doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Choke Tube Question

I had Mike Orlen machine and tap a single barrel (870) for a Colonial Arms Thin Wall choke tube. I went to put one in the other day (for a feral pigeon shoot) and the choke tube was considerably smaller than I think it should be. It wobbled when I was putting it in. It snugged up when it got all the way in but I'm sure it wasn't right. I haven't been able to reach Mike on the phone yet but I'll keep trying.
If I can't reach him: Any idea on what other choke tubes I should try? Not sure if Mike checks in here any longer.

I just had him put tubes (same brand) in a .410 single barrel (pump). The tubes are snug, The whole way down. One needs to be wrenched from about the half way installed point.
That doesn�t sound right. Choke tubes seem to get pounded in tight, with heavy or steel loads, and I generally pull and lube them after use. I wouldn�t want a loose one.
Did you try emailing Mike? I�ve had good results with the computer and him.

Best,
Ted

Should have went to Colonial Arms. I sent a double barrel back that one choke tube was very very tight, the owner re-tapped the barrel and sent another tube in its place, price was very reasonable. They sell a lubricant that is like anti-seize that is supposed to prevent the choke tube from locking in.

It shouldn't be that loose before hitting bottom, Gil. Do you have any other tubes you can try, or was it that tube only that was that loose?

I have had barrels threaded for choke tubes by Briley and by CompNChoke. None were as you described.

SRH

I just wanted to clarify this post. When I sent these barrels to Mike Orlen (who does excellent work) I asked for Thin Wall setups in all of them. Some were double barrels and the one in question an 870. When I talked to Mike (finally reached him after the initial post), he explained that the Thin Wall setups are best in the Double barreled guns and the regular, thicker walled choke tubes are best in the single barreled guns because it is apparently better to have the tube be as thick-walled as possible.
I don't really understand why it matters which part of the setup is thicker-walled--either the barrel or the choke tube. Either way, the thickness of the two combined would be the same, at least it seems to me.
Mike is a very good barrel guy. His turnaround on these barrels was slow but he has had some health issues and hopefully that is behind him. Gil

So, you were using a tube other than what the barrel was threaded for right?

We kind of thought that all along.

Note the difference in thread depth.

There are two different 12 gauge chokes that Trulock (Colonial) make. The regular chokes for thicker barrels (870's and the like) and thin walls for sxs and o/u's with thinner barrels. The regular chokes measure .795 on the unthreaded section and the tw's .773. Both are threaded 44 tpi double lead. If you drop one of the thin walls into a regular barrel the threads will match up but it will fit like a saddle on a sow. I'm sure some regular size chokes will solve your problem.