Torn-off choke bottom

[Ike Arumba]

I got a brand-new Winchester Super-X Pump, and cleaned it last night after shooting just over 300 shells through it, using the IC choke. (Of course, I also cleaned it before first use.) The bottom, unthreaded part of the choke was gone, along with a turn or two of the threads. About an eighth of an inch of the exposed thread end was unwound and folded in toward the muzzle. The Winchester customer service rep said she'd send me out a replacement right away. She suggested that perhaps there was a bad batch of metal.

I am wondering, though, if the choke was damaged by slugs. Besides the bird shot, I have shot ten Prvi Partizan Foster slugs and seven Winchester slugs through it. I had been surprised to see that the PP projectiles looked quite sharp-cornered in front. As far as what could touch the barrel was concerned, they were flat-faced. The Winchester slugs, on the other hand, were rounded over. I wonder if the PP slugs caught on the barrel-choke joint, whereas the Winchester style would slide over it.

So, is it likely that in the future the chokes will be fine if I stay away from Prvi Partizan slugs, or is there maybe something else to worry about? Might the CS rep's conjecture be correct that sometimes you get a bad batch of metal?

BTW, I cleaned plastic residue out of the choke threads with my thumbnail. I screwed the Modified choke into the barrel, and did't see or feel any evidence that the barrel has been damaged.

[xtra870]

I have shot winchester and remington rifled slugs out of my 20ga 870 with an IC choke and have had no problems. Just lots of stuff that now has major holes in it. Not sure about the PP slugs though.

[moulton]

Pics please

[mikey357]

Was the choke tube centered correctly from the factory? Kirby from shotgunworld has some opinions on factory choke tubes

http://theshotgunshop.net/article_3.html

[stevec223]

tube

choke tube might have partialy unscrewed letting gas get under threads...ive had a couple of remington chokes do the same when my son was shooting clays....check choke tube tightness every 25 rounds or so...really surprised me that peeling choke tube didnt obstruct the shot.....or maybe it did....but not completaly....just lucky i guess...cheers...

[Ike Arumba]

Thanks, I'll have to try checking tightness, with the key. My pinkie is too big to get down to feel the joint.

I took some pictures, but something happened to my computer/phone combination when I tried to upload them. It can't find driver. Strange, it worked before.

[Ike Arumba]

I'm sure the choke tube was straight. The gun was accurate with the Winchester slugs, and we were hitting the clays with birdshot. I had no idea anything was wrong until I went to clean the barrel.

[-hanko]

choke tube might have partialy unscrewed letting gas get under threads...ive had a couple of remington chokes do the same when my son was shooting clays....check choke tube tightness every 25 rounds or so...really surprised me that peeling choke tube didnt obstruct the shot.....or maybe it did....but not completaly....just lucky i guess...cheers...

That would be my theory, and I also try to check tightness after a box or 2.

"Bad batch of metal" sound like grasping for straws.

-hanko