16ga.com ~ View topic - Are True Tube Choke Tubes Approved for Steel?

Does anyone know if the 16 ga. True Tube screw-in choke tubes installed by Mike Orlen are approved for steel shot?

I don't think so , but I would go on their website and call direct .

Member Joined: 13 Dec 2008 Posts: 460 Location: Texas

Mike can answer that question better than anyone else.
http://users.dls.net/~rdouglas/MikeOrlen.pdf

Since he is a one man operation, getting him by phone is a bit difficult at times, you might try shooting him an email:

michael.orlen@verizon.net

He comes very highly recommended for any barrel work on most any brand.

Thanks for posting the contact info.

Member Joined: 13 Dec 2008 Posts: 460 Location: Texas

according to the Trulock :
( scroll down to "Steel Shot/Waterfowl Chokes")

http://www.trulockchokes.com/cgi-bin/eShop/index.cgi?page=basic_choke_info.htm&cart_id=2774078.42512

According to Colonial Arms , makers of true tube:
http://www.colonialarms.com/index.html

They do offer steel shot chokes:
http://www.colonialarms.com/pdf-files/page4.pdf

I would ask Mike of the proper application in your gun, his experience in what would work best for you is certainly warranted.

Barkley,
In trulocks description of tubes they stated that all current production tubes are marked if they are approved for steel or tungsten or both. I looked over several of my tubes and they are marked hevi-shot approved. Hope this helps some. And I noticed one was marked steel/hevi-shot approved.
Charlie Wink

Birddog,

What is the guage of your gun(s) with Truelock tubes? I found one of Mike's price sheets dated 1/1/2010. The sheet indicates he only installs True Tubes (Colonia Arms?) in 16 ga. guns. He offers several options for 12 and 20 ga. guns.

I sent an email to Mike Orlen but have not yet gotten a response.

Barkley,
Sorry for the delay as I've been on the night shift. My 16 ga tubes are for my browning citori. So I am not sure if they have a universal tube per say, hum just talked with them on the phone and the gal thought that the baikal style was their universal tube for 16 ga but asked if I could call back and confirm that with Jared. So as of now that's all I can tell you, sorry and I'll try him a little later and see what is said.
Trulock # 800-293-9402
Charlie Wink

Also have 12ga tubes from trulock!

The only Tru-Choke or Colonial tubes not approved for steel are the thin wall line. However, it can't hurt to buy some of their extended tubes for use with steel or tungsten IMO. The tightest choke area is outside the barrel. If something does go wrong, you stand a better chance of not damaging the theaded section of the barrel. The tube can easily be replaced. The warranty should cover it too. Just a suggestion. Good luck.

I just got off the phone with Mike Orlen. He said that only True Tubes are available for 16 ga. guns and that they are not suitable for steel. He also confirmed that the minimum 16 ga. barrel OD for him to install choke tubes is .750. Even barrels with the minimum of .750 may not work if the bores are not concentric with the OD.

Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 728

Colonial advertises two types of 16 gauge choke tubes that are compatible with steel shot and have the same threads as the 16 gauge Colonial True Tubes. One type is the True Tube Super Steel (flush) tubes for single barrel guns only (http://www.colonialarms.com/ct05.html), the other type is the Double Gun (extended) steel shot tubes (http://www.colonialarms.com/ct06.html). Whether your gun has the maximum ID/Minimum OD required you can shooot ssteel shot through your 16 gauge.

Spike,

Thanks for the information. I'll call Mike Orlen again and ask if he can install the extended steel shot tubes offered by Colonial.

Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 728

Barkey VA

There seems to be some confusion between Tru Lock Chokes which are a different manufacturer than the Colonial "True Tubes." The threads of all three 16 gauge Colonial choke types are the same and can therefore be interchanged. You obviously don't want to install "single barrel only" 16 gauge choke tubes in a double gun, but Mike Orlen installed 16 gauge tubes in my Valmet and both the "lead only" and extended steel compatible double gun chokes work fine in the same installation. You do need to make sure the ID and OD of your barrel(s) meet Colonial's specs before you send the barrel(s) to Mike for threading

Spike McQuail,

Thanks for the clarification. It had gotten a little confusing.

I rechecked barrel dimensions and the OD of my 16 ga. appears to be .748 which is below Colonial's minimum of .750. I checked dimensions of a 20 ga. model 90 and a 12 ga. model 90 and they are also slightly under the minimum dimensions for Colonial Choke tubes.

Anyone else besides Briley who installs choke tubes for 16 ga.?