This happen a few years back. And was the only incident I have had. You may have to zoom in on photo to see damage to choke tube. I shot one 12ga 3" hevi-13 #6 and one 3" field load of #6 lead pattern my gun before inspecting choke tube. Tube screw out like nothing was wrong and I saw the split. I have always been a little concerned with shooting harder than lead through such constrictions that I check my tubes often. We all know how much replacement barrels cost now days. I wonder if another shot or 2 would have damaged my barrel at this point.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230420/642ddb4fb0dd471226cf56d54f0c0a21.jpg)
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Yes, inspect them on a regular basis and use choke tube lube ....
I don't think I've taken my choke tube out in over 15 years, maybe the time has come? It's never loosened.
Quote from: Zobo on April 20, 2023, 09:50:19 AM
I don't think I've taken my choke tube out in over 15 years, maybe the time has come? It's never loosened.
5 dollar tube of choke lube from Walmart is a good investment ... IMO.... Watch some of those guys on Youtube trying to remove a tube after being in a gun for several years...
Quote from: Greg Massey on April 20, 2023, 09:53:45 AM
Quote from: Zobo on April 20, 2023, 09:50:19 AM
I don't think I've taken my choke tube out in over 15 years, maybe the time has come? It's never loosened.
5 dollar tube of choke lube from Walmart is a good investment ... IMO.... Watch some of those guys on Youtube trying to remove a tube after being in a gun for several years...
Do I really need to lube it? I clean the barrel pretty regularly. What's the problem with just leaving it in untouched, is it bad for the barrel? I honestly don't know much about it.
Quote from: Zobo on April 20, 2023, 10:03:12 AM
Quote from: Greg Massey on April 20, 2023, 09:53:45 AM
Quote from: Zobo on April 20, 2023, 09:50:19 AM
I don't think I've taken my choke tube out in over 15 years, maybe the time has come? It's never loosened.
5 dollar tube of choke lube from Walmart is a good investment ... IMO.... Watch some of those guys on Youtube trying to remove a tube after being in a gun for several years...
Do I really need to lube it? I clean the barrel pretty regularly. What's the problem with just leaving it in untouched, is it bad for the barrel? I honestly don't know much about it.
Over time, it will build powder residue around the threads of the tube, and the moisture content over time will cause it to seize, my advise if it will remove BUY you some choke tube lube and lube all your chokes .....
Quote from: Greg Massey on April 20, 2023, 10:06:02 AM
Quote from: Zobo on April 20, 2023, 10:03:12 AM
Quote from: Greg Massey on April 20, 2023, 09:53:45 AM
Quote from: Zobo on April 20, 2023, 09:50:19 AM
I don't think I've taken my choke tube out in over 15 years, maybe the time has come? It's never loosened.
5 dollar tube of choke lube from Walmart is a good investment ... IMO.... Watch some of those guys on Youtube trying to remove a tube after being in a gun for several years...
Do I really need to lube it? I clean the barrel pretty regularly. What's the problem with just leaving it in untouched, is it bad for the barrel? I honestly don't know much about it.
Over time, it will build powder residue around the threads of the tube, and the moisture content over time will cause it to seize, my advise if it will remove BUY you some choke tube lube and lube all your chokes .....
At this point it may do more harm than good, but I'll try without over torquing it. Thanks
I didnt even know about choke tube lube. Ive always used a dab of that grey anti seize. I guess its the same idea.
I consider it taking out the choke tube as part of cleaning my gun. I will unscrew the choke tube, wipe off the threads, oil them and re-tighten it. Guess I'm a little OCD about my guns.
Yes I check my tubes...
I have found that factory and after-market alike many choke tubes are not made correctly. Being a wing-shooter I want the constriction of the chokes to be correct for what I am shooting, and many are NOT made correctly.
I check the factory chokes before purchasing, and after-market chokes before putting in the gun for constriction.
I am only shooting a full choke for turkey, and with small shot sizes I am very unlikely to have any damage, cracking, or bulging to the chokes done only firing one shell at the most.
Each hunt, I check the choke for tightness as I take the gun out to hunt (it has become a habit)... End of the season, the choke is removed and cleaned of all wad residue, and my dove or clay choke is put back in the gun.
Quote from: Notsoyoungturk on April 20, 2023, 10:16:23 AM
I consider it taking out the choke tube as part of cleaning my gun. I will unscrew the choke tube, wipe off the threads, oil them and re-tighten it. Guess I'm a little OCD about my guns.
I do the same thing except I use choke tube lube or anti-seize. That way I know there is no gunk, debris, etc. in the threads of the tube/barrel that is going to cause troubles down the road.
I check them too after my hunting partner's choke (very reputable brand) blew up on a shot.
Night before the opener this year my buddy (new to hunting) was screwing in his new choke. Luckily I watched him and saw that he had the wrong thread pattern (invector instead of invector plus). Could have been bad.
Quote from: captpete on April 20, 2023, 10:28:12 AM
Quote from: Notsoyoungturk on April 20, 2023, 10:16:23 AM
I consider it taking out the choke tube as part of cleaning my gun. I will unscrew the choke tube, wipe off the threads, oil them and re-tighten it. Guess I'm a little OCD about my guns.
I do the same thing except I use choke tube lube or anti-seize. That way I know there is no gunk, debris, etc. in the threads of the tube/barrel that is going to cause troubles down the road.
X-2. I usually brush the threads well and put a small dab of breach plug grease on em
Rotating in and out a few times.
I use never seize, a little dab will do. Careful or it will get everywhere!! I buy a plastic bottle of it but I put it in a dental syringe, for shooting sporting clays.
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So I clean my gun fully before season and inspect tube and use anti seize on it (grey color). Mid season all do a clean a quick clean, just a visual inspection, and after season it gets fully cleaned again for the lock up.
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My Indian Creek looks like the inside has been beat with a ballpeen hammer, they say it's normal and doesn't effect performance. I call BS on that and will send it too them after season, also has a hard spot while threading, starts really easy, gets stiff then back to easy.
As of now it still shoots well but for how long?
I think my poi. already changed.
I pull my tube constantly, cant get a bore snake through that tight sucker!
Saw the same thing with Indian Creek and hevi-shot first came out. Cut grooves in the steps. They said it's normal, back then. Even more with TSS.
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I'd be interested to know what brand choke tube that is & the choke tube constriction.
When I clean my turkey guns I remove the aftermarket chokes and put an improved cylinder or modified choke in the barrel. Deep clean as usual and then clean the turkey chokes with brake cleaner and a toothbrush or other similar brush that will fit. Then I remove the more open choke and clean the barrel threads sqeaky clean then lube threads with breech plug grease and put choke back in. Then clean the open choke threads I just took out.
It amazes me at the people that don't remove their choke tubes and clean their threads and chokes regularly. I've seen alot of stuck chokes in shotgun barrels. Even with as little as 4-5 shots there is a certain amount of debri, powder, or gases that end up around the edges of the choke tubes. And that's not to mention moisture from rain or snow and the barrel sweating. It's easy to see too. The breech plug grease I've been using for years is white. After I completely clean my gun, choke, and threads and apply fresh white grease, I can shoot three or four shots maybe a few more then remove the choke and see what color the grease is. It's usually a dingy brown then by seasons end it'll be black. It doesn't take much to cease these fine threads up.
I remove my chokes maybe once a year at the most. I do clean and oil the threads. I've never had an issue. I leave them in when cleaning the barrel which I do often.
AGAIN 5 dollars and a few cents is cheap insurance .... Lube your chokes, oiling isn't the same ... LUBE / Grease
Lots of good stuff here. I am overly cautious and do it all, lol. Clean thoroughly, a dab of choke tube lube and 1finger tight, as tight as you can possibly get with no mechanical aid. I inspect it visually often. Your choke tube is part of the gun, so do the maintenance. :z-twocents: Z
Quote from: zelmo1 on April 21, 2023, 09:12:22 AM
Lots of good stuff here. I am overly cautious and do it all, lol. Clean thoroughly, a dab of choke tube lube and 1finger tight, as tight as you can possibly get with no mechanical aid. I inspect it visually often. Your choke tube is part of the gun, so do the maintenance. :z-twocents: Z
X2 ... This is what you do guys .... good post ....
I just had a Yildiz factory full choke crack recently. My brand new 20ga. Legacy HP had a barrel regulation issue (bottom barrel pattern core was 7" low right) Briley told me "send it in, we'll confirm, probably looking at a barrel replacement". Upon cleaning the gun before shipping it off I noticed a funny looking spot in muzzle, upon further inspection the outer section of choke was cracked and had plastic sheared inside the crack (my guess would be wad material). Of course it was stuck, even though I used anti-seize on threads. This choke had roughly 15 cheap clay loads and 5 Turkey loads through it. Good thing I caught that!
I will be cleaning and inspecting my various chokes more routinely in the future!!
Yes ,
You have to also closely look at the inside lip , also make sure that same lip doesn't have a tighter dia. Than your shotgun bore ..what can happen is the shot charge can catch that inside skirt lip , overpressure and cause a "catastrophic failure"
If your shooting handloads you have to watch for scoring caused from a stray pellet on the outside of the wad , and some older steel shot would do this
Contact the choke builder they will usually send you a replacement
Dang that sucks. Great information
Checked all my Turkey gun s tonight. Thanks for the heads up.
Quote from: old3toe on April 21, 2023, 01:05:07 AM
When I clean my turkey guns I remove the aftermarket chokes and put an improved cylinder or modified choke in the barrel. Deep clean as usual and then clean the turkey chokes with brake cleaner and a toothbrush or other similar brush that will fit. Then I remove the more open choke and clean the barrel threads sqeaky clean then lube threads with breech plug grease and put choke back in. Then clean the open choke threads I just took out.
It amazes me at the people that don't remove their choke tubes and clean their threads and chokes regularly. I've seen alot of stuck chokes in shotgun barrels. Even with as little as 4-5 shots there is a certain amount of debri, powder, or gases that end up around the edges of the choke tubes. And that's not to mention moisture from rain or snow and the barrel sweating. It's easy to see too. The breech plug grease I've been using for years is white. After I completely clean my gun, choke, and threads and apply fresh white grease, I can shoot three or four shots maybe a few more then remove the choke and see what color the grease is. It's usually a dingy brown then by seasons end it'll be black. It doesn't take much to cease these fine threads up.
Moisture is the biggest offender here... Could be while you are hunting, could be humidity in the house... Most of my chokes are "extended chokes," and they are stored with a small amount of lube, and un-screwed a quarter turn or so after each hunt. I am now of the habit of pulling my gun out, and tightening the choke right out of the case while hunting.
Tight chokes and bulging barrels is another offender I have seen. Lube will not stop this. I think waterfowl hunters are more guilty of this. Shooting a tight choke with larger shot sizes that bulges the choke and/or barrel, and now it is stuck, and maybe the barrel ruined... Non-toxic shot is a lot harder than lead... Pushing a bunch of shot through a small channel, and something has to give.
Turkey hunters and duck hunters have something in common for sure... We are all prone to be attracted to purchase gear that we want, but do not need. I have been guilty of buying "toys" that look or seem cool that have not at all aided me in harvesting a single bird.
Somewhere, I have a turkey choke that is collected dust, cause I switched over to a full choke... Have not wounded a single bird with that full choke (shooting original Hevi-shot 1 1/4 oz #6's from 8 years ago). This season, I shot a light modified choke all season for ducks and did quite well with it... Patterns on paper great and kills birds well...
That being said, I see and read all the hype of the Mueller chokes, and I really want one for both ducks and turkey... Rationally, I know that these chokes will likely not help me to kill one bird more than what I am currently using... But... Still I want them.
My buddy is a gunsmith.
He LOVES screw-in choke tubes....says he probably could do nothing but pull stuck tubes the rest of his career.
Pull em a couple times during season and reinstall. Deep clean after season plus threads.