doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 1976 Browning BSS need help on choke decision

You could always sell the gun and purchase a new gun that comes with screw chokes.

Well, ask and ye shall receive. You've had suggestions all over the board, and here is yet another. I duck hunt with a BSS that has no barrel selector. I also shoot it in S x S competitions, where allowed. I had mine opened to Mod and Mod. My feelings were that if I could not select which barrel would fire first, why would I want two different chokes? That was years ago, and I have not changed my mind. People worry too much about chokes anyway, IMO.

Stallones is probably nearer right, for your situation. Try two light Mods, spreaders will open them even more if the need arises. You might even be happy with two IC chokes, but the LM are more versatile, I think.

Forget the choke tubes. Ain't worth the money. And, there's always a chance of the shop doing the work screwing it up.

SRH

Agree with Greg if you're talking pen-raised pheasants. Why not both the same with a nonselective trigger? IC is certainly tight enough for released birds, but if you miss with the first barrel, you're going to have a longer shot with the 2nd. But you don't need the left barrel to be a lot tighter, which is why I like Greg's choice. That's very close to the way I would set up a gun for pheasants, and in my case I'm talking wild birds over pointing dogs. But for wild bird hunting, I think double triggers, so you can select instantly, make good sense. Not as important with planted birds, where you're less likely to have birds flushing farther out.

It's not what the choke tube says, pellets on target are what counts. Most shooting SxS are using light loads and need a little more choke to get density. To get enough shot were it needs to be takes tight chokes. Close shots carry a few spreader shells, or better yet use a different gun. Way back when most of the doubles did not mention chokes, they were ordered by # of pellets in a circle.

I would pick a shell then pattern, if it needs to be opened not likely to be a lot. Lt Mod and Lt Mod is a good combination for light shot loads. Tubes are not worth the money, first cost and will cost you on resale. Tailored Chokes less expensive and won't hurt re-sale much if at all. Have a look at B&P USA's shells. I use the Competion One 7/8 oz 7 1/2's but if hunting would look carefully at that High Phesant shell, 1 oz with # 7 shot

Boats

Advice to pattern the loads you want to shoot before deciding what to do about chokes is all good. I've owned and shot a 12 ga. BSS for more than 30 years. It's a modern SxS that weighs 7.5+ lbs. For use in the field, it's perfectly comfortable to shoot with heavier, more traditional 12 ga. field loads. Open chokes allow more versatility for steel shot too.

Jay