Can you guys help me identify this choke Pittman / Stardot Pics Included

[Pin Wheel]

I picked this choke up at a local store in just a plastic baggy and bought it for my 835 going to id the size this afternoon at my friends house with a set of calipers,  spoke with some of you through pms and some many have asked me to take a pic of it and let them see,  so I am going to post it on this thread where all of you can see it and give me your thoughts on it.  Was wanting a stardot is this it? All it says on it is moss xf and the end is straight parallel lines.

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

Well I already told you my thoughts.  I don't know for sure but like I told you none of the other Star Dot chokes I have seen had any writing on the tubes.  Not one.  The ones that had Preston Pittman on the tubes according to the owner of Colonial Arms(made the original Star Dot chokes for Highlander Sports) were in fact a stolen design that Highlander took it upon themself to have someone else copy the Star Dot originals after Highlander Sports and Colonial Arms stopped doing business together due to Highlander not paying the money they owed Colonial Arms.  Highlander later went belly-up and out of business.  But my take on what the owner told me was that the very first Star Dot chokes made were in fact sold as combo package along with Star Dot sight.  I'll show you a picture of what the sight that was later sold separately. 

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=star+dot+sights&qpvt=star+dot+sights&FORM=IGRE#view=detail&id=FC08C1ED1EDCF1A7D620D83F8CFA01CAFBB8D688&selectedIndex=36

Now I have no question in my mind that choke you showed is a Star Dot either copy or in fact made by Colonial Arms.  But I would quess it to be a copy.  I can't as I already have told you for the life of me see why Colonial Arms would have put the name of the gun the choke was for on the very first model Star Dots and then later decide to remove it if that is in fact what happened.  I doubt it was.  My hunch is that choke was made after Colonial Arms dropped ties with Highlander Sports and Highlander found someone else to start copying that choke.  They probably put the gun model on the first ones and later Highlander put Preston Pittman on the other ones and the gun brand as well after working out a deal with Mr. Pittman.  Whether Mr. Pittman knew or not what was going on at the time with these chokes, I can't say. 

The only way like I told you to probalby for sure get your answer would be to either call Colonial Arms and speak to the owner to ask, or send a picture of this choke to Colonial Arms and ask the owner if they in fact made that choke.  I would only think she would be able to give you the correct answer you seek.

Brad

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

And for you guys wanting an original Star Dot choke, here you go.  I know for sure that's an original due to the package.  There will be no writing on that choke. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Star-Dot-12Ga-Turkey-Extra-Full-Choke-Tube-Mossberg-835-/261203548919?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cd0f1daf7#ht_422wt_888

[dcar_roll]

I have the Preston Pittman choke and part of the original package. Mine says it is manufactured as a division of Highlander Sports Inc. There is no marking on the choke itself. It is marked on the package as a 685. I always wondered if this was a StarDot. All I do know is it works great in my 835 Mossy.

[Pin Wheel]

thanks I have a friend who is a machinist and he just put a set of calipers on it and checked the exit diameter for me and it was  .676 on the money so I am going to shoot it and see what it does, as long as it shoots good patterns and numbers who cares.

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

Both the original Star Dot Moss 835 chokes I have had said .676 on the back of the package. 

[3" 870 Shell Shucker]

It's a Star Dot choke; but the who, what, when, where, why, and how are a mystery.

I've seen them with writing, and without writing for sale at the same store. 

I've seen them in Star Dot packaging with the sights, Star Dot packaging without the sights, Preston Pittman packaging without the sights, etc.  I can't remember which had writing? 

I bought a RemChoke and an INV+.  Both shot Hevi13 well.  Neither shot Lead well.  I sold the RemChoke, and kept the INV+. 

The Star Dot has a complicated, cofusing past.  The only question that really matters now is, will the one that you have shoot well?

[Pin Wheel]

Im going to find out as soon as our season goes out,  talked with a few guys that were getting good numbers out of Winchester lead loads out of this choke with the 835.  It did measure .676 when we mic'd it this evening  we will see thanks.

It's a Star Dot choke; but the who, what, when, where, why, and how are a mystery.

I've seen them with writing, and without writing for sale at the same store. 

I've seen them in Star Dot packaging with the sights, Star Dot packaging without the sights, Preston Pittman packaging without the sights, etc.  I can't remember which had writing? 

I bought a RemChoke and an INV+.  Both shot Hevi13 well.  Neither shot Lead well.  I sold the RemChoke, and kept the INV+. 

The Star Dot has a complicated, cofusing past.  The only question that really matters now is, will the one that you have shoot well?

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

I still think we need to know the rest of the story to this.  Do what I said above.  Then we will know the rest of the story.

I hope it shoots well.

I have had the question that all original Star Dot chokes had knurling at the top.  I can tell you that's not true.  I have owned both.  The last one I bought off Gunbroker for $10 and gave to a friend was brand new and in original package,  and it had the straight cut grooves at the top.  My buddy said it shot 290 in a 9" circle at 40yds with the 300325 3.5" 2.25oz #7 load I gave him to try.  Just goes to show you that Star Dot chokes are awesome with Hevi-13 3.5" #7's.

[3" 870 Shell Shucker]

I had one turn 280-285 with 3" #7 Hevi13 in a Remington 870.

They seem to do pretty well with Hevi13 loads.

It would be nice to know the correct history of it, but you'll only be happy if it throws the patterns you're looking for.  You've just got to let 'er rip and see what happens.  Good luck.

Try #6 Hevi13, #7, and Magnum Blend if available, as well as some Lead loads.  I think you will find a good match or two.

[Pin Wheel]

my local store carries the magnum blend so I am going to try some of them, what kind of numbers should I expect with the mag blend in that choke on average?

[Pin Wheel]

called colonial arms and talked to 2 nice ladies on the phone today and described to them what I had,  I also told them the choke mic'ed at .676,  and I told them that it had moss xf written on the long stem of the choke, that threw the red flag, she told me she couldn't ever remember them having anything written on them, however they told me who ever the other company was that copied them in the later stages was the one I probably had, and that if it measured the .676 then I should have no worries go shoot it ,  but they were pretty sure that it would shoot the same as the original stardot.  Hope all this clears things up a bit

[3" 870 Shell Shucker]

what kind of numbers should I expect with the mag blend in that choke on average?

3" 175 - 225 Would be good

3.5" 190-240 Would be good

It may not turn those numbers with #6's, but should show much better numbers with #7's.