Monday, July 24, 2006
Speedy service
Guess what I got today:
Eleven days ago, I mentioned here that I had just sent Nathan's Citori off to Carlson's Choke Tubes to have a set of interchangeable chokes added. The completed barrels and choke tubes were waiting for me when I got home from work today. Shipped on the 13th, received on the 19th, and back in my hands on the 24th. Fantastic turnaround. The package contained my bubble wrapped barrels with two tubes installed, four other tubes in their packages, the empty packages for the tubes in the barrels, two keychain universal wrenches, a universal speed wrench, a detailed receipt, and a stack of catalogs to be passed out to the students in my SCTP group.
After fondling the tubes for a while (the choke tubes for those of you with dirty minds), I broke out my calipers to see what I could learn about them. I had requested standard thickness tubes but had also given previous authorization to install thinwall tubes if they were required. I received thinwall tubes. It appears that the main reason for the thinwall tubes in this case probably wasn't the thickness of the barrels themselves but the separation between the barrels. The machined barrels still have plenty of material in the barrel wall, but the installed extended length tubes are close to each other. Really close. One piece of paper (.0045") will fit between them but two pieces of paper (.009") will not fit. Most importantly they seem to be parallel within my ability to measure. That's somewhat important. {big grin}
The tubes themselves are slightly longer than the Remington "Remchoke" tubes that I have for the SCTP 1100's. Where the Remington tubes are only marked with the common designation (imp cyl, mod, full) and only marked on the side of the tube, the Carlson chokes are marked with the actual restriction on the side and an abbreviated common designation on the visible portion of the tube. I like that......no more sticking a dime in the barrel to see what choke is installed.
The inside diameters of the tubes measured as follows:
- Skeet marked .725 measured .723
- Improved Cylinder marked .720 measured .719
- Modified marked .710 measured .709
- Improved Modified marked .705 measured .702
- Full marked .700 measured .697
- Extra Full marked .690 measured .689
The tubes appear to be well machined, with a beveled edge at the barrel/tube interface to prevent the wad from hanging up on the tube itself as it goes by. The notches in the forward end of the tubes (for the tube wrench) are rather sharp, but we're very careful and safety conscious when dealing with the muzzle of our guns anyway, aren't we? The machining in the barrels appears to be clean and sharp, with nicely cut threads and no burrs or chatter marks. So far everything indicates quality work done by competent professionals.
The only disappointment in the whole deal is the keychain style universal wrenches that were included with the package. These are the common "T" style wrench, but with a twist: instead of a square projection to stick into the tube these have a rounded projection. When combined with the thinwall tubes there just doesn't seem to be enough bearing surface to obtain a positive engagement. The first time I tried to use one of these it slipped, rounding off one of the notches on the improved modified tube and taking a chunk out of my knuckle. Both of the universal wrenches went in the bottom of the tool box for emergency use only.
universal wrench
The other wrench included with the package was much nicer. This was a universal speed wrench with a very different design. The wrench consists of a handle with a free-spinning knob, a thumbscrew, and a rubber covered threaded rod. When the thumbscrew is tightened the overall length of the threaded rod is reduced, making the rubber covering expand to fill the inside of the choke tube. One simply sticks the rubber rod into the tube, tightens the thumbscrew, and turns the handle. MUCH nicer than the other wrenches. My only concern with this design is the posibility that grit on the rubber may scratch the inside of the choke tube. This isn't a show stopper....anyone who can clean their shooting glasses should be able to keep the rubber on their choke tube wrench clean.
speed wrench
Overall I am very pleased with the service provided by Carlson's. They do quality work and the delivery time is simply amazing. What makes it even better is that the cost of the entire project (machining, 6 tubes, wrenches, and return shipping) was only $285.
Look for patterning results to be included with the continuing coverage of the Littleton shot maker saga.
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