New Contender Owner, 45/410 Question

[Westwindmike]

Hello,
I just traded for my first ever Contender today. It's in the 179,000 range and came with 3 barrels. A scoped .223, a 44 Mag, and a 45/410 with internal choke.

I am attempting to remove the choke and it is really stuck. I have it soaking in Kroil overnight to see if that helps. From what I read online, it is supposed to be standard threads (righty tighty, lefty loosey)? All I have is the standard "key" looking choke wrench. Any chance of breaking something while trying to unscrew the choke?

If anyone has any ideas, I like to hear them.

Thanks,
Mike

[Doublebass73]

Hello,
I just traded for my first ever Contender today. It's in the 179,000 range and came with 3 barrels. A scoped .223, a 44 Mag, and a 45/410 with internal choke.

I am attempting to remove the choke and it is really stuck. I have it soaking in Kroil overnight to see if that helps. From what I read online, it is supposed to be standard threads (righty tighty, lefty loosey)? All I have is the standard "key" looking choke wrench. Any chance of breaking something while trying to unscrew the choke?

If anyone has any ideas, I like to hear them.

Thanks,
Mike

I ran into the same thing when I purchased my 1st Contender which was a 45/410. You're doing the right thing by letting it soak overnight. If I remember correctly I wrapped the barrel up and clamped the underlug in a vice. I then took a big adjustable wrench and clamped it down on the factory "key" wrench for more leverage. The choke spun right out. I hit the threads with anti seize and never had any trouble after that.

[Ladobe]

Mike,
 
I've had a few of those barrels over the years, some where the choke tube was also seized when I got them (including a brand new one).   But I didn't go to so much trouble.   Instead I simply put the choke key in and ran a stripe of masking tape over its middle taping it to the barrel to keep it firmly seated and gave it a sharp whack or two with a rubber/wood mallet while just holding the barrel in my off hand.  That always broke them free.   I'd clean them up and use a small dab of petroleum grease on the threads.   I also made it a habit to remove the choke tube when I cleaned the barrel to clean it and renew the grease, and they never seized again.
 
Your serial range puts your frame in the 1981 production year just before the easy open version came out.   Your frame can be converted to the EO FWIW.
 
Larry

[Westwindmike]

Well, I got the choke out. I used a combination of soaking overnight, whacking the choke key, and using a crescent wrench on the key for extra leverage. I was able to hand hold the barrel while turning it out, so pretty sure nothing got damaged. Gave it a good cleaning in and out then coated threads with Permatex High Temp Anti-Seize. Now I should be able to get it out when I want to. I did feel some tight spots in the threads while turning the choke in and out. They didn't go away even after cleaning.

Now to get out and shoot the thing!!!

[streak]

Well, I got the choke out. I used a combination of soaking overnight, whacking the choke key, and using a crescent wrench on the key for extra leverage. I was able to hand hold the barrel while turning it out, so pretty sure nothing got damaged. Gave it a good cleaning in and out then coated threads with Permatex High Temp Anti-Seize. Now I should be able to get it out when I want to. I did feel some tight spots in the threads while turning the choke in and out. They didn't go away even after cleaning.

Now to get out and shoot the thing!!!

Give us a report on how it shoots!!

[Keith L]

You probably know this already, but don't shoot bullets (45) with the choke in place.  It is for shot only.  Have fun and let us know how it goes.

[Doublebass73]

Give us a report on how it shoots.