extended choke tubes
- Thread starter Banjo Boy
- Start date
birdshooter
Well-known member
I've shot a few aftermarket brands in the last 20+ years. Briley, Carlsons, Ballistic Specialties, Comp-N-choke and the new kid on the block, Muller chokes. There are others Pure Gold, Trulock just to name a couple. Most of these range in price from $37 to $70
Without a doubt one of the best bangs for the buck has to include Carlson's chokes. They do sell a waterfowl 3 choke set that could certainly be used for upland as well, although their sporting clays chokes also are steel shot safe. At roughly $37 - $40 per choke they are an excellent value if you plan on buying a set.
Without a doubt one of the best bangs for the buck has to include Carlson's chokes. They do sell a waterfowl 3 choke set that could certainly be used for upland as well, although their sporting clays chokes also are steel shot safe. At roughly $37 - $40 per choke they are an excellent value if you plan on buying a set.
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I really like the Briley Xtend tubes for the Invector + Browning, but have switched over to Trulock. I don't know if they are the BEST, but they work extremely well for my clay and hunting needs.
I met George Trulock at a trade show last year, and this guy KNOWS how to make an aftermarket Xtend choke work! I visited him for several minutes, and learned a lot about not just choke tubes, but shotguns and shotgun patterns as well.
I met George Trulock at a trade show last year, and this guy KNOWS how to make an aftermarket Xtend choke work! I visited him for several minutes, and learned a lot about not just choke tubes, but shotguns and shotgun patterns as well.
wisturkeyhunter
New member
Carlson's for my 870 and briley for my bps. Just the base model silver extended for both. Either company works for me.
potatodigger1
New member
joeboboutfitters.com has carlson extended tubes for $29.95 each, free shipping after $90. they work as well as i can shoot!
potatodigger1
New member
one of the theories is the extended tube will protect the end of the barrel in case of a drop, easier to replace a tube than a barrel. i know, i have never damaged a barrel either, but i suppose it has happened. my son, being a semi-competitive shooter likes being able to see what chokes are in the barrels and be able to change them quickly without tools for different targets (sporting clays). i agree that for hunting, just screwing in whatever the gun maker supplies is just fine, but some people need/want more to think about when shooting (son again!). just my .02.
JMc
Super Moderator
I seldom use them but the advantage for me is the ease of changing chokes quickly without having a tool. I bought a Maxus last year and patterned the gun with stock and with aftermarket (Brileys) that I borrowed from another Maxus owner and noticed a little difference but not enough to shell out the extra money.
birdshooter
Well-known member
Zeb, Generally speaking the advantages of the longer extended chokes over a flush one is a slightly more even or should I say symmetrical pattern with fewer holes in the pattern. These aftermarket companies achieve this with a longer taper and then parallel section. The theory behind this is to ease the shot more gradually through the constriction thus creating fewer fliers (deformed shot). This advantage will be more evident as distances get longer. However, it makes no sense to shoot extended chokes then use the cheapest ammo you can find as you defeat the purpose.
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Some will say that the greater tube length allows for the choke to be cut with a geometry helpful to patterns, ie forcing cone and parallell section, for example.
As some claimed the chokes cut by Becker in the old Foxes resulted in superior patterns.
I'm guessing that clays shooters looking for ease and identification drove a lot of the interest, as did turkey hunters looking for any way to funnel ever more shot down a barrel to kill a turkey ever farther away....or duck hunters and non-tox.
I'd also guess that wad design and all the other particulars in a load are of equal importance, at times.
But, it is both easier to market and buy extended choke tubes than work on the specs within a shell or shoot better at the proper time and distance.....an extended tube makes you look professional and deadly as well....much like an AR.
Do they work as advertised?
I would say yes, with certain loads and certainly for the non-shot aspects of their use.
Worth the cartage tho?....not so sure.
Money often rated as hard to come by and harder to release seems very easily spent for this manner of product.
Justification and rationalization come easy to us all, one time or another.
As some claimed the chokes cut by Becker in the old Foxes resulted in superior patterns.
I'm guessing that clays shooters looking for ease and identification drove a lot of the interest, as did turkey hunters looking for any way to funnel ever more shot down a barrel to kill a turkey ever farther away....or duck hunters and non-tox.
I'd also guess that wad design and all the other particulars in a load are of equal importance, at times.
But, it is both easier to market and buy extended choke tubes than work on the specs within a shell or shoot better at the proper time and distance.....an extended tube makes you look professional and deadly as well....much like an AR.
Do they work as advertised?
I would say yes, with certain loads and certainly for the non-shot aspects of their use.
Worth the cartage tho?....not so sure.
Money often rated as hard to come by and harder to release seems very easily spent for this manner of product.
Justification and rationalization come easy to us all, one time or another.
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Extended choke tubes
I feel extended tubes offer better performance than flush tubes for the following reasons:
Patterns are more consistent. ( The testing I have done has demonstrated this for both non-toxic and lead shot)
When lubed properly are less apt to seize. The cost of having to pay for the removal of a “frozen” tube will possibly exceed the cost of a tube.
Protect the barrel end from enlarging when using large steel type shot.
Removal is easier.
A draw back is that when firing multiple times the tube may be more prone to loosen than the flush tube.
I have used Carlsons, & Trulock for hunting pheasants and waterfowl. I feel that Wrights tubes produce excellent, well distributed shot patterns with 7 ½ or 8 shot for trap.
http://www.wrightsgunsmiths.com/
I feel extended tubes offer better performance than flush tubes for the following reasons:
Patterns are more consistent. ( The testing I have done has demonstrated this for both non-toxic and lead shot)
When lubed properly are less apt to seize. The cost of having to pay for the removal of a “frozen” tube will possibly exceed the cost of a tube.
Protect the barrel end from enlarging when using large steel type shot.
Removal is easier.
A draw back is that when firing multiple times the tube may be more prone to loosen than the flush tube.
I have used Carlsons, & Trulock for hunting pheasants and waterfowl. I feel that Wrights tubes produce excellent, well distributed shot patterns with 7 ½ or 8 shot for trap.
http://www.wrightsgunsmiths.com/
Dakotazeb
Well-known member
So let's see, I seldom change chokes, use my shotguns only for upland bird hunting and trialing, and seem to shoot just fine with my flush choked guns and fixed choke guns. Guess there is really no pratical reason for me to invest in extended chokes. 
But I do appreciate the information provided in the above posts. I got the answer to my question. Thanks guys!
But I do appreciate the information provided in the above posts. I got the answer to my question. Thanks guys!