Choke strength???

[STP22]

Hello, all!

I have a burning question that I can't seem to research an answer or get several choke manufacturers to answer my emails on this issue...

How can turkey chokes not be rated for steel shot...but, are fine for Hevi-Shot and Federal Heavyweight? These are just as hard, if not harder, than steel.

My guess is that it has something to do with the size of the shot. Smaller shot sizes (4, 5, 6, 7) has less chance of "bridging" a choke???

Thank you.

Steve

[SumToy]

For one it is the size of the shot.

Number 2)  Had guy call wanting to trade a 640 for a 638.  I ask him what he was doing. (distance and type shell figured target shoot)  He said Number #4 turkey.  Told him that a target choke his answer is I seen it was market target.

number 3)  Had a guy call want a 640 for a browning shooting TSS.

Most duck hunters want bigger even patterns.  Some not all turkey hunters think the smaller the choke the smaller the pattern.   I shoot a 670 to 675 in our full blown outlaw guns. 

[allaboutshooting]

Hello, all!

I have a burning question that I can't seem to research an answer or get several choke manufacturers to answer my emails on this issue...

How can turkey chokes not be rated for steel shot...but, are fine for Hevi-Shot and Federal Heavyweight? These are just as hard, if not harder, than steel.

My guess is that it has something to do with the size of the shot. Smaller shot sizes (4, 5, 6, 7) has less chance of "bridging" a choke???

Thank you.

Steve

Hey Steve,

Choke strength is an interesting issue. As you know some manufacturers disclose the type of material that is used in the construction of their products and some do not. Two popular steels for making chokes are ETD-150 and 17-4PH and you can research them pretty easily to find out more about them and the advantages and disadvantages of each. Some steels may be more readily available, they may be more easily fabricated, the prices to a particular manufacturer may be different due to volume, these and other factors can influence the choice of material a manufacturer may use.

You are of course correct about hardness, measured on the Diamond Pyramid Hardness scale, the tungsten-based shot types that you've listed are all harder than steel shot and harder than some barrel materials.

Chokes marketed to turkey hunters are normally designed for shot no larger than #4 and for the past decade or so, many designers have looked at #5, #6 and #7 shot as pretty much the standard sizes. They acted accordingly with their idea of what internal geometry would work best with those sizes.

Although we can certainly find steel shot today in #7, #7.5 and #6 most steel shot is currently still produced in larger sizes and mostly for waterfowl hunters, although we've seen some requirements in some areas to use steel shot for upland birds.

A very large study, done in Texas several years ago, and just released to the public recently, outlines the use of steel shot for dove hunters. If you've not heard of it, you will probably hear of it soon as more and more people become award of its information.

Bridging, as you've mentioned, can happen with any type of shot but has more negative consequences with "hard" shot and if you then add to that larger sizes of hard shot...

Most manufacturers always want to err on the side of caution and that's the real reason for the "no steel" warning.

Thanks,
Clark

[STP22]

Thank you, SumToy and Clark!

Clark,...Your well written and thorough explanation is appreciated.

Thank you!

Steve

[allaboutshooting]

Hey Steve,

You're welcome.

Friday afternoon Doris and I visited a local gunsmith. When I walked in the door, the gunsmith asked me if I'd ever seen a choke like the one he had in his hand. It had burst from the threads about 3/4 of the length of the choke barrel and folded inward at the gas skirt. A customer of his, still standing there was the owner.

Here's the whole story as it was related to me by the owner. He won a shotgun at a Ducks Unlimited banquet. It had a 28" barrel and he wanted a shorter one, so he sent the barrel off to be cut-off and threaded. The choke maker threaded it for Tru-Chokes, made a choke for him and sent it back.

He's used it for a few seasons, only for turkeys and not fired it much. This year he bought some new shells and decided to see how they shot. He fired one shot. The choke blew out of his barrel and the barrel split. Fortunately, no one was injured.

They both had already taken pictures of the barrel and the choke tube by the time I got there. I'm not sure what they'll do with them but I suspect they'll contact the maker.

The local gunsmith is going to try to find him a shorter factory barrel.

Thanks,
Clark

[SumToy]

I had a call about a SBE that had this happen 2 times.  I told them to buy new barrel. 

We have also seen more barrels this year with stuck chokes and bulged barrels from duck hunters  then before. (stock chokes)

 
Clark has a point about tru-chokes.  You have 2 types.  tru-choke and thin wall tru-choke.

[captin_hook]

Very well explained. Thanks Clark

[jordanz7935]

Sumtoy, do you think the duck hunters are having so many problems because of all these crazy hi-velocity new shells that are on the market? Like the hypersonic,hevi-metal and  blackcloud?Just curious because i  got into waterfowl hunting  pretty serious this year. I know a buddy of mine ruined a barrel on a 935 shooting the blackclouds. The most knowledgeable waterfowl hunters i hunted with told me to use winchester dryloks or fedral speed shok(blue box) for shells.They said all these new shells are just a waste of money Id be better off spending $ improving on my decoy spread.

[SumToy]

Few things.   
One is more hunters.
Two is I miss so need faster shell more shot or smaller choke.  I tell them to get a foot or two out front next shot.
Now I do think that shells can hurt.  So many different loads and type guns is another. 

Keep in mind that most duck hunting is cold temps.  The plastic in the shells is harder.  Plus if shell sounds funny you should stop and check barrel.