5 Easy Ways to Remove a Stuck Choke Tube

Choke tubes get stuck in shotgun barrels due to water intrusion that creates corrosion in the threads between the choke tube and shotgun barrel. The water sits for extended periods of time and the result is metal oxidation. Luckily there are several methods that have proven successful in removing stuck choke tubes that are easy to try and usually at least one of them will work to loosen it up.

5 easy ways to remove a stuck choke tube include using a quality choke wrench, applying heat, soaking threads in penetrating oil, choke tube removal tools, and using a pipe wrench. There are several ways to prevent stubborn choke tubes from becoming a problem in the first place that we’ll discuss as well.

Warning: Removing a stuck choke tube always contains the risk of damaging your shotgun barrel and choke tube. If these risks aren’t acceptable, take the gun to a reputable gunsmith with experience removing seized parts.

Below are the top 5 easy ways to remove stuck choke tubes for shotguns:

1) Use a choke tube wrench with extra torque

A shotgun choke wrench should be the first choice when trying to remove stuck or stubborn choke tubes from a shotgun barrel. It is the least invasive method that reduces the chance that the barrel gets damaged, dinged, scraped, or discolored. It can also save your choke tube from getting damaged as well.

Choke tube wrenches are designed to either use internal force on the choke tube walls to create torque or designed to fit into the notches that exist on the top of the choke. Either of these types of tools will create more torque than trying to loosen a choke tube by hand.

The Carlson’s Universal choke tube wrench is an example of a wrench that expands inside the choke tube to create pressure on the inside walls of the choke. The speed lever then provides torquing ability to pop a stuck choke tube loose.

Tips for using a choke tube wrench to remove a stuck choke tube.

• Items you’ll need: Choke Wrench, Shotgun lubricant, barrel sock or cleaner rod
• First take the barrel off the shotgun and clean the inside of the barrel and choke with a barrel sock or cleaning rod to remove powder residue and debris.
• Insert the choke wrench into the choke tube making sure that it contacts the inner walls of the choke evenly.
• Tighten the choke tube wrench so that it doesn’t slip when applying pressure.
• Apply pressure counter-clockwise to break the stuck choke tube loose from the barrel.

 2) Soak the choke tube threads in penetrating oil

Penetrating oil is the great equalizer when it comes to freeing stuck metal parts that are rusted and it works really well for stuck choke tubes. It functions due to its low viscosity which allows the oil to seep into voids and penetrate interior crevasses where rust and corrosion are most prevalent.

Penetrating oil helps remove stuck choke tubes when sprayed at the gap between where the choke tube and shotgun barrel meet. The oil can then work its way down into the threads of both the choke tube and barrel in order to help provide lubrication to overcome the binding forces of the corrosion.

There are many penetration oils available, but the most common are PB Blaster, Kroil, WD-40 and Liquid Wrench. The two methods that work the best are using an aerosol spray penetrating oil directly into the choke/barrel gap, or to submerge the choke and threads in penetrating oil for 24 hours or more so that it can thoroughly do its job.

Tips for using penetrating oil to remove a stuck choke tube.

• Items you’ll need: Choke Wrench, Penetrating oil, Container, and Paper Towels
• First take the barrel off the shotgun and find a container that when filled can submerged the entire choke and barrel threads.
• Spray the choke around the gap between the choke and barrel with penetrating oil so that it works itself into the threads.
• Fill up container with penetrating oil and submerge the choke tube and barrel thread connection area for at least 24 hours.
• After 24 hours remove the choke and barrel from the penetrating oil and clean with paper towels.
• Apply sufficient torque to the choke tube with a choke tube wrench or other tool to break loose the choke.

3) Use a stuck choke tube removal tool

A stuck shotgun choke removal tool is specifically designed to remove the most stubborn of stuck choke tubes. Designed by metal workers, these extraction bits are inserted into the choke tube and as they reverse the choke tube out, they bite into the side wall to provide enough grip to break the choke free.

Obviously, this will likely cause the choke tube to become damaged and risks damaging the inside of the barrel of the shotgun as well if not lined up properly. If none of the least invasive methods work, a choke removal tool may be a viable option. However, the risks are there and instructions that come with the extractor bits should be followed closely.

Several of these specialized tools are available from Midway and Brownells. The CSP Stuck Choke Tube Removal Tool from Midway is a bit extractor that fits into the top notches of the choke tube. While the notches can still be damaged, it may be a better option rather than requiring putting an extractor bit inside the choke itself.

• BROWNELLS STUCK CHOKE REMOVAL TOOL – 20 and 12 gauge. Affordable. Bit extractor that bites into inner wall of choke tube.
• CSP Stuck Choke Tube Removal Tool – 20 and 12 gauge. Fits Invector, Rem Choke, Win-Choke, Ruger, Bernadelli, Zolli, SKB, 4-Notch Tubes.

4) Apply heat to the stuck choke tube

This method is reserved for choke tubes that will not budge and other measures haven’t worked. Applying heat relies on thermal expansion to force the oxides to separate from the threads inside the choke of a shotgun. In turn, this allows the choke to back out of the shotgun.

Heat guns and hair driers can be used to apply a small amount of heat to a choke tube, but be mindful that an open flame can cause metal discoloration or warping. Open flames can also cause issues with bluing of some barrels. The heat itself should just be on the choke and extended chokes are easier to heat up than flush chokes.

The minimum amount of heat should be applied that results in the choke tube becoming free and no oil or flammable liquids should still be on the shotgun prior to using heat guns. A combination of mild heat and other methods that increase the amount of torque to break the choke tube free often work the best.

5) Pipe wrench and cheater bar

For use with extended chokes only, this removal method is the last resort and similar to using a choke removal tool as it will likely result in an inoperable choke if it is successful. It relies on putting the barrel in a vice and using a pipe wrench to grasp the extended choke to apply enough torque to break the choke free.

This method can cause the extended part of the choke to collapse, so care should be taken to gauge how much pressure is too much. A slightly smaller diameter circular shim can be inserted into the choke to prevent the portion of the choke outside of the barrel from collapsing.

Why do choke tubes get stuck in shotgun barrels?

Choke tubes get stuck in shotgun barrels due to water intrusion that creates corrosion in the threads between the choke tube and shotgun barrel. The water sits for extended periods of time and the result is metal oxidation. Stuck chokes can also be caused by stripped threads.

Stuck chokes are prevalent in waterfowl hunting since most hunting is performed over water or in inclement weather conditions that allow water to get inside the shotgun barrel. Saltwater speeds up the process and a choke could seize up if not cleaned after each use.

Top reasons why shotgun choke tubes get stuck.

• Water intrusion
• Corrosion/Rust
• Seized threads
• Stripped threads

How to prevent choke tubes from getting stuck in a shotgun

Maintenance is the best prevention for not letting it get to the point where a choke tube gets stuck. The majority of stuck choke tubes do not happen after one day in the field. It is usually a pattern of neglect over a long timeline. And it’s understandable since choke tubes are not changed regularly, so it only becomes a problem when it is finally time to remove it.

Below are the best ways to prevent choke tubes from getting stuck:

• Regularly inspect the choke tube for signs of corrosion.
• Remove the choke tube to prevent it seizing up.
• Inspect the choke tube threads and clean them.
• Place lubricating oil on the choke tube threads.
• Remove the choke tube after hunting if the barrel is submerged or it was exposed to rain.
• Remove the choke tube after each hunt (especially hunts over saltwater).
• Use an extended choke tube that can be easily removed rather than flush chokes.

Bottom Line

Removing a stuck choke tube from a shotgun is something most waterfowl hunters will experience at least once in their hunting career. Even though the choke may not budge, there are a few tried and true methods that have proven to fix the problem quickly.

The easiest methods to remove a stuck choke tube are to use a choke wrench, apply penetrating oil, use a heat gun to heat the choke, use a shotgun choke removal extractor tool, and finally applying torque with a pipe wrench.

Preventing choke tubes from becoming stuck in the first place is always the best choice. Oil the threads of the choke tube regularly to prevent seize up and if the barrel of the shotgun is submerged or exposed to rain you should remove the choke tube after the hunt and let it dry out. These preventative measures will keep the choke from sticking and reduce oxidization from occurring.