I don't really understand the "sanctity" of a breech loading double with two cylinder bore 29 5/8" barrels, even if Holland did make the gun like that originally. Who would be beating your door down to buy it? If the man wants choke he should have choke. What would you do if it were yours (not addressed to any one poster in particular) and you find out that it was all original ........ try to convince yourself you really didn't need any choke in the first place, or try to find a buyer that wanted a 29 5/8" barreled double with no chokes?
SRH
Well . . . as noted below, you don't need any choke for skeet, especially for a 12ga. And Brister points out that cylinder bore throws a very effective pattern (matter of fact, typically the same 70% pattern) at 25 yards that a full choke throws at 40 yards. Figuring that your pattern will usually lose about 10% for every additional 5 yards, you've still got a 50% pattern at 35 yards. Assuming that old H&H will handle 1 1/8 oz reloads at appropriate pressures and moderate velocity--and it was likely proofed for 1 1/8 oz--that load of 6's will stone a pheasant at 35 yards. And shooting wild roosters over dogs, you're not all that likely to need more "reach" than that. Wouldn't be my choice for a trap gun, nor for waterfowl, nor for something like late season prairie chickens/sharptails. But other than that, it's still a pretty darned versatile gun when fed appropriate loads . . . IMO.
