Threading for chokes...

[Fast Frank]

I have recently acquired a Winchester 1200 pump 12 gauge.

It's apparently from 1969 or 1970 (Records aren't complete from that era, it's a guess based of average production per year) and it was unfired when I took possession.

This thing is literally brand new, with a few small handling marks collected over the years.

It has a full choke vent rib barrel.

I'm wondering a few things about threading for chokes.

Question #1- If I do spring for threading and buy some choke tubes, will it make this old girl suitable for steel shot?

Question#2- Is shortening the barrel required? It's long now and I'm OK with that, but it seems like every time I have seen talk about threading it also seems to involve cutting the barrel shorter. Is that to get to a thicker portion of the barrel that will take the chokes or just personal preference?

Question #3- Would you do it? It's a fine piece, and it shoots real nice the way it is now, but that full choke makes a small shot pattern on the trap range. I'm thinking a more open pattern might be more fun. Normally, this is where everybody suggest buying another barrel but I don't see as many choices for this old gun and I don't think they ever came threaded for chokes back in the day.

I don't think it has a bunch of collector value and I really would like to just use it.

Anybody got any input for me?

 

[Virginian]

Sell it. I would not invest a dime in a 1200. Someone will likely come along and tell you theirs is great, never a problem in 40 years, yada, yada, but I have seen far too many broken to trust one. The 1200 morphed into the 1300, then the "Speed Pump", and now the SXP. Over the same period the Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 morphed into........... the 870 and 500. There are very good reasons for that.
The barrel can be threaded for tubes, and it does not have to be shortened. If you decide to have it done, Mike Orlen or Briley are who I would recommend (Mike is cheaper and faster, but he doesn't have all the tooling Briley has for special situations).

 

[bearcreek]

If you're just a little mechanically inclined you can do it yourself. It's not hard, particularly if you have access to a lathe. Here's where you can rent the reamer and tap. http://www.4-dproducts.com/display.php?group=Shotgun

 

[Fast Frank]

Does anybody know if installing choke tunes will make this gun OK for steel shot?

 

[jaguarxk120]

Have no idea if you can shoot steel shot with choke tubes installed.

But if you do it yourself the full choke has to be reamed out ($30 rental) then threaded for chokes ($50 rental.

Mike will thread for $55.

Do what Virginian has suggested, sell it and buy a used Remington Wingmaster. I said Wingmaster not Express!

 

[Sunray]

1) No. The choke has nothing to do with steel vs no steel. Barrel does.
2) No. The existing choke can be reamed out by a smithy who does shotguns. Threading for tubes depends on the thickness of the current barrel's walls. There are other options though. Poly-Choke is one. http://www.poly-choke.com/
3) A Win 1200 is and was an entry level shotgun made between 1965 to 2006. No collector value. And there was this. http://www.winchester.com/library/news/Pages/model-1200-warning-notice.aspx
Go here for another barrel if you opt for that.
http://www.corsonsbarrels.com/winchesterbarrels.htm

 

[oneounceload]

If there is enough wall thickness, then threading for regular chokes is doable. If not, then thinwalls would be the option and Briley is the 800# gorilla in that department. Many IM and F are not rated for steel since steel does not compress like lead going through a tight choke.

 

[drcook]

Briley charges $30.00 more to supply steel rated tubes in 12,16 and 20 ga guns

http://www.briley.com/chokeinstallationpricing.aspx

 

[Fast Frank]

The choke has nothing to do with steel vs no steel. Barrel does.

Interesting.

The way I understood it, the hard steel shot would hammer the choke open. Yes, this was a matter of the hardness of the steel the barrel was made of.

Naturally, the steel in the barrel was also the steel the choke was made of because it was all one piece.

This is why I wondered if a harder steel choke tube would allow steel shot in an older soft steel barrel.

Apparently Briley does offer some chokes rated for steel shot, but that raises another question...

Are these steel shot chokes intended to be installed in an "Already Rated For Steel" barrel, or will installing them in "Non Steel Shot" barrel convert it for steel use?

 

[Virginian]

The choke tube has everything to do with steel shot with today's loads. With the wads they use now I would not worry about the barrel in any gun made to shoot modern loads (and that includes Belgium Browning barrels), but that's me. Do some reading and you decide on your barrel(s). The choke must be rated for steel shot. Most repeaters no problem, but on some doubles you would need extended tubes with the constriction beyond the original barrel to shoot steel though a tighter than open choke.
Mike Orlen or Briley is the person to talk to if you are going to have them do the work. They know what works with what to do what.