and a steady hand - so far so good but that's just my input
Beretta687EELL
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Depends what clay targets you are going to shoot and what you are doing for upland. If you are shooting skeet and hunting over a pointing dog, skeet chokes will work just fine. 27 yard trap targets and an uncontrolled flushing dog require much tighter chokes, similar to what you already have.
You need to determine if this is going to be your lifelong shotgun and what you want to shoot with it. You also need to consider the value of the gun and the cost of installing choke tubes.
You need to determine if this is going to be your lifelong shotgun and what you want to shoot with it. You also need to consider the value of the gun and the cost of installing choke tubes.
It will be a gun I always have for sure but if I ever get serious about any of the shooting sports I'm the kind of guy that will have to have the right equipment for it. I didn't pay much for it but i believe it's worth more than I paid. Leaning towards just opening it to M/IC. Will I still be able to break clays on the trap field with this combo? I have no experience with any of the sports but don't want to limit myself if i ever decide to shoot more than once a year, even if it's just for "fun."
IMHO you need to spring for having choke tubes installed. Unless you own a one of a kind shotgun you need not worry about 'modernizing' the gun; chances are there are thousands of them still around. With choke tubes installed you are able to shoot all of the clay games (trap, skeet and sporting clays) without hindering your score.
Define the guns quality, don't be shy to tell what it is that you have bought.
Advising to spend for Brileys installed on less than a field grade Citori equvilant gun is not value added that you will ever recover unless you paid an extremely low dollar.
Perhaps if the gun is of high quality you may be better to sell it at a profit and use the funds for a gun with factory screw chokes ?
Bottom line, without knowing what you have, its a stab in the dark as to what may be the best advice.
Advising to spend for Brileys installed on less than a field grade Citori equvilant gun is not value added that you will ever recover unless you paid an extremely low dollar.
Perhaps if the gun is of high quality you may be better to sell it at a profit and use the funds for a gun with factory screw chokes ?
Bottom line, without knowing what you have, its a stab in the dark as to what may be the best advice.
Beretta687EELL
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
A good modified choke will work for 16 yards, but not effectively for longer yardage trap or trap games. I've heard where guys break 100 straights at 27 yards with modified chokes and 7/8 oz. loads and frankly I find it hard to believe. Open chokes usually work fine for skeet sporting and hunting, but trap is a different game, especially at longer yardage.
It is very uncommon to find one shotgun that will work effectively for all purposes, especially when you are limited to two chokes.
If you don't want to spend the money for interchangeable chokes, then have it set up for the main purpose you plan to use it for. It will work for other purposes, just not as effectively as you may be capable of.
It is very uncommon to find one shotgun that will work effectively for all purposes, especially when you are limited to two chokes.
If you don't want to spend the money for interchangeable chokes, then have it set up for the main purpose you plan to use it for. It will work for other purposes, just not as effectively as you may be capable of.
