Author |
Message |
< 16ga. General Discussion ~ Would you open the chokes on a 2.5in gun? |
|
Posted:
Wed Jan 23, 2019 5:45 pm
|
|
|
Member
Joined: 20 Oct 2005
Posts: 69
Location: SW MO
|
|
I recently bought a 2.5 inch chamber British box lock choked mod/full. I will be loading my own ammo so was thinking speeders inserts would be a great option rather than paying to have the chokes opened like I've done on 2 3/4 in guns that I load in a progressive loader and shoot a lot more of. What to you all think? Thanks |
_________________ Shoot like your hungry! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Wed Jan 23, 2019 5:50 pm
|
|
|
Joined: 17 Jul 2008
Posts: 765
Location: Great State of Kansas
|
|
NO! Learn to shoot it and leave it alone,,, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Wed Jan 23, 2019 6:04 pm
|
|
|
Member
Joined: 06 Apr 2007
Posts: 3373
Location: The Great Northwet
|
|
Not unless all your shooting is inside 25 yds. Once you take it out, you can't put it back in. |
_________________ Gun art: www.marklarsongunart.com
Gallery art: www.marklarsonart.com
The man's prayer from the Red Green Show: "I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to. I guess." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Wed Jan 23, 2019 6:54 pm
|
|
|
Member
Joined: 09 Dec 2005
Posts: 989
Location: Las Vegas
|
|
last dollar wrote: |
NO! Learn to shoot it and leave it alone,,,
|
+1
Matt |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Wed Jan 23, 2019 7:07 pm
|
|
|
Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2815
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa
|
|
Dongotto,
This all depend on the shooting or hunting you do most, and the Master Gun Maker you use. I would 1st try to use the new SpredR type shells in your Brit double gun, pattern it and see how the patterns work for the hunting you do most.
2nd the Barrel thickness may not allow you to open the chokes as much as you might like. If the gun was an American classic you would probably have the barrel thickness you need for choke modification, the english gun you may not have the barrel thickness to open up the chokes to where you most want.
Having Rich Painter open up several of my Pre 13 L.C. Smith double guns with 2.5 Chambers, has made them Grouse killing machines for sure. Using the SpredR loads has even made these guns better Grouse & Woodcock guns.
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man |
_________________ "L.C. Smith America's Best" - John Houchins
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Thu Jan 24, 2019 2:35 am
|
|
|
Member
Joined: 04 Mar 2008
Posts: 1943
Location: Lowcountry Ga.
|
|
One consideration that augers against spreader loads is whether or not you shoot over dogs. I have read the concerns of others that spreader loads sometimes will shoot extreme flyers that either can or have hit dogs. Whether or not this is the result of someone shooting at birds too close to dogs or if it is actually the case or not I don't know. I sometime shoot spreaders out of the left barrel of some of my guns but I keep in mind the above caveat and govern myself accordingly. I have had three of my doubles opened up from M/F to IC/LM and am considering having another opened up from C/F to C/LM. Two of the guns are 2.5" 16 ga. and the other is a 2.75" 20 ga. I don't have chambers extended. I shoot quail and woodcock, mostly woodcock, over my dogs and if I thought shooting a blunderbus would be more efficient without injuring my dogs, I'd consider it. Gil |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Thu Jan 24, 2019 4:38 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Thu Jan 24, 2019 7:04 am
|
|
|
Joined: 20 Jul 2011
Posts: 625
Location: Ohio..where ruffed grouse were
|
|
Birds or clays?
I would try spreaders in the right barrel and if successful, I would use regular loads in the left, tho I might use a bit larger shot, depending.
IF, your use for the gun on birds renders either idea impractical, remove metal with a reluctance.
That always seems wise to me re metal or wood. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Thu Jan 24, 2019 8:39 am
|
|
|
Member
Joined: 22 Aug 2011
Posts: 1498
Location: the Moosehorn
|
|
load using wads with no petals and / or chilled shot for close targets. Mod Full is great combo for 1oz loads ,Practice with the gun and learn to hit with it. You get to that point you will love the versatility. |
_________________ ALWAYS wear the safety glasses
If you take Cranberries and stew them like applesauce they taste much more like Prunes than Rhubarb does ----G.M/ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Thu Jan 24, 2019 10:04 am
|
|
|
Joined: 16 Feb 2013
Posts: 95
Location: Southernmost State of the Union
|
|
I am in the "don't open it" camp. M/F is my favorite combination in doubles. I use fiber wad loads in the right barrel and regular loads in the left. |
_________________ "The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop, at late or early hour. Now is the only time you own. Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in time. For the clock may soon be still." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Thu Jan 24, 2019 10:28 am
|
|
|
Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2815
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa
|
|
Gil S,
Having used SpredR shells sense they came on the market years ago, I have witnessed no flyers in the patterns, either at the test pattern station, or in the Grouse woods around my dogs. Maybe this has to due with my J.P Sauer Best German guns, & my L.C. Smith and other American made double guns I do not know.
Having heard this flyer story a few times before, I have never met a Grouse hunter who can confirm the flyer story.
This story did concern me however, I do use a lot of SpredR shells in my Grouse hunting, out of a lot of different double guns.
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man
The Grouse in my hands in the picture below were both taken with SpredR loads, nice soft shooting shells,with a beautiful wide pattern, out of my 16 gauge L.C. Smith Silver Breech double gun. The gun is originally choked M/F for old slow buring powders of its era.
[URL=http://www.jpgbox.com/page/56021_800x600/]
[/URL] |
_________________ "L.C. Smith America's Best" - John Houchins
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Thu Jan 24, 2019 1:19 pm
|
|
|
Joined: 08 Feb 2009
Posts: 1319
Location: Western WA
|
|
Spend an afternoon or two at the pattern board before do you anything rash.
Experiment with different loads, wads, shot size, brands, etc. at various ranges. You might be pleasantly surprised...or shocked...at what you discover.
Hint -If possible, don't bother with paper targets for patterning, just bring a roller and a can of leftover house paint, and a digital camera or iPhone. And wear your oil change clothes.
B. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Thu Jan 24, 2019 2:18 pm
|
|
|
Member
Joined: 20 Oct 2005
Posts: 69
Location: SW MO
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Thu Jan 24, 2019 2:27 pm
|
|
|
Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2815
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa
|
|
Dongotto,
Real nice old gun for the price you payed, no debt about it.
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man |
_________________ "L.C. Smith America's Best" - John Houchins
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted:
Thu Jan 24, 2019 3:40 pm
|
|
|
Member
Joined: 12 Aug 2007
Posts: 1376
Location: Northern Illinois
|
|
That is a really nice gun for $900. I am not a fan of opening up English barrels because they are almost always well regulated and depending on who does the work may not be so later. +1 on the fact you can’t put it back.
However, because it was sleeved you should have plenty of barrel thickness to allow you to open the chokes. Like others said go to the pattern board and see what you have first. And while you are there check the POA to make sure whoever sleeved it didn’t goof that up. Also if you decide to have it opened up, pay to have a good metalsmith do it. If you don’t know one, check out the below site. Any member of the guild should do it correctly.
www.acgg.org
Good Hunting,
Mike |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|