Well, yes, it is already a fixed choke barreled gun, probably cylinder or improved cylinder. I am no expert on installing screw in chokes, but if the barrel wall thickness is heavy enough, then I see no reason why you couldn't do it.

Before you do anything, I would suggest you get some paper and pattern it at the various ranges, so you can properly evaluate the gun's present chokes, and try different brands of shotshells, more then likely you will find a load that will kill rabbits just fine, as is. But if not, at least you will know what you have, before spending the money.

 

If you find that your choice of screw-in tubes to be for naught, you could try what the muzzle loader guys do and that is to "jug choke" the barrels. What this involves is opening up the barrel diameter a few thousands ( depending on desired choke) about ½-1 inch from the end of the barrel. The entire length of the jug choke is about 4½ inches. This will allow for the shot column to enlarge and then compress as it leaves the barrel. Therefore using your current barrel exit as the choke.

Some of the finer Euorpean gun makers do this with their trap guns and it does improve pattern density.

Google up either "jug choke" or "tulle choke".

AJ/OH

 

AJ/OH is right on with the jugchoke, but even a bit less than 4 1/2 inches will work. It certainly should be longer than the shot column going down the bore though.

They are very effective and wouldn't hinder the gun should you someday want to use it in certain matches that prohibit screw in chokes.

Side by side Clyde

 

What are you going to use it for? If you are going to try cowboy shooting DO NOT touch the chokes. It's against the rules and you will be disqualified from any match in which you use it. If not cowboy shoointg just take the other advice here.

 

For the same kind of money you can buy a Stevens 411 Uplander (Baikal IZH 43) with adj choke tubes. I think the bbl. is about 28" and it's about the same weight as a Coach Gun -- maybe a bit lighter.

Installing choke tubes can get complicated. It's a job for a commerical manufacture like Briley. You get into issues like forcing cones, barrel thickness.

Briley charges about $90 per barrel. Then the standard black oxide choke tubes run about $50 each. The Stevens 411 Uplander is $270 msrp. 3" chamber.

And you'd have a nice shotgun for upland game -- with screw in chokes, and a full choke tube for the far away stuff.

 

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtop ... 9e6c39a2b8

Mike Orlen: Special deal for Choke Tube Installation to Forum Members.

 

Zipgraver, Its not illegal to have screw in chokes in your cowboy shotgun. Or is it illegal to hone out the choke constriction. I have a Remington Spartan (Baikal) double barrel with 20" barrels. I lengthened the forcing cones, backbored about half the barrel and using the same back bore hone, I opened both barrels (from the business end) to .735. We shoot shotgun knockdowns that look like a lollipop. I can take them down at 40 yards with 2 3/4dr, one ounce #8s (Estate factory load). They would definitely take a rabbit.
I have a number of M97 Winchester of which a couple have screw in chokes. Cylinder bore or improved cylinder would be the best in Cowboy(and a short barrel).
You running dogs or are you jump shooting the rabbits?