doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Full Chokes on a Sauer

I measured a Merkel with chokes in the mid fifties. It's a lot of choke but nothing to be concerned about with lead shot.

Almost every Sauer I have seen is choked full and fuller.

I had a WW Greener waterfowl gun with good stout bbls that bulged at the choke with lead shot. After the fact, we found out it had 60 thou of constriction. The gunsmith who repaired it said it's not uncommon for tightly choked older guns to bulge with lead shot.

Best bet is to have the chokes opened up a bit...nobody needs anything more than 40 thou. You can't hit anything and if you do it disintegrates.

My 1902 Daly-Sauer BLNE runs .722 both bores, IIRC. Chokes are unaltered .008 and .030. I would guess that your bores are not .729.

Before altering anything try spreader loads. If you can roll your own try some loads with soft shot and/or disc/inserts and/or fiber wads. I have gotten skeet patterns out of full choke barrels.

Sam

Some older (late 40s - early 50s) East German 12 gauge guns were proofed for lighter loads than their 70mm chambers would suggest. At least, their owners' manuals suggest using shells with pressures no more than 420 BAR. I don't know if it relates to the maximum or average pressure, but the practice of using these guns suggests that routing firing of 36 gr. of shot loads (1 1/4 oz) results in play in the action very quick, while 32 gr (1 1/8 oz) loads are perfectly O.K. Later guns seem to be made stronger (and heavier). Anyway, if you stick to the good old 1/96 shot weight/gun weigh ratio, you shouldn't be worried. Unless you shoot buck shot or slugs, it is possible, but should be tried with care.

ChiefShotguns,

Thanks for taking the time to look that up for me. Now I am really confused. It has a small amount of engraving so I assumed it was a mid level gun. It has 100% case color, probably never seen any lead through it, crystalized finish on the wood, cheek pad with a small chip and very light and 12 bore. I thought I would cut the chokes and use it in the field. Now that I know it is 103 years old (believe me I thought it was newer) I just don't know what to do.

The gun sounds alot like mine (described above). I use an 1150 fps published (Alliant) 1 oz load calling for Green Dot in STS hulls that generates 6300 psi. But I only drop 7/8 oz of shot. Velocity approaches 1200 fps, and is consistent. This load is extremely soft on the shoulder, but I used it a coupla weeks ago to good effect on phez and chukar with #6. Practice loads get #8s. In your situation I would: use the softest shot I could find, and simply add spreader disc or soda straw inserts. Then......pattern test.

Sam

Builder, the term you used "cut the chokes" is a horrible thought. If chokes are too tight, they are opened with an internal lapping without the loss of barrel length.

Sorry, Jerry, it was a poor use of terms. What I meant was I was going to internally lap the breech end of the barrels while I was was cutting the 2 x 4's and use them in the field.

All kidding aside, I think if it is 100 years old and has survived untouched, I should probably leave it the way it is.

Best,
Milt