Opening up Fixed Full Choke for Steel Shot
- Thread starter mosinmaster
- Start date
madtrapper143
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Steep Rock Lake NWO
Yes and yes.
Darryl
Darryl
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Better yet get it threaded for Rem chokes and you’ll have any constriction you might need.
Every time I read this over the years I wonder what I have done wrong and I have maybe a dozen or so vintage ( pre 87 to me) wingmaster barrels refitted with choke tubes from 410 to 12ga
Every one was done by Briley over the years and every time they tell me there is not enough material to fit a early wingmaster barrel with a rem choke properly and they have to use thin walls. If I check this against a post 87 remington barrel one can see indeed the express and wingmasters have more meat on the later ones for remchokes
Are the guys in canada that fit them in pre 87 barrels really know what they are doing since I sure know Briley does or if they can catch a thread it is deemed OK
Cheers
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When I was doing shotgun work I charged $80 to alter both the choke and to alter the forcing cone.
SHOTGUN BARREL ALTERATIONS FOR STEEL SHOT
Forcing Cone Alteration:
Factory shotgun barrels usually have a fairly short and abrupt forcing cone. The forcing cone is the tapered area just ahead of the chamber where the shell is contained. Altering the forcing cone, so it is one and one half or two inches in length, reduces recoil and improves the pattern density. Trap shooters and skeet shooters have been doing this for many years. It is a good benefit to the steel shot user as well.
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.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Good question, I only have express models and barrels so I can’t comment on the wall thickness or OD of earlier Wingmaster barrels.
I did just have a 12.5” grizzly barrel threaded for tru chokes, it wasn’t thick enough for a Rem or Win choke. I knew to expect this and I was able to mic it to provide gunsmiths with some numbers, finally found one that said it was in spec for tru chokes or the thin walls as a last resort. The threading turned out great and I’m enjoying the added versatility of a choked short barreled 12g.
The early wingmasters cannot be fitted with rem chokes not sure where people get this information o I know off the internet so there for it must be true . Please show me early wingmaster bbl “s with rem chokes for that matter even late models . I installed chokes for years always thin wall and even they were subject to some doubt . I did have a set of tooling once that was for win chokes and it flared the muzzle like the way it is done now . That system worked rarely well
freddyfour
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
This is interesting, I have a 50's vintage Browning Lightning that was opened up to IC and a Browning BSS IC and Mod. I emailed Browning direct and they said do not shoot steel through either of them. I would love to hear what guntech has to say about that!
For what it's worth,
The literature that came with a new 1100 barrel that I purchased in the early 2000's states that Remington 1100,1187 and 870's with full chokes can be used with all "currently" produced factory steel shot loads up to #1 pellet size.They can be used with all steel shot sizes if they have a modified or more open choke.Steel shot has changed alot ( in shape,velocity and payload ) in the last 20 years so it might be worth contacting Remington for confirmation.There are also "close range" steel loads available ( ie. Federal Black Cloud close range ) that may open your patterns enough without having to do any barrel modifications.
The literature that came with a new 1100 barrel that I purchased in the early 2000's states that Remington 1100,1187 and 870's with full chokes can be used with all "currently" produced factory steel shot loads up to #1 pellet size.They can be used with all steel shot sizes if they have a modified or more open choke.Steel shot has changed alot ( in shape,velocity and payload ) in the last 20 years so it might be worth contacting Remington for confirmation.There are also "close range" steel loads available ( ie. Federal Black Cloud close range ) that may open your patterns enough without having to do any barrel modifications.
Lets see. Who do I listen to the people that designed and manufactured the gun or someone that works on them ( nothing against gun tech here)
Bss yep known as one of the worst for steel shot . Sure some shoot steel out of them but they also have one of the thinnest barrels on a browning and many have had barrels bulge , or separate and ribs fall off
To me yes 100 guys may do it and get away with it but number 101 screws his gun and why when there are so many cheap shotguns out there now that will handle steel shot
Cheers
I believe some of the older Superposed shotguns actually had material removed where the muzzles of the over and under barrels meet before soldering making the very thin barrels even thinner.
I have opened chokes on Superposed but not for steel shot use.
I have done steel shot conversions on a few Browning side by sides (skeet one and skeet 2) with no problems.
How have your Browning's worked out?
freddyfour
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
To answer that, I would listen to both as they are both professionals in the industry.
freddyfour
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
I havent shot steel through either of them, have been to scared because they are both in amazing condition. I would love a 20ga sxs that I could shoot steel through though.
WHAT??? OK. I have repaired firearms since the 60's , opened chokes and fitted tubes but never designed or fabricated any as I bet gun tech never did either
The exception for me would be I would listen to maybe John Browning if he was alive
over a manufacturerTo each their own
Cheers
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That was fact and BSS was thinner again plus they say the solder used was the biggest problem when steel is iontroduced
Lots of posts like this out there if we take the time to look
Cheers
I saw a IC & M Superposed that a club member shot steel in for almost 2 years before the IC barrel bulged and seperated the barrels and lifted the rib. A replacement barrel cost him well over $2500 but he ended up with a nice, although misballanced, 22" Cyl & Cly HD/woodcock extra barrel after his smith cut the old barrels. :?
I am the owner of a Browning superposed that was damaged by steel shot. The forcing cone was pretty beat up and there was a long scratch along the bore. I assume it came from steel shot, unless the PO was loading rocks or gravel, which is more what it looked like. Only damaged in the one barrel. Perhaps a old, rusty load. No, I would not shoot steel shot in a Superposed.
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Why not buy a cheap CZ 20ga SXS and leave those nice vintage ones alone that are in amazing condition
Once they shoot steel many guys will never buy them down the road if you decide to sell. I know I won't
Cheers
