Honing shotgun barrels?

[tactical870]

I'm a mechanic and bought a sunnen hone for my engine shop several years ago. I bought it at a gunsmiths auction and it came with all the attachments ato hone shotgun chokes/barrels. Has anyone done this? Anything I should know before attempting to hone a barrel? How about success shooting steel through barrels honed to modified choke? Thanks

 

[allela]

I have had several barrels done on a Sunnen Honing Machine. The barrels always come back to the exact size I asked for, the inside surface is as smooth as or smoother than the original finish. A quality machine with amazing precision

 

[guntech]

Choke Alteration:
Choke designation from the tightest to the most open are:
Extra Full, Full, Improved Modified, Modified, Skeet II, Improved Cylinder, Skeet I, and Cylinder Bore.

Steel shot does not require the constriction that lead shot needs, to produce good patterns. In fact too much constriction, causes poor, erratic patterns, and in some cases, permanently damages the barrel. I have seen barrels bulged at the choke, I have seen barrels where the choke split right open, from using steel shot.

For steel shot, with thin barrels, chokes should be altered to at least Skeet II. Often, over & under, and side-by-side shotguns, are best altered to Skeet I and Skeet II chokes. Heavier barrels can be left at Modified choke but may see an improvement in the pattern if opened slightly.