wad stoppers...the answer is

[sswv]

I'm gathering up some more chokes to try out in my new build (12ga) and along the way I ended up with a choke with "rings" inside. I was told these were wad stoppers. if anyone with actual hands on experience could give your opinions please. I'm using LB #5 & #6 if that helps.

thanks in advance

[Dtrkyman]

Indian Creek uses wad strippers/stoppers and they are always a top preformer.  Mine is showing some serious gouging from TSS, so far it still patterns well but at some point I would imagine it will be a problem!

Not sure if the strippers would interfere with the LB shot by breaking it apart early?  Other will surely chime in that shoot them.

[tal]

 The early flightstopper wads (?) from Federal could jam in choke ports or wad stoppers. I think Federal changed the design. I'd be sure before shooting certain wads. The wad stopper chokes overall did improve most patterns. The reasons given was that it slowed down the wad at the muzzle so even the wad didn't disrupt the pellets on exit from the barrel.

[runngun]

Majority of turkey choke use wad stoppers/actually slower downers. Some of these have studs, steps or rings. Even though I don't care for ported choke tubes, some companies claim that their ports slow down the wad. In my years of testing guns and choke tubes I prefer non ported. When the Federal flite control wads were released some folks had their choke tubes snatched out of their guns.  The wads were too hard.  I found that constriction was the biggest thing that matters.  In a 12 nothing tighter than. 665 and 20 gauge nothing tighter than 562.

Have a good one and May God bless, Bo

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[sswv]

thanks for the reply runngun.  funny you said that cause a .665 is what my 870 12ga likes with #5 or #6's and my 20ga 870 performs great with a .562 shooting the Federal Heavy 7's or the LB #6's.  my project gun is an H&R cut down and threaded for RemChokes.  I'm gonna do more research about the wad stopper choke before shooting a LB thru it.   

[runngun]

I believe that you definitely have the right constriction!!! Only one thing, clean your barrel really good. I use Carburetor cleaner follow up with bore snake. I repeat this step between shots.  I have found that it definitely makes a difference. 

Have a good one, Bo

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[Spurs Up]

Indian Creek uses wad strippers/stoppers and they are always a top preformer.  Mine is showing some serious gouging from TSS, so far it still patterns well but at some point I would imagine it will be a problem!

Not sure if the strippers would interfere with the LB shot by breaking it apart early?  Other will surely chime in that shoot them.

I've observed gouging similar to what you describe.  Over time,  I've measured what I think is deteriorating performance (less dense and consistent patterns) that I believe was a result of that gouging or maybe general wear.  Some will dismiss this but after controlling for other variables, newer chokes of the same model tend to be more consistent than older ones that have been subjected to many rounds of TSS. Your observations may differ.

[shatcher]

I believe that you definitely have the right constriction!!! Only one thing, clean your barrel really good. I use Carburetor cleaner follow up with bore snake. I repeat this step between shots.  I have found that it definitely makes a difference. 

Have a good one, Bo

Bo - what carb cleaner are you using?  Thanks

[runngun]

Gum out is the one I use

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[Dtrkyman]

I agree i will likely be replacing the IC after this spring to something without wad strippers!

[SumToy]

alot of the wear and beating up of the stops has to do with the lay out of the choke and how hard the choke is.   Now you will see choke and barrel damage in some of the guns.  410s was bad about beating up the forcing cone with the TSS.  Alot of things come into play with the wad stops in choke but that is a choke building 101 class that may come up one day.   

[sswv]

just got an answer from Winchester Ammo and their engineer said absolutely yes, you can shoot Long Beards thru a choke tube with wad stoppers without any issues.  now with that being said, anyone have any opinions to the benefit of these wad stoppers and Long Beard ammo?  I'll be shooting before long and will share my findings but thought it would be helpful to others to hear from more shooters with actual experience with these types chokes and (non TSS) loads.

[Gooserbat]

I'd not over think it.  Shoot lb through any. 665 choke and hope your poa/poi is the same otherwise you will likely need some sort of adjustable sights.

[sswv]

agree Gooserbat. I already have adjustable sights on both my 870 turkey guns but hoping to get by without them on my H&R build. I've had the 12ga 870 for well over 30 years and finally put sights on it last spring. I put them on my 20ga 870 the spring before. more of an insurance policy you might say.