Too much pressure in my barrel?

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mmatt

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So I just got my shotgun back from the gunsmith... I had him install a set of hi-vis rifle sights on it for slug shooting. I use this shotgun for all of my other hunting needs too though... this will become important in a minute... :cool:

Anyhoo... I didn't get to speak with the gunsmith directly, but this is part of the note he left with the gun:

...sighted in at 50 yards with a standard 2 3/4" Winchester slug. Always use an open choke tube like the one installed, (NEVER a full or modified) which will cause too much pressure on the front sight tapping. The 'burn-all point' is 19 to 20 inches, and this is an 18 inch barrel...

(I should mention that it is a Winchester Defender and that I had the barrel drilled and tapped for Winchoke choke tubes.)

Now at first I assumed that he was referring to using the open choke tube when shooting slugs. But when I re-read it, it kinda sounds to me as if he meant to NEVER use constricting choke tubes even when shooting shot. What do you think? Could I really blow out the front sight screw by using a full choke?

Thanks.

Matthew
 
If you're going to shoot slugs out of a gun threaded for choke tubes, use a rifled choke tube and the rest is moot.

I wouldn't shoot steel shot out of any tube unless the tube was marked stating it was for steel or lead.

I don't see why you wouldn't be able to shoot lead with a FULL, or MOD choke installed out of your barrel and I don't think the mechanic meant so either.

Regards.
 
Sometimes when a barrel is lobbed off or shortened there is not enough metal left to get a good thread hold. If your barrel is from the factory you should have enough meat to hold the sight.

Rifled tubes are for sabot slugs.
 
It's likely the 'smith assumed you were planning to use the shotgun for slugs only, as tends to be the intention with rifle sights. I'm certain that his comments had nothing to do with shooting lead shot.

I'm no expert on steel shot, but my understanding is that less choke is required to achieve the same effect.
 
straightshooter said:
It's likely the 'smith assumed you were planning to use the shotgun for slugs only, as tends to be the intention with rifle sights. I'm certain that his comments had nothing to do with shooting lead shot.

I'm no expert on steel shot, but my understanding is that less choke is required to achieve the same effect.
Click to expand...

Yup you're right!!!!:)
 
Did you mean "He's right"...

"that his comments had nothing to do with shooting lead shot"?

or:

"that less choke is required to achieve the same effect"?

(I never shoot steel shot so that's a non-issue with me for now anyway)
 
mmatt said:
Did you mean "He's right"...

"that his comments had nothing to do with shooting lead shot"?

or:

"that less choke is required to achieve the same effect"?

(I never shoot steel shot so that's a non-issue with me for now anyway)
Click to expand...

Both...........personally I use I.C. for everything(except turkey). I use it for slugs,buckshot, steel, pheashant/rabbit loads(#4).:) If you were going to use it for slugs/buckshot only you could've just cut the barrel and leave it at cyl. bore......works good!!!!
 
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Well I realize this is an old thread, but I thought I'd give you all an update on the issue.

The front sight came "unstuck".

I followed his instructions, never shooting through anything other than an IC choke, the one he recommended. I've been using it quite regularly for over a month now and had no problems with it. In fact I've been very pleased with the improved accuracy I've been seeing shooting slugs. Then, last weekend I noticed the front sight was loose, and upon further inspection, sure enough, the front screw had let go.

I took it all apart (with some help from my hammer) :redface: and noticed that the front sight looks like it belongs on the front of a rifle, not a shotgun. The curve of the base was much too narrow for the bigger circumference of a shotgun. I'm thinking this may have been part of the problem. Instead of it fitting flush, he simply filled it up with a bit of black rubbery something. I have no idea what it was but a butane torch burned it off. I took a Dremel with a large grindstone and "widened" it up a bit so it fit better.

So now I have it sitting flush where it belongs, but the last few threads of the screw that holds it on is stripped. (I'm glad it was the screw that stripped and not the hole) I ground it down a few threads and then deepened the hole on the front sight that the screw goes into so that it would catch.

I put it all back together and it seems nice and tight to me. Of course I doubt I can put the same kind of pressure on it that a 3" slug can. I guess I'll find out on the weekend.

So should I be mad that the 'smith used a rifle sight where it clearly did not fit properly? Or should I be mad at myself for not doing it myself (properly) in the first place?

Matthew

PS - I should maybe mention that I shot a couple of "cut-shells" through it, just to see how they performed; but I did that a few weeks ago and noticed no damage then so I really doubt that was the problem. They shouldn't produce any more pressure than a slug, should they?
 
it sounds to me that he might have used polychoke metal epoxy to help hold the sight , because there wasn't enough metal to tap enough threads to hold the screw securely. this epoxy is meant for aluminum vent ribs and it works very well , but needs a few days under pressure to set.i can't say for sure what it is, but loctite could've worked maybe better. i think i'd be giving him a call and talk to him directly.good luck
 
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