[prairiedog]

I traded a Beretta 682 Gold E combo last fall for a Kolar unsingle combo. I shot primarily 1 oz loads through the Beretta for singles, doubles and caps. The Beretta seemed to prefer 1 oz over 1 1/8 oz loads. Always shot better scores with the Beretta and 1 oz. The Kolar is just the opposite. Likes those 1 1/8 oz loads, the faster, the better. With a PFS stock on the Kolar, recoil is not much of an issue. But I have a boatload of 1 oz shells, both reloads and factory, to shoot. I had been shooting singles with an IM in the Kolar and scores were dismal with 1 oz. Lucky to break scores in the low twenties with it. So today, I thought I would tighten the choke, per conventional wisdom, to a light full. Scored a 19. Shot a 75 bird derby with 1 1/8 oz and did well enough to take home a buck or two. Decided to shoot another singles round with 1 oz but took the light full out and put a mod choke in. Scored a 24. What's up with that? So, two questions. Anyone else have a gun that prefers 1 ouncers over 1 1/8 ouncers or vice versa? And IS the conventional wisdom to tighten the choke for 1 oz or to open the choke for 1 oz?

 

[Pull & Mark]

prairedog, Yes I would think that convetional wisdom would say to close the chokes up a bit tighter for one oz. or even 7/8 oz. loads!!! That said not all chokes are what they are marked. First, you may need to check them with a bore gauge to find out. Second, you may need to pattern the chokes and see how they are working with the loads you like to use. Third, the chokes may have been dropped before you traded and need to be replaced, or the wrong choke for the bore you have, and the bore gauge will tell. Say your chokes are for the .740 bore and you are shooting a barrel with the .750 bore. Good Luck and Break-em all. Jeff

 

[prairiedog]

Dave S and Pull&Mark,
I bought the gun used, serial # is 1053, so I have no idea whether it is 740 or 750. I did notice with the IM, it was either smoke ball or miss as you said. With the mod, I would get smoke balls when centered, but just good solid looking hits with some smoke and lots of small chips when not quite centered. The one miss was me lifting my head to see the smoke (hence the name prairiedog). I know a shooter at my club who has a bore gauge so will check the bore and chokes to see if they match (I'm reasonably certain they do). When the weather gets warmer, I plan to pattern all the chokes. I have a veteran shooter helping me with the PFS adjustments and we're just about there. Maybe a tweak on the comb (rib alignment, not POI) and a tweak on the LOP due to cold weather gear and the gun will be right where it wants me.

 

[chipking]

Prairiedog my Kolar # 1291 is the same. My best performance at 16 yards has been with a Mod .020 constriction. It will smoke a target with either 1oz or 1 1/8oz when I do my part. On paper at 35 yards it is a very even pattern. If I go up in choke I get hot centers and a more scattered outer fringe with 1 1/8oz and to a lesser degree the 1oz. Again no problem if I am on. I know mine is a .740 bore.

--- Chip King ---

 

[TEXASZEPHYR]

according to some on here, a slow 1 oz shell shoots verry tight pattern. try upping the speed of the 1oz shell and it should open up the pattern some. PBB swears by the 1 oz ers and as fast as he can legaly get them if i remember correctly. good luck


Bob

 

[WNCRob]

prariedog, look at your Kolar chokes. They should be marked .740 or .750. If not, call Kolar and find out because you're flying blind without that info. I recently purchased a Kolar and find their chokes to perform like a slightly tighter constriction than some others, but choke performance varies from brand to brand and depending upon the length of the choke. I can't tell whether the string is longer or its more consistent throughout the coverage area. The key thing, though, is getting the fit right. And the Kolar will handle different than a Beretta, so, there may be some timing issues as well to deal with. It takes time and practice with the new gun before it is second nature to you. And as you become more consistent, you will soon be able to tell which choke and load is best for which applications.

 

[Cheetah]

Prairedog,
one thing that cannot happen with a Kolar is that you cannot interchange chokes for a .750 bore to a .740 or vise versa. they will not fit.
I own both and for 16 yd. trap my light mod.(.015) choke will smoke targets with 7/8oz, 1oz. or 11/8oz with #8 shot.
I also shot Berettas for years and when changing to Kolar I found the need for less choke due to the larger bore diam.,longer forcing cones and choke design.
IMO,Kolar has a lot going for them,and I am not slaming Beretta in any manner,as I still own many of them !!!

Respectfully,

Harold Steen

 

[Straight99]

I got my Kolar T/S right from the factory. They gave me the Lt. Mod. MOD. and Imp. Mod. with the gun. I asked why not the full and they said that their chokes are a little tight, but knowing better I also got the Lt. Full and Full. Now I find they were right. The Mod. is all I need from the 16 yard and the Imp. Mod from the 27. Full is nothing but soot balls if your on.

 

[prairiedog]

OK, I feel better now about going to the Mod choke for singles. I'm at mid yardage handicap, 24 yds. I'll try the Mod at that yardage and see what happens. I checked the chokes and didn't see any markings with the bore diameter. Chokes are in a Kolar dark blue choke case (three chokes), and are black steel with a recessed stamp on the head with choke markings, M, IM, LF, etc.


I'm working up some Green Dot 1 1/8 loads now in the 1235 FPS range for handicap. When I change back to loading 1 oz, I'll bump the speed up from 1200 to 1250 FPS and try them at that speed with the IM from the 16. Thanks for all the info.

I'll email Kolar again and see if they can send me a manual. Don't know why they didn't respond to my last email request.

 

[spclays1]

I tried my mod yesterday and it smokes them at 16 yds. I'll have to try it at 24 yds today..

 

[prairiedog]

I did well with the Mod choke, 1 oz #8 factory STS, at 16s today but not so well from the 24 yd line with it. Shot better with the IM from the 24 yd line.

 

[birdogs]

Try a LM with the 1 oz. That's what works best for me.

 

[prairiedog]

Birdogs

The Kolar came with M, IM, LF, and F tubes. Guess I'll have to buy a LM to test out if I can't borrow one. The O/U isn't tubed. Anyone know how the O/U is choked? I was told it was LM/IM.