I find fowler's textual analysis convincing and Muderlak's not so convincing but one thing I need explained to me is how a flared muzzle can produce a "close shooting" (i.e. maintained compactness of a full choke pattern) barrel. I think I remember some concern producing screwins of bore+ I.D. I don't remember any hint that those tubes produced anything but a pattern which opened very early.

jack