Ask The Instructor: Choke Defects?

Question: "I saw a recent Facebook post about chokes splitting and cracking. What chokes do you recommend?”

Answer: After fielding dozens of questions about “choke failures” that make their way to my inbox, I believe most are due to operator error rather than a manufacturing defect, and are avoidable.

The three most common scenarios I hear about are:

1) A screw-in choke works it’s way loose after repeated firing, causing damage to the choke when the gun is fired and the wad makes contact with the back edge of the choke

.

2) A build-up of carbon under the back lip of the choke tube gradually causes the back of the choke to bend inward, crack or break, resulting in a blow-out at the muzzle as the gun is fired and the wad impacts the raised edge of the choke tube,

3) A shooter uses the wrong choke for the type of shot (Lead vs. Steel) or model of shotgun being used.

So, how do you avert disaster?

1) Use a choke wrench to install your chokes. While shooting, periodically verify that your chokes are properly seated and have not loosened.

2) Regularly remove, clean and eliminate any carbon build-up from the surface of your chokes and the muzzle-end of your barrels. Pay particular attention to the back lip of the choke tubes and the ledge just inside the muzzle-end of the barrel, where the choke’s edge rests against the barrel wall when fully seated.

3) Make sure you are using the proper choke for your shotgun model and shot type (lead vs. steel).

Do not assume that chokes designed for a certain brand of shotgun are compatible with other models of the same brand. This is especially true with Beretta, which has four different choke types for their line of shotguns. When shooting steel shot, choke selection is critical. Steel is a much harder alloy and does not “give”. Unlike lead, a wad with steel shot cannot compress as it passes through the narrower diameter of the choke. Proper selection, installation, and maintenance of your chokes and shotgun is the key to avoiding these types of issues.