Super-full Turkey chokes and double barrel shotguns

paulslund

paulslund

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I'm thinking of building a double barrel (preferably O/U, but am considering SxS) for turkey hunting. I cannot seem to find any chokes that are super full (ie. .660 or .665) to go with any double barrel shotguns (they all seem to be extra full or less, which is usually around .680, give or take, iirc).

One of the reasons they site (ie. I received a response from Colonial Arms on chokes for Baikal, as an example) is that the barrels are too close together for super full chokes. Does this make sense to anyone? I wouldn't think that the exterior diameter of a super full choke is any greater than an extra full choke (with the exception of Undertakers, I suppose, which have the knurled exterior for hand tightening).

Has anyone had any experience with this?

Thanks a lot,
Paul.

PS. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
 
I like SxSs alot, but don't think they would work well for turkey hunting.

Reason is that turkey guns are used more like a rifle than a SG, as the shotload is aimed at a particular target location, in fact some turkey guns are scope equiped and sighted in the same as a rifle. Trouble with a SxS is that if the POI is different for each bbl, it would make life while turkey hunting alot more complicated.

A single barrel pumpgun would be alot simpler.

SC.....................
 
Hi SuperCub

I currently use a Rem 870 pump with the 21 inch barrel. The advantage I was thinking of obtaining was having the same overall length of shotgun, but with a longer barrel (ie. I could get a 26 inch barrel on a hinge action that is roughly the same overal length as my Rem 870 with the 21 inch barrel).

I hadn't thought about the POI issue for a SxS; that's a good point. My preference would be for an O/U, but I suppose you can have the same problems with POI with an O/U as with a SxS?. Is this a common problem with doubles?

Thanks,
Paul.
 
Wild Turkey have been around forever,,, there must be a specific gun/rifle to take it down??? ( mommabear in training)
 
paulslund said:
I hadn't thought about the POI issue for a SxS; that's a good point. My preference would be for an O/U, but I suppose you can have the same problems with POI with an O/U as with a SxS?. Is this a common problem with doubles.
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Not common, but it does occur.

Do you scope your 870 :?:

I wish we had tukeys here :!:


SC..................
 
SC-no scope. Just fibre optic sights. Got my first bird this past spring, btw. Was pretty excited about it.

BR -A longer barrel tends to keep a tighter pattern. Most hunters I know are using a 26" to 30" barrel. I like the compactedness (sp?) of my short 870, but I know my buddies get tighter patterns starting around 30 yards. I had been thinking about this for a little while, and then there was an article in Turkey Call this summer talking about the same thing, so I figured I'd do some research. What do you use for Toms?

MB -no specific gun is really used for Turkey. Essentially, a 12 guage with 3" shell capacity, preferably in camo, or matt black finish, will do the trick. Opinions vary on barrel length and semi vs pump, etc..(you know..the usual things).
 
Well the barrel length question is subjective at best. I use two turkey guns a Browning Gold Hunter with a back bored 28 inch barrel and an Undertaker turkey choke (.665"). And a SBEII with a 26 inch Chryo Barrel and Full Chryo Choke... this patterns tighter and more consistent than the Browning :idea:
Most guys prefer 24" barrels for thier Turkey guns and most manufacturers are making shorter barrels for thier specific Turkey models.
There is no advantage to a longer barrel for pattern... unless they have created some new ammo or powder I am unaware of :?
 
Paul , I have just the gun for you. 870 exspress 30 in Hastings wad lock barrel with custom turkey choke and a scope mounted . It was built for turkey hunting with a custom camo paint job. The gun has killed 100's of turkey.

I built this gun years back and it shoots with the best. A true turkey killer at 45 yards easy. This gun has out shot 10 gauges. The reason I'm selling is I built a 20 gauge.

12ga 870express
fbcb8066.jpg


Target 40 yards,
TurkeyTarget.jpg




here's the new gun I built in a 20 ga.
20gaTurkeyGun.jpg
 
paulslund said:
A longer barrel tends to keep a tighter pattern. Most hunters I know are using a 26" to 30" barrel. I like the compactedness (sp?) of my short 870, but I know my buddies get tighter patterns starting around 30 yards.
Click to expand...
Some testing I did a few years ago with 28" and 20" Rem choked 870 barrels convinced me that barrel length has no significant impact on pattern performance. There are a host of other factors however and even two identical guns from the same company can pattern differently with the same load. The only way to find out is to spend some time at the "board of education."

Whether you can successfully install extended chokes in an o/u or sxs depends on the gun. On some there isn't enough space between the barrels even with the higher end Briley extended thin walls.
 
Hmmm...now I'm beginning to doubt my testing last year. I'll have to redo it again this year and compare with my buddy. That being said, an O/U or SxS with a short barrel would have a very short overall length (making it even more maneuverable in the bush)...decisions, decisions... 8)

Adrian: I thought you had finally decided to keep the 12 after all? :wink: . I saw the patterns you are getting with the 20, and all I can say is Wow!. Those Heavy Shots are pretty amazing, eh?

Thanks for the info everyone...might be back to the drawing board, or just keep my current 870. I'm still in the research mode, although I'm still not sure I get why a super full choke needs more room than a regular one (I thought they had the same diameter as the exterior of the barrel?). I'm likely just confused here...

Paul.
 
Hmmm...now I'm beginning to doubt my testing last year.
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Paul... if you are not using sabot cleaner to get the plastic out of your barrels in between every couple of shots then your testing is not worth ####. I am not being critical but I have shot turkey loads over a Chrony while testing and patterning. I found that if you do not take the plastic out it seriously effects the speed and pattern of the different loads... and the only product that removes the plastic fouling is Sabot Solvent. :idea:
 
I've never heard of that. I'll make sure to give that a try when I do more test patterning.

Thanks BigRedd.

On another note, I know that some people lengthen the forcing cone (Adrian, I think you mentioned you did that with the 20?). Does this help a lot, or is it a minor tweak? Just curious (I've been hearing more and more about that). Also, is it expensive?

Thanks a lot.

Paul
 
Yes Paul Both guns are done. The forcing cone will only add about 10% to a pattern. But to get all you can it can be worth it. I believe they charge in the $100 range.

Polishing the barrel will help as Redd has said , use the solvent first and then take Scotchbrite pads to scrub out the barrel. The different colour of pads are different grades. Blue being the roughest and white being the finest. The dollar store has these Multi packs that work great...BT
 
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