shotgun advice

[warmer]

My middle son is a die-hard waterfowler. He has been after me to come along for the last couple years. I have put him off, but now think I will take him up on the offer.

Here's the problem, I shoot a 1200 Winchester in full choke. It's the only shotgun I own and it belonged to my brother before he died. Sentimental reasons for using it mean I need to bore the choke out so I can shoot steel, purchase a different barrel or buy a new gun just for ducks. I don't think a man can have too many guns, but I really like the way this one handles. That leaves me option 1 or 2.

What do you guys think?

 

[Muskeez]

I would say look on gunbroker or other sites for a different barrel so you can use the gun and have more good memories of your brother. Sounds easier to buy a barrel than to have the original reworked, plus you could then easily get it back to original to hand down to other family some day. Or just buy another gun to beat up in the duck blind.

 

[smarandr]

Went through the same thing with my dad, only difference was he shoots a Remington 870. In addition to the linked advice, my dad took his gun down to a gunsmith who gave him the ok. He's been shooting steel for a couple of years now with no ill effects.

http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showpost.php?p=1964877&postcount=2

 

[MThuntr]

If the gun has a lot of sentimental value, i'd opt for finding a choke tube replacment barrel over boring out to another choke diameter. In my experience, waterfowl hunting is incredibly hard on the finish of shotguns especially if you're hunting creeks/sloughs/rivers so a new dedicated waterfowl gun would be my choice.

 

[Slam]

Barrels - http://www.corsonsbarrels.com/winchesterbarrels.htm

Choke Tubes - http://www.briley.com/chokeinstallationpricing.aspx

If you have the cash, spend a couple hundred more and buy another shotgun.

 

[Nemont]

In my experience, waterfowl hunting is incredibly hard on the finish of shotguns especially if you're hunting creeks/sloughs/rivers so a new dedicated waterfowl gun would be my choice.

+1.

 

[tarheel]

According to this you don't need a special choke for Hevi-Metal. Hevi-Shot yes, but not the other. I haven't compared price yet.

 

[JLS]

If you're set on the gun and don't mind beating it up, check with Briley's first. They can't install choke tubes on everything, depends on the thickness of the barrel and the kind of steel. If they can't install choke tubes I'd get a different barrel. I thknk the versatility of choke tubes is far advantageous to paying to have the choke bored out.

If you don't want to beat up the gun, buy a different waterfowl gun. I use one gun for everything, and my Beretta is starting to show the wear after 10 years.