Like Stan, I have had many overchoked guns, all of which threw excellent, tight patterns. One, a Fox Sterlingworth with .042 or .044 chokes, threw great 60 yard patterns with my 1200 fps 1 1/4 ounce loads of lead #4s over Herco and Winchester W114 wads. The Fox is gone, but I still have part of a box of those shells. I still have those 60 yard patterns in my collection. On another subject, a 1910 Purdey with 2 3/4" chambers was not made to shoot 1 1/4 ounce loads at 1250 fps. You should be happy with loads that go 1175 to 1200. Pigeons are only 35 or 40 yards away and the difference between 1175 fps and 1250 fps at those ranges will make little difference to the pigeon.
