Need information on having a gunsmith thread a barrel for thin walled chokes.

[Badhabit]

Any gunsmith on this site have knowledge of threading fixed choke shotguns for flush mount screw in chokes? I'm looking at the old SKB 100, 200, 280 or the Browning Bss or Beretta Silver Hawk in 20 ga. I know extended choked choke tubes are a no, since there is not enough clearence between barrels. Let me know if you know a gunsmith that will take on threading a sxs. My plan is to shoot steel shot for waterfowl.

[ghosthunter]

 Benchmark?



http://www.benchmark-barrels.com/Benchmark_Barrels_Home.html

[elkslayer069]

I was thinking Briley

[wadu1]

True lock might still do it. You will to make sure the barrel material is steel proof.

[Badhabit]

Thats why I'm asking for a GS opinion. But good food for thought.

[EnglishSetter]

In CA, lotta folks used Americhoke.com.  Well respected guy.

https://www.americhoke.com/

He lists minimum OD's for his product(s).

I sent a few to Briley.  I had one Garcia era 12g Beretta BL-2 that only Briley could do (didn't meet minimum barrel OD).  They did a Franchi 48-AL 20g and a Beretta Silver Hawk 20g as well.  That was years ago and prices have gone up.

[Badhabit]

ES, thanks for the link to their site. Just opened up a bigger can of worms for my search. I was really eyeing an old SKB 385 20ga. Now I might look at some Win 23's and have one threaded. Thanks.
Ghost, looks like Benchmark's site shows rifle or pistol barrels, but thanks for the input.

[JDHasty]

Mike Nelson in Tacoma

[Dukalr]

X2 on Briley.  We had an old 70’s vintage Citori grade V done with Briley tubes.  No problem.  Have shot thousands of rounds through it and lots of options on choke style.

[EnglishSetter]

Just a note: 

Screw choking a potential modest collector shotgun will diminish market value with the exception of Briley in my experience.  Briley won't really add value, but tends not to diminish value. 

Obviously one would have to have money to burn to screw choke a "bespoke" shotgun. 

Is your Silverhawk the older (409?) unit or the newer unit (471?) with the selectable ejectors and such?  I shot my first birds with the 20g former.  Then bought it off my dad.  It was choked full/full.  I had no use for a full/full 20g so had Briley add chokes.  My shotguns are for shooting, not collecting and choking made a shooter out of it. 

Most barrels will accept Truchokes, but do measure OD as part of your decision.   As I said above, I had one 12g that wouldn't accept Truchoke. 

[Badhabit]

I'm looking for a nice sxs 20 that I can hunt with. I'm not worried about diminishing the value by having it threaded for screw in chokes. The SKB 385's come threaded and are about $2K to 2500. The Win 23 XTR's, some come with threaded barrels and chokes and are a little more to purchase. But, if I can thread the SKB 100, 200 or 280 barrels, then I'd be into it about the same.
Thanks for the feedback!!

[salish]

Mike Nelson in Tacoma

I used Mike years ago for some choke work on an old Model 12 16ga. Great work and a super nice guy.

[EnglishSetter]

I'm looking for a nice sxs 20 that I can hunt with. I'm not worried about diminishing the value by having it threaded for screw in chokes. The SKB 385's come threaded and are about $2K to 2500. The Win 23 XTR's, some come with threaded barrels and chokes and are a little more to purchase. But, if I can thread the SKB 100, 200 or 280 barrels, then I'd be into it about the same.
Thanks for the feedback!!

The SKB's have become quite popular with the SASS crowd.  This has driven prices up a bit.

You don't currently own the gun you want to add chokes to?  If so, I misunderstood.

But yes, there's value to be had in taking a tight fixed choke SxS that is kind of a drug on the market and making it a versatile bird gun.