Poly-Choke on Full Choke barrel

OscarTurner · March 17, 2010, 10:41 AM

I am quite ignorant about chokes and shotguns, so I hope this makes sense.

My step dad just gave me his 20 gauge Model 12 with poly-choke. After looking at the barrel carefully last night, it's marked FULL. So now I know the poly was added later.

My question is this: If the barrel was Full Choke and the Poly goes from Open to Full Choke, does that mean that the original Full Choke end of the barrel was cut off to install the Poly? If so, would that mean that the barrel is now shorter that stock, with the Poly on it, or was the cut off piece the exact length of the Poly that was added?

Thanks.

Lee Lapin · March 17, 2010, 01:08 PM

If the barrel was Full Choke and the Poly goes from Open to Full Choke, does that mean that the original Full Choke end of the barrel was cut off to install the Poly?

Yes.

If so, would that mean that the barrel is now shorter that stock, with the Poly on it, or was the cut off piece the exact length of the Poly that was added?

Probably about the same as original length, unless the owner wanted it shorter.

lpl

zippy13 · March 17, 2010, 01:17 PM

Don't jump to any conclusions. The barrel was probably cut off to accommodate the poly-choke and maintain the same barrel length. But, perhaps a previous owner was tired of hunting ducks with a long barrel and wanted something shorter for upland work, the new overall length may be shorter than the original. Or, he may have wanted a longer barrel and had the full choke cut out and the poly-choke installed without shortening the barrel. What is the present length of the barrel?

OscarTurner · March 17, 2010, 02:15 PM

It looks like it was/is a 26" barrel. I'll measure it when I get home tonight.

Thanks for the responses!

OscarTurner · March 18, 2010, 09:57 AM

It measured 25.5" from the tip of the Poly-Choke to the receiver.

Sam06 · March 18, 2010, 10:28 AM

If it was a full choke it was most likely a 28" barrel. Poly Choke cuts the barrel down to get rid of the choke portion of the barrel, usually the last 2". The Poly Choke is about 3" long altogether so they can bring the barrel back to the same length or it can be shorter.

bamaranger · March 18, 2010, 08:49 PM

Were Model 12 20 gauge full's, 28 inches, I'm not sure. Many 20ga fulls had shorter bbls than their big brother 12.

Poly chokes were a pretty common mod back in the day. Enjoy the gun for what it is.

Model 12's are part of the era of "the way it was."

March 17, 2010, 10:41 AM	#1
OscarTurner Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 109	Poly-Choke on Full Choke barrel I am quite ignorant about chokes and shotguns, so I hope this makes sense. My step dad just gave me his 20 gauge Model 12 with poly-choke. After looking at the barrel carefully last night, it's marked FULL. So now I know the poly was added later. My question is this: If the barrel was Full Choke and the Poly goes from Open to Full Choke, does that mean that the original Full Choke end of the barrel was cut off to install the Poly? If so, would that mean that the barrel is now shorter that stock, with the Poly on it, or was the cut off piece the exact length of the Poly that was added? Thanks.

March 17, 2010, 01:08 PM	#2
Lee Lapin Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2004 Location: SE NC Posts: 1,239	If the barrel was Full Choke and the Poly goes from Open to Full Choke, does that mean that the original Full Choke end of the barrel was cut off to install the Poly? Yes. If so, would that mean that the barrel is now shorter that stock, with the Poly on it, or was the cut off piece the exact length of the Poly that was added? Probably about the same as original length, unless the owner wanted it shorter. lpl __________________ Mindset - Skillset - Toolset. In that order! Attitude and skill will get you through times of no gear, better than gear will get you through times of no attitude and no skill.

March 18, 2010, 10:28 AM	#6
Sam06 Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2008 Location: Fayettenam Posts: 1,086	If it was a full choke it was most likely a 28" barrel. Poly Choke cuts the barrel down to get rid of the choke portion of the barrel, usually the last 2". The Poly Choke is about 3" long altogether so they can bring the barrel back to the same length or it can be shorter. __________________ The two most abundant elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity.

March 18, 2010, 08:49 PM	#7
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,306	20 gauge Were Model 12 20 gauge full's, 28 inches, I'm not sure. Many 20ga fulls had shorter bbls than their big brother 12. Poly chokes were a pretty common mod back in the day. Enjoy the gun for what it is. Model 12's are part of the era of "the way it was."

March 17, 2010, 01:17 PM	#3
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Don't jump to any conclusions. The barrel was probably cut off to accommodate the poly-choke and maintain the same barrel length. But, perhaps a previous owner was tired of hunting ducks with a long barrel and wanted something shorter for upland work, the new overall length may be shorter than the original. Or, he may have wanted a longer barrel and had the full choke cut out and the poly-choke installed without shortening the barrel. What is the present length of the barrel?

March 17, 2010, 02:15 PM	#4
OscarTurner Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 109	It looks like it was/is a 26" barrel. I'll measure it when I get home tonight. Thanks for the responses!

March 18, 2010, 09:57 AM	#5
OscarTurner Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 109	It measured 25.5" from the tip of the Poly-Choke to the receiver.