I picked up an old police Wingmaster. It's great, nice wood furniture, and the slide is smooth as silk. It has an 18 inch fixed cylinder barrel. Is there any disadvantage to having it threaded even though the primary purpose is HD? Has anyone done it? I'd like to also use it for occasional light duty hunting (rabbits, etc.). Thanks.
Adding Chokes to Fixed Cylinder
- Thread starter GDW
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okiewita40
Member
I'll second pete for the most part. Just get another barrel that takes choke tubes. That you'll pretty much have two guns in one all you have to do is a quick barrel swap.
chas08
Member
Having it threaded is an option, but it may prove out to be as, or almost as, expensive as a new barrel. If you do have it threaded make sure you use a reputable smith. If it is threaded crooked there is no telling where it will hit. I know Briley in Houston, Tx. does great work, but they aren't cheap. 
Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
If there's enough 'meat' (thickness) in the barrel walls, it won't be a problem. And many installers can put in 'thin wall' tubes too.
I've had choke tubes installed on a few CYL bore barrels. The results have been uniformly good IMHO. I was lucky in that Colonial Arms ( http://www.colonialarms.com/ ) was located in my home town of Selma, AL at the time, and all I had to do was drop off a barrel and pick it up a couple of days later. They've since relocated to Bay Minette, AL.
There are a number of well known and reputable companies (Briley, NuLine etc) that do this, and some local shops do a good job too. Ask around and see.
If you decide to do this, get 'em to extend and polish the forcing cone at the same time. That makes for a pretty consistent improvement in buckshot patterns in my experience.
hth,
lpl/nc
I've had choke tubes installed on a few CYL bore barrels. The results have been uniformly good IMHO. I was lucky in that Colonial Arms ( http://www.colonialarms.com/ ) was located in my home town of Selma, AL at the time, and all I had to do was drop off a barrel and pick it up a couple of days later. They've since relocated to Bay Minette, AL.
There are a number of well known and reputable companies (Briley, NuLine etc) that do this, and some local shops do a good job too. Ask around and see.
If you decide to do this, get 'em to extend and polish the forcing cone at the same time. That makes for a pretty consistent improvement in buckshot patterns in my experience.
hth,
lpl/nc
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Sergeant Sabre
Member
I have a Mossberg 500 with an 18.5" cylinder barrel. That short barrel makes the shotgun such a wonderfully light, handy package. I suppose you could get another barrel for a little more than having your short barrel choked, but that would defeat the purpose of the short barrel.
I say go for it. An improved cylinder or modified choke would really extend the buckshot range. That light, handy package would be a dream to rabbit hunt with, in my opinion.
You might want to try it just the way it is, though. I've been rabbit hunting with my Browning Gold and have been using a modified choke and #6 shot. After shredding too many rabbits I'm down to an improved cylinder choke anyway. We don't use dogs so we have to kick them up ourselves, meaning that many of our shots are very close. That cylinder bore barrel might do the job just fine.
I say go for it. An improved cylinder or modified choke would really extend the buckshot range. That light, handy package would be a dream to rabbit hunt with, in my opinion.
You might want to try it just the way it is, though. I've been rabbit hunting with my Browning Gold and have been using a modified choke and #6 shot. After shredding too many rabbits I'm down to an improved cylinder choke anyway. We don't use dogs so we have to kick them up ourselves, meaning that many of our shots are very close. That cylinder bore barrel might do the job just fine.
sargenv
Member
In some cases.. like old Remington 870 - 20 gauges (that were built on the larger frame) you can't get barrels anymore. In that case (like me) it was easier to get it machined than it was to actually find a barrel for it. I had Briley do mine several years ago. They do really good work and the barrel I had did have enough "meat" on it to thread. Most more modern guns in common gauges you can probably find a barrel for though.
kentucky_smith
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I've had good luck with Mike Orlen of Choke and Chamber Music, I got my gun back in less than a week. If you're a member of shotgunworld you get the dealer price.
Joe Foraday
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For the OP, this is not off the wall at all. Several defensive shotguns come with tubes from the factory. The Benelli M2 and FN SLP come to mind, but there are probably others.
About 8 years ago I bought a Winchester 1300 Defender with a fixed cyl bore barrel. I ended up shipping it to Briley manufacturing in Houston, TX. I had it threaded and bought a set of three chokes for it. I can shoot trap with this if I wanted to. I bet I'd probably get some strange looks though. 
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
How about $85 bucks, with three choke tubes of your choice, and two wrenches?
http://www.choketube.com/instal.html
rcmodel
http://www.choketube.com/instal.html
rcmodel
Briley also does barrel rebuilds on old damasus barrels that were originally set up to fire the old blackpowder shotshells of the 1800s. If you still want to shoot modern smokeless powder loads in these old shotguns from the late 1800's they can bore out the barrels and install a steel "Sleeve" inside them so you can safely fire modern shotshells through them. This kind of work is a little expensive though.
Thanks for all the great info. I actually had a local guy tell me (without looking at it) that it was probably too open all ready and would not be able to thread it. I never heard of such a thing. I'll give some of the stated recommendations a try along with the cone work. Sounds great and thanks again.
Sergeant Sabre
Member
I think what he means is that the barrel walls aren't thick enough at the muzzle to cut into it and thread it without weakening it too much. Just because one gunsmith said he wouldn't do it doesn't mean that you won't fine one that will.
I called Orlen posted above (who also happen to be in KS) and he said I need to check the outside diameter. They said if the OD is greater
than .805 they can do it. Now I need to rummage around for my calipers.
If it cannot be done I wonder if I can find an 18 inch or so barrel that shoots 2 3/4 with removable chokes. I hope so. But first things first...the calipers.
than .805 they can do it. Now I need to rummage around for my calipers.
If it cannot be done I wonder if I can find an 18 inch or so barrel that shoots 2 3/4 with removable chokes. I hope so. But first things first...the calipers.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Carlson's says .805" minimum with lead shot chokes, .825" minimum for steel shot choke system.
They are in Atwood KS.
Orlen is in Amherst MA.
rcmodel
You sure you didn't call Carlson's?
They are in Atwood KS.
Orlen is in Amherst MA.
rcmodel
kentucky_smith
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Orlen is in Massachusetts, Carlson's is in Kansas. Won't go wrong with either.
RetiredLawman
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Think about a Polychoke. Best accessory I've ever used. Been using them for over 40 years. Excellent results. Polychoke has salvaged quite a few amputated barrels.
Shell Shucker
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12 ga 870 barrels are a dime a dozen......... Buy one!
+1 on that Lawman. I have an old Browning Auto Five with a polychoke installed on the barrel. One nice thing about the polychokes is you don't need to carry a wrench and a pack of different choke tubes around with you. I can shoot Skeet, Trap, or Sporting clays. All I got to do is turn the front adjustment knob accordingly and that's it. I am a little curious how well the polychoke stands up to steel shot use though. I'm not sure I'd want to try this with a Belgian made Auto Five. Since I primarily shoot trap and skeet I'm going to continue to stick with the lead target loads in my trusty Auto Five.
sm
member
Personally, I would leave the barrel alone.
I have this thing about old barrels, how made, the metallurgy and dimensions of yesteryear.
They will never make them old barrels again, and having run a Stan Baker Bore Diameter tool down barrels, I want the old barrels, and there is a point or two of constriction in most of those, even if marked cylinder bore.
I would keep the old barrel intact, it really is that good of a barrel.
I feel it is so much better than newer barrels.
I would get another barrel, with chokes, or have a qualified smith keep an eye out for a busted one (duck hunter fired it with mud for example) and have it done for external knurled chokes.
I prefer fixed chokes especially for serious use.
OLDer Cyl Bore and Modified are two barrels that are that good.
Yes, there is a short fixed mod barrel and that one is prized and folks wait years to get one.
I know one fella that waited years, and finally bought all he could afford when he found some.
Again, I want Choke, and I prefer fixed.
Those older Cyl bores, with the chamber, forcing cone, bore dia, and they did them , and they do have a smidgen of choke are that good.
That short fixed modified...yeah, some of us know something, we sure as heck do!
I have this thing about old barrels, how made, the metallurgy and dimensions of yesteryear.
They will never make them old barrels again, and having run a Stan Baker Bore Diameter tool down barrels, I want the old barrels, and there is a point or two of constriction in most of those, even if marked cylinder bore.
I would keep the old barrel intact, it really is that good of a barrel.
I feel it is so much better than newer barrels.
I would get another barrel, with chokes, or have a qualified smith keep an eye out for a busted one (duck hunter fired it with mud for example) and have it done for external knurled chokes.
I prefer fixed chokes especially for serious use.
OLDer Cyl Bore and Modified are two barrels that are that good.
Yes, there is a short fixed mod barrel and that one is prized and folks wait years to get one.
I know one fella that waited years, and finally bought all he could afford when he found some.
Again, I want Choke, and I prefer fixed.
Those older Cyl bores, with the chamber, forcing cone, bore dia, and they did them , and they do have a smidgen of choke are that good.
That short fixed modified...yeah, some of us know something, we sure as heck do!
RUT
Member
If this is being used solely for H.D. I wouldn't do a danged thing to it.
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