Cleaning shotgun with chokes

[Rocksteady1]

Recently got a beretta a300. Should I remove the chokes to clean with a bore snake? Should I not use a bore snake? Should I clean the chokes every time? The manual says to never shoot the gun with out a choke in it. I'm just not sure if cleaning would be best with the choke in our out.

[XDshooter]

I always leave chokes in for cleaning.

Boresnakes are worthless for shotguns.

It's not the carbon, but the lead and plastic buildup that can be difficult to remove.

I use a tornado brush on a nylon rod chucked up to a drill to clean my SG's. Works so well. I only clean once per month. Grease every range trip.

[-hanko]

Recently got a beretta a300. Should I remove the chokes to clean with a bore snake? Should I not use a bore snake? Should I clean the chokes every time? The manual says to never shoot the gun with out a choke in it. I'm just not sure if cleaning would be best with the choke in our out.

No

I think a bore snake would work, but experience tells me it will not clean as well as a good cleaning rod with a brush, followed by a cotton mop.

Yes

In

And once you clean the barrel with choke, you can remove the choke, and gently clean the outside of the choke and the threaded section at the business end of the barrel.

[Rocksteady1]

As opposed to a bore snake get like a hoppes shotgun kit?

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

I've never been able to get a shotgun bore really clean with a Boresnake. It'll get the big chunks, but a lot of the wad residue will remain behind. If it were me, I'd invest in a cleaning kit with conventional brushes first, then get a Boresnake if I were so inclined.

[bigbearbear]

I use a bore snake when I'm out at the range and wants to do a quick cleaning while the barrel is still warm. It makes cleaning at home easier.

At home, I use a cleaning rod and a bore brush. What I do is I buy those painters rag from Home Depot and Lowes, they sell those by the pound and is cheaper than using patches. I cut those painters rag into strips, wrap them around the bore brush, and use it to clean the bore.

Aippi has a unique method which I've never tried myself but which I think is the most efficient. He wraps steel wool around a wooden dowel and use a drill to run the dowel through the bore. Like this: http://www.aiptactical.com/Page_2.html

[lewdogg21]

Periodically remove and then clean your choke and the barrel threads. Light amount of oil on choke threads then screw back on. No cleaning can equal your choke almost welding itself in.

[Captainshoe916]

Definitely remove and clean the choke, mine was filthy the first time I took my 870 to the range.

[ysr_racer]

Don't over think it. It's a shotgun. Shoot the crap out of it, clean it every so often.

A bore snake is fine. If it missies a few pieces of wad, so what. The first time you shoot it it's right back to where it was before.

[acorn]

Don't over think it. It's a shotgun. Shoot the crap out of it, clean it every so often.

A bore snake is fine. If it missies a few pieces of wad, so what. The first time you shoot it it's right back to where it was before.

Here is your answer!

[mjsweims]

ysr_racer has it right.
The only thing to add is that after you remove and clean your choke lightly grease the threads and smooth surfaces (in contact with the barrel) before replacing it.

[kmca]

If you really want to remove the plastic residue, use floor wax stripper. Spray it down the barrel and watch the plastic bubble off.

[JohnFLand]

Out of an abundance of caution, grease the choke threads with an anti-seize grease; the choke specific greases suffice but are a bit pricey (however, not much is needed per application).