Choke markings question

[Scrivener]

I ran across a Spanish (Astra, I think) over/under. The top tube has ** and the bottom tube has *** . I presume these asterisks designate the choke and further surmise that it is Modified over Improved Cylinder.

Anyone know for sure?

 

[pj150]

Quick google-fu produced the following->

* = full

*- = improved modified

** = modified

**- = improved cylinder

**S= skeet

*** = cylinder

 

[Another_David]

The markings do vary by manufacturer. I bought an old used field grade Beretta and the gun shop was kind enough to use a gauge to confirm the markings. That's the sure way to check.

FWIW, Beretta lists it as such:

Full *
Improved Modified **
Modified ***
Improved Cylinder ****
Cylinder *****

My vague understanding of my non-selectable, field gun is the lower chamber fires first, with a wider pattern for close range. The lower chamber tends to help keep the barrel down. Then for follow-up shots the tighter pattern is in the top barrel.

 

[Scrivener]

My vague understanding of my non-selectable, field gun is the lower chamber fires first, with a wider pattern for close range. The lower chamber tends to help keep the barrel down. Then for follow-up shots the tighter pattern is in the top barrel.

This gun has short (to me) tubes; about 24". It was supposedly for shooting ducks from a blind, in which case the birds might actually be closer on the second shot, if they were flaring to land in the decoys.

Doesn't sound as if mine is particularly useful for trap, anyway. Sporting clays, maybe.

 

[Another_David]

24" is pretty short. Mine is 26" but as a o/u it naturally looks short compared to autos and pumps. I checked mine and it is two stars over three like yours--I can never remember the choke names or sizes but it shoots wide then a little tighter. It's a Silver Snipe and from what I've read it was originally for upland birds. I've never been hunting but do use it for hand thrown clays, which it works well for that because I've never had anyone volunteer to throw the clays at me. Someday I'll go upland hunting with it.