Another use for the tight chokes on Germanic drillings and combination guns was shooting "auerhahn," or "black game," or "capercaillie" (doubtful spellings...), a HUGE forest grouse that looks a little like a turkey crossed with a blue grouse. Not sure how they are hunted, but I believe it is somewhat like turkey hunting, hence the "turkey" chokes.
Anybody know the status of hunting these in Western Europe? Extinct in places? Protected? I know (from member's pix) that they are still hunted in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.
Mike one other reason the chokes were very tight was because of the over shot wads typically used in the older guns when these were made. With modern shot shells being loaded in shotcups the patterens will be as tight in a mod choke as the over shot wad shells did in thier day. My 16 ga/ 8X57JR (.318 Dia)cape gun was re=choked to mod, and lengthened the 2 3/4 inch from the short 16 ga used when that cape gun was made in about 1910. Now the shot barrel patterns very well at 35 yds and handles Brenneke slugs perfectly at 100 yds on the rifle sight for the rifle barrel.
