doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Puzzled by a Perazzi

Guys: I know almost nothing about Perazzis, and to some extent, what research I've done has left me more confused, but I'm looking at a Perazzi MX4 priced at $2,500. I'd call it about a 95% gun, but it just feels "right." It is a 12 gauge with 28-in barrels, a broad vent rib with a single brass bead, several venting "slots" between the barrels (sorry, I don't know how else to describe them), single gold trigger, a fairly open "C" grip, black/brown solid pad, fairly nice wood, blued frame with "Perazzi MX4" inlaid in gold and virtually no engraving. I'd guess the weight to be in the 7.25 lbs. range, and I'm not sure what the intention was, but I see it as a gun that can do double duty, either in the field or on the skeet range.

Here's the puzzle, though. The chokes seem to measure around light MOD and tight MOD with a brass choke gauge (inaccurate, I know), but they appear to be sleeved into the muzzles to a depth of about two inches, maybe a bit less. I can think of only two explanations. Either the gun was more openly choked than a previous owner wished and a good barrel man sleeved the muzzles to give the gun more choke, or it is standard factory work. I think this gun was built about 20 years ago, pre-screw-ins ... did Perazzi build their fixed chokes to order in this way, rather than bore out full-choked barrels to specification? Any thoughts or advice will be appreciated. TT

Might be some abortion performed by Stan Baker.

Two Triggers, the gun might be fitted with Teague chokes with flush tubes. They are quite thin, similar to Briley thinwalls. Teague uses a "taper key" to tighten and loosen the choke tubes, they don't have knotches for a conventional choke tube wrench. Teague choking is relatively popular in the U.K. and I see them from time to time on U.S. sporting courses. Check them out on Teague's site. I hope this helps. Silvers

http://www.teaguechokes.co.uk/choke_information.html

Perazzi did not sleeve barrels to change choke. Silvers is probably correct in identifying your barrels as having Teague screw-in chokes. Nigel Teague was an engineer for Rolls Royce and the tolerances he achieves with his thin-wall flush mount chokes are so tight and precise that most people can't look directly down the muzzles and see the chokes with the naked eye, unless they know what to look for. Try a Teague conical wrench or a universal expanding rubber collar wrench and see if the chokes come out. You'll find the serial number of the barrels engraved on the choke tube. Teague is indeed the "Rolls Royce" of thin-wall choke systems.

If they are teague chokes and the threads have been properly cleaned/lubed you can probably remove them by simply sticking your finger down the UNLOADED bore and turning to take them out.
If Teague thinwalls; you can order additionl replacements from him by simply referencing the serial numbers.

The constriction will be marked on the outside of the tube walls when you get them out as will the seria numbers.

Teague custom thinwall chokes used to cost about $250 to have installed with 6 tubes and a wrench supplied. The replacemnt tubes used to cost about$45. I am certan that the price has gone up.

They are exceptional products and tend to throw beautiful consistent patterns.

a "typical" perazzi will have tight (ie 18.4MM" euro spec barrels so the actual choke constriction will be more open than you suspect.

If the barrel profiles are on the lighter side (most perazzi barrels can be semi-custom ordered by weight/length and rib options) you may find that the gun actually weighs a lb or so more than what it feels like.

I have one that feels like it weighs less than 7lbs but tips the scale at 8lbs and is a pure joy to shoot.

Two Triggers:

Everything positive said about Teague chokes is correct. However, if I understand your post and the length of the chokes is less than or appx two inches, I would not suspect these chokes to be Teague thin walls as they are much longer.

I happen to have a set of barrels for an ASE 90 that were choked by Seminole, and the chokes are identical to Teague thin wall chokes except they are about two inches long.

Just sharing what info I have.

Gary Hackney

Early Teague chokes (1990's) were the short version at about 2" in length...much closer to a Perazzi factory choke. New style Teague thin-walls are longer at 2 3/4" and can be ordered with a 3/8" knurled extension or flush mount.

The Teague chokes in my K-80 are 1.5 inches long. They are hard to see when you look at the end of the barrels. Nice job!
bill

Stan Baker's chokes were usually swaged at the muzzle. The don't turn up on O/Us or SXS guns all that often as a result.

I heard mixed reviews on grandsonny, but, Stan's work and the tools he sold were pretty much first class back in the day. He's been gone a few years now.
Best,
Ted

Thanks for all the advice, guys. TT