Choke removal

[Dark&Good]

Hi,
I've bought a new Verona SX405 / H&R Excell Auto 12ga barrel. It has one (full) choke installed. It's not fixed basically, it's screwed in, but it looks like it was made into a "fixed" choke by the rim being hit with some kind of a tool, so the screw threads are probably slightly deformed, and the choke wouldn't uncsrew (I tried with a coin). I think this is what was done to it because if I look at the muzzle from the front, I see the 2 "cuts" made for the tool/coin with which one could unscrew the choke, AND an extra impression about halfway between them, on the choke rim.
Is this clear? I can try to take a picture, if somebody would help me to remove the choke... Let me try the photo now.

[Dark&Good]

Here we go:

[thinkinblue613]

You should be able to use a tool (normally comes with the gun) and turn it. It shouldn't be on tight, it should be firm. It should be oose enough for it to not be a problem. Think of a choke easiness to turn to be easier than a jar if peanut butter.

[CHS]

Wow. I've never seen a removable choke staked in like that before. Weird.

With enough force, you should be able to remove it. The threads are probably fine. Might be worth it to take to a gunsmith to have "un-staked" and cleaned up properly afterwards.

[Dark&Good]

I have a Mossberg 500 with 3 chokes, I know exactly how easy it should be.
Did you read that they slightly deformed the choke? Have you seen the photos?

[Dark&Good]

Sorry, my reply was for thinkinblue613.

[Dark&Good]

I tried to hold the coin with pliers while turning it... the coin looks chewed up now

[Joe_13]

Why would anyone want to do that???

... that is, fix an interchangeable choke...

[sargenv]

Dad, through his years of showing people his cool screw in choke system (when invectors were new) inadvertantly "fixed" the choke in two of his barrels. He kept tightening them, and tightening them without backing them out first. I of course gave him cr*p about it but I'd like to fix them if possible. Maybe apply some heat? I do have some Kroil.. maybe I could soak it and see if it will penetrate so I can get them loose.. nothing worse than a fixed choke invector barrel.

[Dark&Good]

Yeah... no wonder the barrel was 50 bucks at CDNN. They advertised it "barrel with one choke tube"... Isn't that misleading?

[MAX100]

Take it to gunsmith and see what he says.

You could slowly dremel the inside of the choke at the spot where the choke was staked. You can also use a fine half round file with the dremel. That will thin the metal and weaken the stake. You will have to be careful and not grind into the muzzle. Once it is off smooth out the inside of the muzzle where it was staked.


GC

[11011500a]

wd40 and a screwdriver place in the noch of the tube tap with ahammer.good luck

[CHS]

Yeah... no wonder the barrel was 50 bucks at CDNN. They advertised it "barrel with one choke tube"... Isn't that misleading?

I'm willing to bet that they were probably used. Maybe from a department buyback or something, or they were rental/training guns. For the use, they needed a specific choke and didn't want them coming loose or ever being swapped out, so they just staked in the ones they needed.

That's my guess. It certainly is weird.

[Dark&Good]

Well, thanks for your help. As Hungarians say, "I solved the problem with a sword cut": I decided to have the barrel cut to 18"-20" and get an I/C choke installed in it. I spoke to R&D already, he's going to do it, re-fit the vent rib, and also install a TruGlo Tru-Point Xtreme sight on it. If you're wondering, it will cost about $200 for all the work and the new choke tube (I bought the sight already).

[MAX100]

If you bought it CDNN send it back for an exchange. I bought 3 Verona 405 barrels from them and none of them had any problems.


GC