opinions on polychokes

privateer1939 · July 7, 2011, 07:11 PM

gentlemen

can you give me your input on polychokes for my shotguns.........i would like to minimize the carrying of several screw-in chokes for my many shotguns and its more economical.

thankyou

oneounceload · July 7, 2011, 07:43 PM

Aside from the subjective aesthetics which will vary from person to person, the Polychoke can add some extra weight right at the end of the barrel which will have a major impact on swing dynamics- making the barrel feel even heavy to swing than the weight o the device

If you like your current swing dynamics, you might not like what happens with the Polychoke

I am assuming you are talking about the one that screws into an existing choke tube thread

Gehrhard · July 7, 2011, 08:19 PM

Never used the screw-in ones but will probably be picking one up for a lumbering 20" 870.

As for the traditional ones? LOVE 'em.

columbia_shotguneer · July 7, 2011, 09:14 PM

About 4-6 months ago I was trying to find a polychoke that wasn't threaded. Years ago people used to silver solder or jb weld them on barrels without threading. Called the company, a rep. informed me they quit production of those kind years ago.

zippy13 · July 8, 2011, 12:25 AM

Typically, a shotgun choke (fixed or screw-in) has three basic sections: the entry, transition (constriction), and exit. The entry (the bore section) and the exit (the muzzle section) have parallel walls and the transition is conical. With most manufactures, the angle of the cone is fixed and its length varies. The longer the conical section, the more constriction there is. This is not the case with the Poly-Choke. With adjustable collets, the transition is not conical, but curved. The more constriction, the tighter the curve, and the more off-axis its terminus. I'm skeptical about their claim,"Testing proved to pattern as good as or better than factory choke tubes." If this were the case, why don't we see them used on comp guns?

Oneounceload's comment about added weight at the muzzle is valid. However, I suspect the same thing may be said for some of the monster extended choke tubes on the market these days. Many shooters may not have the experience to evaluate their gun's swing characteristics. My first shotgun came with a Poly-Choke, and I shot a lot of holes in the sky with that gun. For the casual shooter, a Poly-Choke may be a viable option to a pocket full of expensive screw-ins. For me, no thanks… been there, done that.

columbia_shotguneer · July 8, 2011, 08:12 AM

Forgot to mention, when I called the rep. I never ask if they put the un-threaded on a sent in barrel for them to install. Just I wanted a choke is all.

AllenJ · July 8, 2011, 09:51 AM

Poly-Chokes have been around for a long time and do work. I grew up shooting a Wingmaster with one and while patterning reloads I proved it to my satisfaction. The only bad thing I can say about them is how ugly I think they make the gun.

BigJimP · July 8, 2011, 11:57 AM

Its a poor substitute for changeable screw in chokes ...and it changes the balance of the gun ..and they're ugly ...but other than that - no issues ..

July 7, 2011, 07:11 PM	#1
privateer1939 Member Join Date: May 31, 2011 Location: EASTPOINTE, MICHIGAN Posts: 27	opinions on polychokes gentlemen can you give me your input on polychokes for my shotguns.........i would like to minimize the carrying of several screw-in chokes for my many shotguns and its more economical. thankyou

July 7, 2011, 09:14 PM	#4
columbia_shotguneer Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2011 Location: ne florida Posts: 148	About 4-6 months ago I was trying to find a polychoke that wasn't threaded. Years ago people used to silver solder or jb weld them on barrels without threading. Called the company, a rep. informed me they quit production of those kind years ago. __________________ living in FL but my home's in alabama! From Squirrel to Elephant, the Shotgun is your gun. sincerely, Blain

July 8, 2011, 08:12 AM	#6
columbia_shotguneer Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2011 Location: ne florida Posts: 148	Forgot to mention, when I called the rep. I never ask if they put the un-threaded on a sent in barrel for them to install. Just I wanted a choke is all. __________________ living in FL but my home's in alabama! From Squirrel to Elephant, the Shotgun is your gun. sincerely, Blain

July 7, 2011, 07:43 PM	#2
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	Aside from the subjective aesthetics which will vary from person to person, the Polychoke can add some extra weight right at the end of the barrel which will have a major impact on swing dynamics- making the barrel feel even heavy to swing than the weight o the device If you like your current swing dynamics, you might not like what happens with the Polychoke I am assuming you are talking about the one that screws into an existing choke tube thread

July 7, 2011, 08:19 PM	#3
Gehrhard Junior member Join Date: July 15, 2009 Location: East of the Missississippippi Posts: 675	Never used the screw-in ones but will probably be picking one up for a lumbering 20" 870. As for the traditional ones? LOVE 'em.

July 8, 2011, 12:25 AM	#5
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Typically, a shotgun choke (fixed or screw-in) has three basic sections: the entry, transition (constriction), and exit. The entry (the bore section) and the exit (the muzzle section) have parallel walls and the transition is conical. With most manufactures, the angle of the cone is fixed and its length varies. The longer the conical section, the more constriction there is. This is not the case with the Poly-Choke. With adjustable collets, the transition is not conical, but curved. The more constriction, the tighter the curve, and the more off-axis its terminus. I'm skeptical about their claim,"Testing proved to pattern as good as or better than factory choke tubes." If this were the case, why don't we see them used on comp guns? Oneounceload's comment about added weight at the muzzle is valid. However, I suspect the same thing may be said for some of the monster extended choke tubes on the market these days. Many shooters may not have the experience to evaluate their gun's swing characteristics. My first shotgun came with a Poly-Choke, and I shot a lot of holes in the sky with that gun. For the casual shooter, a Poly-Choke may be a viable option to a pocket full of expensive screw-ins. For me, no thanks… been there, done that.

July 8, 2011, 09:51 AM	#7
AllenJ Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,766	Poly-Chokes have been around for a long time and do work. I grew up shooting a Wingmaster with one and while patterning reloads I proved it to my satisfaction. The only bad thing I can say about them is how ugly I think they make the gun.

July 8, 2011, 11:57 AM	#8
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Its a poor substitute for changeable screw in chokes ...and it changes the balance of the gun ..and they're ugly ...but other than that - no issues ..