doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com How despicable is choke change?

But it's a really NICE BSA . . .

Ted, most of the Webley & Scott 700 series guns (including 701 and 702) are 2 3/4". All have ejectors. And they are, without doubt, the most commonly encountered Brit sxs in this country. And in terms of price, the 700's are probably similar to a top grade BSA.

I haven't noticed them getting any cheaper, Larry, especially when they approach the condition of this BSA. A lot of the 700s I've seen don't look as nice as this one, either.
We have guys here who wouldn't clean the metal shavings out of a model 21 action if they thought they were original, who will tell you to alter a high condition Brit gun and who should do it for you.
The spreader load is the simplest, cheapest, and easiest solution to whatever the "problem" with this gun might be.
Really, I'd use it for at least a year before I did anything to the chokes. Maybe two years. Once you get out of the forrest, and onto the plains, that is a sweet choke combination. Not a horrible sporting clays combination, but, you will have to do your part.

Best,
Ted

That is a nice looking BSA. Probably nicer than most. Ted makes a good argument for shooting it for a bit to see how you will use it before you change anything. If you hand-load or have good access to spreader loads then you certainly have that option. I, however, find that if I have to make too-many special efforts to use a gun, it doesn't get used very often. I appreciate original to the point where I've sold very nice older guns because I didn't feel good about altering them to fit my needs. But...if you're looking for that one good gun, your own "meat-in-the-pot" example, then I'd make it fit your circumstances. With the advent of shot cups in the early 60's, choke arguably became superfluous in 12-bores anyway. I keep a bit of choke in my 12s, but not much and they seem to work just fine without it.

Today's "gotta have it wand, that just needs some reaming," is tomorrow's trade bait.

"With the advent of shot cups in the early 60's, choke arguably became superfluous in 12-bores anyway."

You and M. McIntosh ............ but he actually used the term "obsolete" where you said "superfluous". It always makes me smile, how hunters from some parts of the country, mostly grouse and woodcock hunters, think choke is superfluous in a 12 ga. They don't consider turkey hunters, or pigeon shooters, or duck hunters, or goose hunters, or crow shooters, or ....... ad infinitum.

SRH

OK, I tried to stay off this post but can't any longer. I abhor choke tubes and all that goes with that discussion. This is my take and doesn't matter if any agree. My bucket list sporting clays gun happens to have right barrel full choke and left barrel mod or even maybe IM. Any way tight. I started with a big pocket full of spreader loads but have found that when I put the barrels in the correct place, bingo! I am down to only using 5 or 6 spreaders(close rabbits mostly) and enjoying the guns choke configuration.
Bottom line for me is--learn to shoot the gun! Some one wiser then I once said chokes are for inches--lead is for feet.
I am still learning BUT having a great time doing it.

Regardless of what, if anything, I decide to do with the gun, I'm enjoying the discussion and reading the different points of view. Every viewpoint is appreciated and respected.

BTW, Walter, I truly enjoy your Ithaca 37 book and refer to it often.

I've always felt that an open choke at distance will hurt you more than a tight choke will at a closer range. Back in my choke tube days,I would often forget to put in the more open choke on close shots, only to do just fine. I find that medium distance breaks are easier to read with the tight chokes.
Karl