For over 25 years I had the perfect Dove pass in the Shenendoah Valley of Virginia where a full choke smallbore could really shine. In the last few years I've gotten into Remington Model 31s. There has been a minty 16-gauge at the local gun show for the last year, but with a 28-inch full choke barrel, it just doesn't fit for any possible use I'd have for it around here. In the 48 years I've been shooting Pheasants, I've never seen any need for anything other then IC or Mod. I guess in the rare instance of acting as a blocker a full choke might have some use.
In the halcyon days of the California Duck Clubs there was quite an interest in long barrel tightly choked smallbores, probably beginning with Edwin Hedderly's series of articles in the 1910/11 time frame in his magazine Western Field. The most noted were the Widgeon Duck Club Parker Bros. 20s of about 1913. The demand must have continued, as I have an AE-Grade Fox 20 with 30-inch full and full tubes shipped to a Los Angles sporting goods dealer in 1920, ordered chambered for 2 3/4 inch shells.
Last edited by Researcher; 06/01/07 10:58 AM.
