No offense, but I don't understand this conversation. You should be able to shoot and break any target with both barrels of WS1 on a Model 21. At skeet, sporting clays or live pheasant. If you're good enough. I've run 25 straight at skeet with a Remington 20 gauge pump gun with cylinder barrels, a Model 21 with both barrels I/C, a 12 gauge Citori with cyl/cyl, I've even run 26 straight with my 686 Silver Pigeon O/U trap gun by sliding the gun up in my arm and lining up the beads like Tom Knapp always did. Probably the best shooter we had at our club used to shoot skeet with 1/2 oz. load filing up the rest of his 20 oz. shells with popcorn to take up the space in the hull and a Cutts compensator on his Model 12. And not to mention I've taken pheasant with a full choked, 20 gauge Ithaca pump shotgun. And did pretty well with my Citori and cyl/cyl chokes. So, why couldn't you shoot or hunt with a Model 21 with WS1/WS1 chokes? And why would WS1 chokes be fragile? Like I said, no offense, but could you gentlemen explain this? Are you using steel shot?
Yes, I'm talking about lead shot---I hope my M21's never see steel shot.
The purpose of my thread is whether the WS1/WS1 choke combination is uncommon compared to the supposedly more common SK1/SK2 chokes. From there we have digressed a bit about the merits and demerits of the SK1 vs WS2 chokes. The WS1 choke is jug choked (recessed) which results in less wall thickness at the muzzle and, therefore, vulnerable to damage.
In my younger days I shot NSSA skeet for many years and still enjoy the occasional recreational round. For 12 gauge, a more open choke (like WS1) will break more targets than a tighter choke (WS2). You certainly don't need a 12 gauge in skeet to shoot impressive scores --- a good competition shooter can make a 1/2 oz load in a 410 look easy.
The SK1/SK2 chokes were developed by Winchester back in the 30's, long before plastic wads came on the market which boosted shotshell performance and skeet scores.
I trust my long discussion is helpful.
