ttuAdvocate – Baton Rouge, La.
| Date: | Feb 27, 1997 |
| Start Page: | 10.D |
| Section: | Outdoors |
TALKING TURKEY SERIES
All shotguns have a cone-shaped wedge in front of the chamber that “forces” the shot into gun’s barrel when the shell is fired. Hence the name “forcing cone.”
Forged in the factory, most of these cones are one-quarter to three-eighth of an inch long and angled between 25-30 degrees.
“At this angle and that short a distance, some of the shell’s pellets are flattened and they fly from the end of the barrel like a flat rock or curve off the intended point of aim,” gunsmith David Reynerson said. “When this happens too much, gunners find holes in their patterns, and that’s not good for turkey hunters.”
Reynerson said a machine process of extending the forcing cone to 1-1.25 inches long and reducing the angle to 11 degrees helps increase the efficiency of the shotgun. This is done with a reamer. Then, the “new” forcing cone is polished.
“This allows the shot to enter the barrel more gradually and eliminates flat-sided pellets,” Reynerson said. “It helps improve a pattern, most times without changing the gun’s choke, and it also decreases recoil.”
Reynerson said he doesn’t know why most manufacturers do not do this at the factory. “Reduced” forcing cones are found only in certain makes of guns, and only in guns costing over $1,000.
Does it weaker the gun barrel?
“No,” Reynerson said. “It’s true you’re cutting out a small bit of metal to do this, but when the shot in not hitting and jarring the shoulder of the forcing cone when it comes out of the shell, you’re actually reducing wear in your shotgun.”
- Joe Macaluso
outside of barrel
chamber
forcing cone
Before
25-30 degrees
1/4-3/8 inches long
After
11 degrees
1-1 1/4 inches long
For Warranty Repair or to order guns and accessories, go to http://www.Reynersons.com or call 225-261-4860.