Frozen choke tube

1pheas4

Moderator
I would like to change my choke tube on my shotgun. When I went to unscrew the tube it won't budge. Has anyone ever dealt with this before. If so, what did you do to get it out?

Thank for any help:cheers:.

Nick
 
If the heat doesn't work get some penetrating oil, Kroil is one of the best and see if you can get some down between the choke tube and the barrel. Let it sit for a couple hours and then try it again. If it won't come out by just using the wrench then secure the barrel in a bench vise protected by a towel etc.. and try putting a vice grips or something similar to the wrench for a little added torque. Be careful that you don't go too Gorilla on it, you don't want to break your choke wrench. :eek:

All else fails try soaking in Kroil again for a few more hours and try again. If it still doesn't budge take it too a Smith.

If your desperate and don't care about ruining the choke tube then you could try an EZ out extractor like this.. :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2baneo4rgUA
 
I've also heard of people putting the barrel in the freezer overnight. The steel in the tube and barrel may contract at different rates and free the tube up.
 
Thanks for all your advice guys. I'm letting the oil set for a day or two then I'll heat it up a bit. Hopefully that will do the job. If that doesn't work I'll try freezing it.

Thank again:cheers:

Nick
 
Hit it with a hairdryer on high for a very short time. You want to try to loosen it when the barrel heats up but before the choke tube does. That might give you just enough space to break it free.
 
When rescrewing it in, it just needs to be snugged, not torqued.
 
More importantly is remembering to remove them periodically and clean/oil as well as the threaded portion inside the barrel. Usually a chamber brush works good on the threaded area. One step better would be to apply a very light coating of all purpose grease to the choke threads.
 
You generally use grease in your tube threads nick?

I haven't greased it Mike. At time's I'd spray it down with gun oil, but it's been a while since I've done so. Now I'm paying the price for carelessness.

It's still soaking in oil. I cranked on it a few times this morning. No-go. I'll keep at it.

Thanks again for all the advise/tips/PM's fellas. I really appreciate it.:cheers:

Nick
 
Anti-seize grease

I always use anti-seize type lube / grease on my choke tubes. It is a messy grease but it does a great job of keeping the chokes free. We use at work on threads on equipment where the temperatures are changing from room temp to 700 degree F plus.
 
I'll 2nd the use of Kroil penetrating oil and soaking it. Never use oil or grease as choke tube lube. Only use specific choke tube lube or never seize. Otherwse the tube can shoot loose and swedge the threads or break right off
 
Wow. Finally got it.:thumbsup:


I placed the barrel (choke end) in a cup of penetrating oil. After soaking, I place the choke key in a vise then pushed the barrel down and cranked on that baby. It finally gave.

Thanks again guys. I really appropriate it. I was a day away from bringing it to a gun smith.

:cheers:

Nick
 
Wow. Finally got it.:thumbsup:


I placed the barrel (choke end) in a cup of penetrating oil. After soaking, I place the choke key in a vise then pushed the barrel down and cranked on that baby. It finally gave.

Thanks again guys. I really appropriate it. I was a day away from bringing it to a gun smith.

:cheers:

Nick

I was going to tell ya to try this, or to put the barrel in a vise, and use a pair of channel locks on the choke tube wrench. glad to hear it turned out alright!
 
It is amazing how many SEIZED chokes I see at our duck club.
Most of the chokes have been left after the gun got soaking
wet and virtually rusted inside the gun. Choke tube lube
saves a great deal of headache in that regard
 
I agree 100%:)
 
Because of this posting I went home and pulled the chokes out of my O/U. This is the gun I shoot most often. They weren't stuck, but they were very gummy inside. I cleaned them up and they work great now, thanks for the tip. I also told all the guys I hunted with on Saturday to give there's a check. Most hadn't had them out in years!
 
Because of this posting I went home and pulled the chokes out of my O/U. This is the gun I shoot most often. They weren't stuck, but they were very gummy inside. I cleaned them up and they work great now, thanks for the tip. I also told all the guys I hunted with on Saturday to give there's a check. Most hadn't had them out in years!

I take mine out after every 2nd hunt and at the end of each season and clean the heck out of them and remove them from the gun. I had a near death experience once and never want to go through that again.
 
Back
Top