Choke less guns

[TauntoHawk]

Has anyone patterned or hunted a gun that is not threaded for a choke.. I have a old (probably 75yrs old) single shot that can swap barrels between a 30-30 and 20ga the shotgun barrel is not threaded.

It was my grandfathers he got it when he was 12yr old for his birthday and it has been passed down since. When I turned 12 I actually used the rifle barrel a bunch and killed 5 does with it. My Grandfather passed last year and while turkey hunting one of his favorite spots this year I thought boy it'd be cool to get that 20 barrel out and take a bird with it. Not sure my grandfather ever killed a Tom at least not while I was old enough to remember.

I know I can possibly have the barrel threaded and I will consider that option, just wondering if these newer turkey loads like the HW#7s with flight control wad and Longbeards with Resin would give me a pattern without the to modify the gun and need for a choke.

I'll probably shoot here soon after this season think this might be a next year project since most my tags are filled this year and I won't take it for a out of state hunt where I only have a few days to get it done.

[allaboutshooting]

That gun sounds like a real treasure and I can certainly understand your wanting to try it for turkeys. My first turkey gun had a fixed full choke. A 25 yard shot was a long shot and as far as any ethical turkey hunter considered. No one actually patterned guns back then. Several years ago I took that same gun to the range and was horrified to see how poorly it patterned.

My major concern with your heirloom would be the steel in the barrel. In the 1940s when your gun would have been made, if my math is correct, the steel used was much softer than what is used today. A gun that began with a full choke, if it was shot a lot, could easily be turned into modified choke due to the expansion of the muzzle. Modern shells with tungsten shot or even shot encased in resin, could damage your bore.

If I were to shoot that gun, I'd look at something like Classic Doubles https://www.hevishot.com/catalog/classic-doubles/ or some low brass 20 gauge shells. I would not do any of that however until I had a competent gunsmith check the gun over and make sure it was safe for modern ammo.

Whatever you decide, you have a gun that has a lot of history and I'm glad you have it.

Thanks,
Clark

[S.C.C]

If it's an H&R old combo gun those HW 7's should work great out to 30 or so yards,I sure liked those gun when I was younger and still do!

[SumToy]

The winchester XRs will work also. 

[TauntoHawk]

Clark your advice is sound and I was thinking about having a gun smith look at as it hasn't even been fire with either barrel in probably 16yrs or so.