Jug Choking

[CharlesHarris]

If you look into the barrel from the chamber end, you may observe that it has a short forcing cone ahead of the chamber, which tends to increase pellet deformation compared to a longer forcing cone. Firing 2-3/4" shells in a 3 inch chamber accentuates thus effect. My best patterning buckshot gun is a Winchester Model 12 with 26 inch modified barrel, which has a 6" long transition from its 2-3/4" chamber to its .730 bore diameter, and a 3 inch long choke cone 5 inches behind the muzzle, leaving a 2 inch cylindrical section of .705" at the muzzle. It shoots 100% patterns at 40 yards with 9-pellet 00 buck and will keep slugs on an Army E silhouette at 100 yards. It has killed truckloads of deer over the years.