Beretta Choke tube stuck, need help.

[Aix sponsa]

I have a Beretta AL 391. I picked it up in 2001. My modified choke tube is stuck in my barrel, and if anyone has any ideas or advice, I'd appreciate hearing it.

It patterned really well for me, and it stayed in my barrel for quite some time.. One day, I decided to change out my choke, only to find out that it was rusted in there. It was really tight, and I broke one of my wrenches trying to remove it. I have asked 5-10 people that I know if they had any ideas, and the only one that I haven't tried that I think would work--might damage my barrel. I understand that my barrel will probably be damaged by the rust, eventually, but, for now, it works.-- I sent it back to Beretta, and they told me that they couldn't remove it without possible damage to the barrel.

This is what I've tried:
A) soaking the end of the barrel in Kroil for a couple days.
B) soaking the end of the barrel in just about every penetrating oil.
C) gently tapped the barrel to try to free up the threads.
D) cranked on it until the choke wrench has broken.

This is what I have not tried, but was told might work:
A) put the barrel in an oven, and the expanding metal might free the threads. <<--is this a bad idea?

Appreciate your time,
Jeff

 

[410.bird.shot]

Kroil it again for a few days. Then, assuming the finish is blued, I would probably put the barrel in a vise with soft jaws and then heat the barrel with a propane/mapp torch about 6 inches back from the muzzle. Put the choke tube wrench in a plier or something to get a good grip and apply firm pressure while heating. Do this procedure in a well ventilated area. Wear gloves. If it does come out, soak the muzzle again in Kroil and the get a 10 ga. bore brush and a short section of shotgun rod. You may want to add some copper coated chore boy to the 10 ga brush. Take this improvised tool and put it into a cordless drill--keep lubricated and attempt to remove any rust scales.

If this doesn't work, and you have a long enough barrel to stay legal, have you considered having it cut off behind the current tube and rethreaded? In the future, use Birchwood Casey or Pro Shot Choke Tube Lube--this works wonders!

Best of luck,

410.bird.shot

 

[jmr40]

Heat of some type along with penetrating oil, but be careful. You may get some cosmetic blemishes, but if you don't overdo it I don't think you will create a dangerous situation.

 

[oneounceload]

Try tightening the choke ever so slightly to see if it breaks loose.
You can also try using a heat gun or hair dryer (NOT a torch) to heat the barrel end to see if that loosens it
You can also go the other way and try freezing it to see if that breaks it loose.
Both of the above after using a penetrating oil like Kroil, Liquid Wrench, PB Blaster or similar.

IF you get it out, clean the threads on the choke and INSIDE the barrel completely, then use either a good thick grease like RIG or Never Seize on the threads of the choke tube before reinserting

 

[orphanedcowboy]

Find a bottle or jar deep enough to cover the choke tube, fill it up with Kroil and let soak. Try boiling it in hot water, then back into the Kroil, as it cools it should draw the Kroil in between the choke and barrel. If this doesn't readily work, find a gunsmith.

If you're willing to pay shipping both ways, I have a Straight 100 products CSP stuck choke tool and the corresponding heads. I'd like to try and get it out, it will only cost you shipping both ways, no cost for the labor.

I also have a matte finish 12ga 391 barrel with Mobil chokes 26" long for $150 shipped if you are interested or can't get it out.

Sent from my Tesla coil

 

[frankenstein406]

I would get a.heat gun from the paint section. Let it soak for a week.

 

[Kingcreek]

Look around for a choke tube wrench with a square hole in it that will accept a 1/4" drive wrench. Kroil +heat+wrench
But if beretta had it they probably already tried that.

 

[drcook]

Have you tried this tool ? (assuming you have a 12ga, I didn't see what you had)

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/81...ts-beretta-benelli-except-crio-tubes-12-gauge

If all else fails, gunsmiths have a tool for removing stuck chokes. It will ruin the choke, but preserve the barrel.

this is a similar one from Brownells

http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-t...e-tools/stuck-choke-removal-tool-prod922.aspx

after soaking with penetrating oil, this is one of, if not the best way to get that choke out. that way you are not putting the barrel in a vice, heating the barrel with a torch, cutting the barrel off and rethreading, etc.

you can heat the barrel up with a hair dryer, that won't get too much heat and accomplishes the suggestion of heating without taking a chance of damaging the barrel

stick the end of the barrel down in a container of diesel fuel or kerosene for a couple days and see if that helps break some of the corrosion loose

you can also try putting a couple rubber grommets on a carraige bolt that is small enough to go into the barrel without damaging it. File some flats on the threaded end so you can hold it with a wrench. tighten a nut and washer down against the grommets so they expand and grab hold of the choke tube, then try and turn it out.

 

[orphanedcowboy]

Drcook, I have the CSP tool from 100 Straight Products and I have yet to find a choke it would not easily take out. I even removed a set of thin walls from a Winchester O/U that had seen some steel shot for a couple of seasons. The guy the owner originally took it to said it was scrap and he could not get them out. I had them out in 30 minutes and was cleaning the threads. New chokes screwed right back in.

Sent from my Tesla coil

 

[drcook]

Sorry I didn't recognize your tool for what it was.

The point is to use the right tool for the right job.

Also for folks that are not familiar with each and every tool on the market, a picture or a link to follow helps people understand what you are conveying.

 

[tryshoot]

orphanedcowboy that was a very nice offer! You should take him up on that.

 

[Gottahaveone]

Something else to try. Instead of brute force on the choke tube wrench, put the wrench in place and take something with about the mass of a 5/8" box end wrench and tap the choke wrench handle in the direction needed to loosen it. You are not trying to hammer it loose, you are using the light quick shocks of tapping the handle to "jar" it loose.

I had a tube stuck in a Rem barrel, that after sitting in a closet for 7+ years refused to budge. A good shot of penetrating oil and 10 minutes of tapping later, I was once again a happy camper.
Good luck......

 

[dprice3844444]

and grease it good when you put it back together

 

[oneounceload]

Has the OP ever removed the choke?

 

[orphanedcowboy]

Has the OP ever removed the choke?

He has read my PM with no response, I haven't a clue.

Sent from my Tesla coil

 

[oneounceload]

Too bad - would like which, if any, method worked for him. I have never had one so stuck that a good choke wrench didn't break it loose. Hopefully, most folks realize that they need to use a good thick grease or never seize on the threads

 

[Averageman]

I bought a 870 from a Pawn Shop with a very similar issue. In order to solve it, here is what I did.
I hung the barrel choke deep in Marvel Mystery Oil over a weekend. I then wiped the outside of the barrel and heated it with a heat gun made for electronics and small home projects. The heat gun brought the temperature up to 250 degrees.
I placed the barrel in a padded vice and put my gloves on and a choke wrench with a 3/8 drive adapter in the barrel with a 18 inch adapter on the 3/8 breaker bar and I slowly turned and reheated and turned until on the 4th attempt the choke came loose.
I re dipped the barrel in the oil and cleaned the internal choke thread and then did the same for the choke.
I finally gave everything a close inspection and applied anti sieze and rethreaded the choke in to and out of the barrel several times.
Time consuming, yes; workable, very.

 

[Bull Nutria]

I find it hard to believe that Beretta would not or could not get that choke out!! a judicious use of heat and tapping and vibration will eventually work. i have screwed up a choke tube getting a stuck one out but not the threads in the barrel. a remchoke wrench will work with a 3/8 inch adapter just like Averageman suggested. I hope we hear back form the OP soon I am curious as to if and how he gets the choke tubeout.

Bull

 

[orphanedcowboy]

You'd be surprised what an impact with the appropriate sized ease out will do.

I bought the CSP tool simply because it I had one frozen from years of shooting letter sized steel and neglect. I bought the shotgun for $250 and with a little elbow grease and a large amount of Kroil and Duracoat, I had it looking like new and made about $400 on it.

 

[eastbank]

i shoot between 300-400 shells a week and every two weeks i unscrew my choke tubes and clean them and the threads and reassemble with a good antisize grease and have never had a problem. eastbank.

 

[oneounceload]

I also shoot that much and I remove them when I clean the gun - which isn't always every week, but when I do, the threads on the tube and inside the bore get cleaned and then I use Hoppe's Gun Grease or Shooter's Choice - something thick and non-migrating. Never an issue in over 20 years with having a stuck choke tube