doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Converted 10 gauge - Choke Question

I have a 1935 Francotte that was originally built as a short 10 but subsequently converted to 12 gauge with 3" chambers making the gun a heavily overbored 12 gauge with briley thin wall choke tubes. I have been shooting 1 3/8 oz ITX loads through IC & Mod tubes but would like to go to Full choke when hunting geese. What effect, if any does the 10 gauge bore and tubes have on the 12 gauge loads?
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MY thought is that once the load is in the tube it would respond to the choke constriction same as a 10 gauge load.
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Thoughts?

Paul, that's exactly what I think you'll find.

I believe Baker Big Bore 12 gauge trap barrels were as big or bigger than a 10 gauge and are are known for their fine patterning. Your gun should work great.
Jeff

I have a Big Bore barrel from Money Maker Guncraft. 12 ga. chamber, 10 ga. bore with Briley 10 ga. choke tubes for an 870 Rem. It patterns just like any other gun and very well I might add.

Have you had no issue with wad inversion and the loss of protection of the barrel from the wad?
Mike

To my knowledge I have had no shot scrubbing or wad issues. I have patterned ITX #2 and #4 and the sheets look great which is consistent with my field results with ducks. Trap range results have been very good as well. Just seemed to have some issues with the #BB on geese this fall. Looks like I will pick up a pair of Briley full tubes and do some patterning. Thanks Guys

I have shot mine for about 7 years with up to #5 lead mainly for crows when the leaves are off the trees. When patterning after I first got it, I saw no wad/blown pattern issues on the paper. The only issue I have ever heard of with this much overbore is possibly wad skirts not flaring/sealing properly in cold weather(>10 F). I have not shot mine in >15 F on paper so I don't know if that is a real issue or not.

I've shot a 1882 Remington SxS 10ga with 10 to 12 Gauge Mates for years with no problem. I only load 3/4oz of shot in my 12ga shells for clay birds and it breaks them as good as 2 5/8" 10ga shells with 1oz of shot.

Husky Paul,
This is your gun and you can do what you want, but geese means steel shot, and I wouldnt shoot steel, if it were mine.
Mike

Modified choke in a 10 is about perfect even for high geese with exposed vitals.
There is no need to go to a full choke, especially with steel. Even if shooting a bismuth or a tungsten mix in BB, I wouldn't recommend a full choke.