To address the other end of this . . .

What is the best way (treatment)to keep them from seizing up in the first place?

I guess since I hardly ever shoot a shotgun, mine is most likely to seize from sitting in place for years.
Maybe get it out and turn a few turns every few years.

Take them out while in storage?
Or
Anti seize

I remove the invector chokes in my Miroku O/U shotgun after cleaning and swabbing out barrels so I can wipe the choke threads inside the muzzle and on the invector chokes themselves. A small smear of anti-sieze copper grease on the choke threads and in decades of use have never had an issue with the chokes.

When cleaning the barrels, solvent, oil and carbon will 'bleed' into the threaded area so removing the chokes and cleaning threads should be a normal part of the overall gun cleaning regime.

I wouldn't store the shotgun with the chokes out, always a chance the gun will inadvertently get used without the chokes. I have known this to happen although my friend had a cracker day on walking up mallards in a creek, he couldn't seem to miss with his 'cylinder' barrel (no choke in a Winchester semi).

quote:

he couldn't seem to miss with his 'cylinder' barrel (no choke in a Winchester semi).

Proves most hunters over choke.

Anti sieze is your friend along with removing them and then cleaning them and replacing them

soaking in brake fluid is pretty effective too ...

just hate it when someone changes the choke the morning of a duck hunt, it's moist/rainy, gun gets wiped down, put up, and then the rust sets in a bit

even a swab of vasoline, carmex, or even veg/olive oil would be better... even wd40!!!

If the chokes are properly maintained, unscrewed and greased after every day in the field, they will never pose a problem. What I don't understand is how we got by without them for the first 400+years of the shotguns existence, but in just a few years so many people believe them to be absolutely essential?

Grease the threads after each shoot.

quote:

Originally posted by Toomany Tools:
If the chokes are properly maintained, unscrewed and greased after every day in the field, they will never pose a problem. What I don't understand is how we got by without them for the first 400+years of the shotguns existence, but in just a few years so many people believe them to be absolutely essential?

v
Agreed...never used them..but sure have made a few bucks getting them out

quote:

Originally posted by Toomany Tools:
If the chokes are properly maintained, unscrewed and greased after every day in the field, they will never pose a problem. What I don't understand is how we got by without them for the first 400+years of the shotguns existence, but in just a few years so many people believe them to be absolutely essential?

Right on John...never had much use for them, but have made many bucks getting them out

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:

quote:

he couldn't seem to miss with his 'cylinder' barrel (no choke in a Winchester semi).

Proves most hunters over choke.

Anti sieze is your friend along with removing them and then cleaning them and replacing them

I did for a long time. I can't remember who told me, but when I asked him what choke he recommended in general, he said "none, and very little." He may have been quoting someone else, but I've stuck with it ever since. Seems to work

I shoot IC most of the time

Use tight chokes for turkey and yotes.

As everyone has said: "Clean and grease after each outing."

I have had customers that took them out when in storage. This is great if you have a good memory. If you forget the chokes in your gun safe when you go hunting, you have to drive back home and get them before going-afield. If you run a few rounds of steel shot through it without chokes in it. You don't need to worry about putting chokes in that barrel again unless you have the proper tap to recut the threads. If you shoot lead you can usually get the lead and plastic out of the threads with a steel brush on a cordless drill. Some times you may need to run a tap in to clean them up.

In shoot a few thousand rounds a year through each of several shotguns.
I take the choke tubes out once a year, clean the threads, lube with a choke tube grease