Mastering the Shot: Unleash Your Shotgun's Full Potential with Carlson's Bismuth Bone Buster Choke Tube

For serious hunters and competitive shooters alike, the pursuit of optimal shotgun performance is a continuous journey. Whether you're chasing elusive waterfowl, outsmarting wary turkeys, or aiming for consistent breaks on the clay range, the right choke tube is an indispensable component of your setup. It's the critical link between your ammunition and the target, directly influencing pattern density, shot consistency, and ultimately, your success in the field or at the station.

The challenge often lies in finding a choke tube that offers both exceptional long-range capability and the rugged durability required to withstand demanding conditions, particularly when utilizing high-performance, non-toxic ammunition. Many traditional choke tubes simply aren't designed to handle the unique characteristics of bismuth or other dense, modern shot types, potentially leading to compromised patterns or even damage over time.

This is precisely where the Carlson's Bismuth Bone Buster Browning Invector-Plus 12 Gauge Extended Range Choke Tube emerges as a game-changer. Engineered for the most discerning shotgunners, this specialized choke tube is designed to deliver superior patterns at extended distances, especially with bismuth, steel, and other non-toxic loads. It’s an essential upgrade for anyone looking to maximize their 12-gauge Browning Invector-Plus shotgun's potential for ethical and effective shooting.

The Quest for Superior Shotgun Performance: Why Choke Tubes Matter

Understanding the role of a choke tube is fundamental to appreciating the innovation behind the Bismuth Bone Buster. A choke tube is a constricted barrel extension that controls the spread of a shotgun's shot pattern. By narrowing the bore at the muzzle, it helps to keep the shot column tighter for a longer distance, leading to more pellets on target and increased knockdown power at range.

However, not all choke tubes are created equal. Factors like the internal diameter, the material it's made from, and its specific design for various shot types all play a crucial role. For hunters transitioning to non-toxic shot due to environmental regulations or ethical considerations, a standard lead-specific choke may not provide the desired performance or longevity. Dense materials like bismuth or tungsten can be harder on certain steel types, necessitating a more robust and purpose-built solution.

Introducing the Carlson's Bismuth Bone Buster: Precision Engineered for Power

The Carlson's Bismuth Bone Buster Browning Invector-Plus 12 Gauge Extended Range Choke Tube is not just another accessory; it's a precision instrument crafted to elevate your shotgun's capabilities. It’s built for the rigors of hunting, providing the reliability and performance you need when it matters most.

What makes this choke tube stand out?

• Optimized for Non-Toxic Shot: Specifically designed to perform exceptionally with bismuth, steel, and other high-density, non-toxic shot materials. This ensures superior pattern density and consistency without risking damage to the choke or your barrel.
• Extended Range Performance: Engineered for tighter patterns at longer distances, making those challenging shots on turkeys or high-flying waterfowl more attainable and ethical.
• Premium 17-4 Stainless Steel Construction: Offers unparalleled strength, corrosion resistance, and durability, ensuring your choke tube stands up to the harshest environments and countless rounds.
• Browning Invector-Plus Compatibility: Designed to seamlessly integrate with 12-gauge shotguns utilizing the Browning Invector-Plus choke system, ensuring a perfect fit and reliable performance.
• "Bone Buster" Designation: This moniker isn't just a name; it signifies a choke tube engineered to deliver devastating terminal performance, ensuring quick, humane kills on tough game.

Unpacking the Technology: Why 17-4 Stainless Steel Matters

When considering a high-performance choke tube, the material it's constructed from is paramount. Carlson's commitment to quality is evident in their choice of 17-4 Stainless Steel for the Bismuth Bone Buster. This material selection is a cornerstone of its exceptional durability and reliability.

What is 17-4 Stainless Steel and why is it superior for choke tubes?

17-4 PH (Precipitation Hardening) stainless steel is a chromium-nickel-copper alloy that combines high strength, hardness, and excellent corrosion resistance. Unlike standard stainless steels, 17-4 PH can be heat-treated to achieve a wide range of properties, making it incredibly versatile and robust.

Key advantages of 17-4 Stainless Steel in a choke tube:

1. Exceptional Strength and Hardness: This material can withstand the immense pressures and stresses generated by modern shotgun loads, especially denser shot types like bismuth or tungsten. This prevents the choke from deforming or wearing out prematurely, maintaining consistent patterns over its lifespan.
2. Superior Corrosion Resistance: Hunting environments often involve exposure to moisture, mud, and harsh weather conditions. 17-4 stainless steel offers excellent resistance to rust and corrosion, ensuring your choke tube remains functional and maintains its aesthetic appeal even after prolonged exposure to the elements. This is particularly crucial for waterfowl hunting where the choke is constantly exposed to water.
3. Resistance to Erosion: The constant friction of pellets passing through the choke can cause erosion over time. The hardness of 17-4 stainless steel significantly minimizes this effect, preserving the internal dimensions and thus the patterning consistency of the choke tube.
4. Heat Resistance: During prolonged shooting sessions, choke tubes can heat up. 17-4 stainless steel maintains its structural integrity and performance even under elevated temperatures.
5. Longevity and Reliability: Investing in a choke tube made from 17-4 stainless steel means investing in a product designed for years of consistent, high-level performance. This material choice reflects Carlson's dedication to producing durable and dependable shooting accessories.

For hunters using bismuth or other non-toxic shot, the durability of 17-4 stainless steel is a critical factor. These dense, hard pellets can be abrasive, and a lesser material might quickly degrade, leading to inconsistent patterns or even internal damage to the choke. The Bismuth Bone Buster's material ensures it can handle these modern loads with ease, protecting your shotgun and optimizing your shot.

Mastering the Pattern: Extended Range Capabilities

The "Extended Range" designation of the Carlson's Bismuth Bone Buster is not merely a marketing term; it reflects a specific design philosophy aimed at delivering tighter, more effective patterns at distances that challenge standard choke tubes.

How does it achieve Extended Range performance?

• Optimized Constriction Profile: While the exact constriction is a proprietary design, "Extended Range" implies a tighter constriction than a typical Modified or Improved Modified choke, yet often less aggressive than a true Extra Full, striking a balance between pattern density and avoiding excessive pellet deformation. The goal is to maximize pellet count within the vital zone at longer distances.
• Gradual Taper: The internal geometry likely features a precisely engineered, gradual taper that smoothly compresses the shot charge, minimizing pellet deformation as it travels down the bore and into the choke. Reduced pellet deformation means more pellets fly true to their intended path, contributing to a denser and more uniform pattern at range.
• Muzzle Exit Design: The very end of the choke tube plays a role in how the shot exits the barrel. Carlson's designs are known for promoting a clean separation of the shot wad, further enhancing pattern consistency and reducing flyers.
• Compatibility with Modern Loads: As mentioned, its design takes into account the characteristics of bismuth and other non-toxic loads. These pellets often retain their energy better at longer distances due to their density, and the Bone Buster's "Extended Range" capabilities complement this, allowing hunters to fully leverage the ballistic advantages of these premium loads.

For turkey hunters, this means the ability to consistently place a dense pattern of pellets into a turkey's head and neck at 40, 50, or even 60 yards, depending on the load and individual shotgun. For waterfowl hunters, it translates to cleaner kills on high-flying ducks and geese, reducing cripples and improving overall harvesting efficiency.

The Bismuth Advantage: Optimized for Modern Ammunition

The name "Bismuth Bone Buster" clearly signals its primary optimization for bismuth shot. But why bismuth, and why is a specialized choke tube important for it?

Understanding Bismuth Shot:

Bismuth is a non-toxic alternative to lead shot that has gained significant popularity, especially for waterfowl hunting where lead is prohibited. Key characteristics of bismuth include:

• Density: Bismuth is significantly denser than steel shot, though less dense than lead or tungsten. Its density allows for greater kinetic energy retention at longer distances compared to steel, resulting in more effective kills.
• Softness: Unlike steel, bismuth is a relatively soft metal, similar in hardness to lead. This softness is a major advantage because it reduces the risk of barrel scoring or choke tube damage often associated with harder steel shot in older or non-steel-rated shotguns. It also allows for less pellet deformation compared to steel, leading to better patterns.
• Environmental Friendliness: As a non-toxic material, bismuth is an environmentally responsible choice for hunting over sensitive habitats.

Why a specialized choke tube like the Bismuth Bone Buster is crucial:

While bismuth is softer than steel, its density means that a poorly designed choke tube, or one not rated for its use, could still potentially lead to sub-optimal patterns or even long-term wear. The Carlson's Bismuth Bone Buster is specifically engineered to harness the advantages of bismuth shot:

• Maximizing Pattern Density: The internal geometry is tailored to compress bismuth pellets efficiently without causing excessive deformation, ensuring a tight, uniform pattern at the target.
• Protecting Your Equipment: While bismuth is softer than steel, using a choke specifically designed for it provides an extra layer of assurance against wear, extending the life of both your choke and your shotgun barrel.
• Consistency and Reliability: For hunters who rely on precision, knowing that their choke tube is perfectly matched to their ammunition provides peace of mind and consistent results in critical moments.

The Bismuth Bone Buster isn't just compatible with bismuth; it enhances its performance, making it the ideal choice for serious hunters committed to using modern, non-toxic ammunition.

Compatibility and Installation: Browning Invector-Plus System

The Carlson's Bismuth Bone Buster is meticulously designed for 12-gauge shotguns utilizing the Browning Invector-Plus choke system. This ensures a precise fit and optimal performance within the specific barrel dimensions of these firearms.

Understanding the Browning Invector-Plus System:

Browning's Invector-Plus system is a popular and widely adopted choke tube design known for its reliability and consistency. Key features often include:

• Longer Tapered Sections: Invector-Plus choke tubes are typically longer than standard Invector chokes, featuring a more gradual taper that helps to reduce pellet deformation and improve pattern uniformity.
• Flush Fit: Many Invector-Plus chokes are designed to fit flush with the end of the barrel, minimizing snag points and contributing to a sleek appearance. (Note: The Bone Buster is an Extended Range choke, meaning it extends beyond the barrel for easy installation and removal, and often for design benefits).
• Reliable Threads: The threading system is robust and secure, ensuring the choke tube stays in place during firing.

Installation and Maintenance:

Installing the Carlson's Bismuth Bone Buster is straightforward. Always ensure your shotgun is unloaded and pointed in a safe direction. Screw the choke tube into the muzzle end of your barrel by hand until it's finger-tight. Then, use a choke tube wrench (often included with choke tube sets or readily available) to gently tighten it. Avoid over-tightening, as this can make removal difficult.

Regular cleaning is recommended to maintain optimal performance. After each hunting trip or shooting session, remove the choke tube and clean it with a brush and appropriate solvent to remove powder residue and fouling. Inspect the threads for any debris and apply a thin layer of choke tube grease or anti-seize compound before reinstallation to ensure smooth future removal and prevent galling.

Real-World Applications: Where the Bone Buster Excels

The Carlson's Bismuth Bone Buster isn't just a piece of hardware; it's a tool that empowers hunters to achieve their goals in specific, challenging scenarios.

1. The Ultimate Turkey Choke

For many hunters, the "Bone Buster" name immediately brings turkey hunting to mind. Turkeys are notoriously tough birds, and a dense, consistent pattern of pellets to the head and neck is crucial for a clean, ethical kill.

• Long-Range Tom Shots: Wary gobblers often hold up at distances beyond 30-40 yards. The Extended Range capabilities of the Bismuth Bone Buster allow hunters to confidently engage turkeys out to 50-60 yards or more (depending on ammunition and individual shotgun performance), ensuring a high pellet count in the kill zone.
• Pattern Density with Heavy Loads: Turkey loads are often packed with dense shot (like #5 or #6 bismuth) for maximum energy transfer. This choke tube optimizes the performance of these heavy loads, preventing blow-out patterns and maintaining pellet integrity.
• Confidence in the Field: Knowing you have a choke tube designed for precision and power provides immense confidence when that elusive gobbler finally steps into view.

2. Dominating the Waterfowl Blind

Waterfowl hunting often involves high-volume shooting in harsh, wet conditions, frequently at long distances as birds decoy or pass by. With lead shot prohibited in many waterfowl hunting areas, effective performance with steel or bismuth is non-negotiable.

• High-Flying Ducks and Geese: The Extended Range design is perfect for bringing down high-flying ducks and geese, ensuring a clean kill without excessive cripples.
• Bismuth and Steel Shot Performance: This choke is specifically designed to handle the pressures and characteristics of modern steel and bismuth loads, delivering the tight patterns needed for various duck and goose species.
• Corrosion Resistance in Wet Environments: The 17-4 stainless steel construction shines here, resisting rust and corrosion even when submerged in marsh water or exposed to freezing rain.
• Reduced Recoil Sensation: While a choke tube doesn't directly reduce recoil, a more efficient pattern can sometimes mean fewer shots needed, indirectly contributing to a more comfortable shooting experience.

While primarily designed for hunting, its ability to produce tight, consistent patterns could also be beneficial for certain competitive shotgun sports where long-range accuracy is paramount, such as some long-range sporting clays stations, though it's specifically geared for hunting performance.

Ethical Hunting and Conservation

The ability of the Carlson's Bismuth Bone Buster to deliver tight, high-energy patterns at extended ranges contributes directly to ethical hunting practices. When you can consistently place a sufficient number of pellets into the vital zone of an animal, it leads to quicker, more humane kills and reduces the likelihood of wounded game. This commitment to efficiency is a cornerstone of responsible wildlife management and conservation. By choosing a choke tube optimized for non-toxic shot, hunters are also actively participating in environmental stewardship, minimizing the introduction of lead into sensitive ecosystems.

Choosing the Right Choke Tube: Considerations for Hunters

For those new to choke tubes or looking to refine their setup, here are some key considerations, with the Carlson's Bismuth Bone Buster often being an ideal solution for specific needs:

• Target Game: What are you hunting? Turkeys and waterfowl often require tighter patterns (like the Bone Buster) for maximum range and penetration, while upland birds might prefer more open patterns.
• Ammunition Type: Are you using lead, steel, bismuth, or tungsten? The Carlson's Bismuth Bone Buster is specifically engineered for bismuth and steel, making it ideal for modern, non-toxic regulations.
• Shooting Distance: Are you typically taking close-range shots or pushing the limits of your shotgun? The "Extended Range" of the Bone Buster caters to longer distances.
• Shotgun Make and Model: Ensure the choke tube is compatible with your shotgun's specific choke system (e.g., Browning Invector-Plus for this model).
• Material and Durability: For longevity and performance with dense shot, 17-4 stainless steel, as used in the Bone Buster, is a premium choice.

Maintenance and Care for Your Carlson's Choke

To ensure your Carlson's Bismuth Bone Buster performs optimally for years to come, proper maintenance is key.

1. Regular Cleaning: After each use, especially with heavy loads or in wet conditions, remove the choke tube from your shotgun barrel.
2. Scrubbing: Use a good quality shotgun bore cleaner and a stiff brush (a dedicated choke tube brush is ideal) to thoroughly remove all powder residue, plastic wad fouling, and any debris from both the interior and exterior of the choke.
3. Inspecting Threads: Pay close attention to the threads. Clean them meticulously to prevent buildup that could make future removal difficult or lead to damage.
4. Lubrication: Before reinstalling, apply a thin layer of choke tube grease or an anti-seize compound to the threads. This prevents galling (cold welding) of the metal surfaces and ensures easy removal next time.
5. Proper Storage: When not in use, store your choke tube in a clean, dry place, ideally in a protective case to prevent dings or damage to the precision internal surfaces.

Why Carlson's is a Trusted Name in Choke Tubes

Carlson's Choke Tubes has built a reputation over decades as a leader in shotgun accessory manufacturing. Their commitment to innovation, precision engineering, and quality materials has made them a go-to choice for hunters and shooters worldwide. They understand the nuances of shotgun ballistics and continuously strive to produce choke tubes that enhance performance and reliability in the field. The Bismuth Bone Buster is a testament to this legacy, embodying their expertise in creating purpose-built solutions for the modern shooter.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What type of shotgun is the Carlson's Bismuth Bone Buster compatible with?
A: This specific choke tube is designed for 12-gauge shotguns that use the Browning Invector-Plus choke system. Always verify your shotgun's choke system before purchasing.

Q: Can I use steel shot with the Carlson's Bismuth Bone Buster?
A: Yes, absolutely. While optimized for bismuth, the Bismuth Bone Buster is also designed to perform exceptionally well with all types of steel shot, as well as lead and Hevi-Shot loads. Its 17-4 stainless steel construction provides the necessary durability for these dense materials.

Q: What does "Extended Range" mean in terms of performance?
A: "Extended Range" signifies that the choke tube is engineered to deliver tighter, more consistent shot patterns at longer distances compared to standard chokes. This is achieved through a specific internal geometry and constriction profile that minimizes pellet deformation and keeps the shot charge together for a greater distance, leading to more pellets on target at 40+ yards.

Q: How does the 17-4 Stainless Steel benefit the choke tube's performance?
A: 17-4 Stainless Steel provides exceptional strength, hardness, and corrosion resistance. This means the choke tube can withstand the high pressures of modern ammunition, resist wear and erosion from dense shot, and remain unaffected by harsh weather conditions, ensuring consistent patterns and long-term durability.

Q: Is this choke tube primarily for hunting or can it be used for clay shooting?
A: While its "Bone Buster" name and "Extended Range" design suggest primary optimization for hunting (especially turkey and waterfowl), its ability to produce tight, consistent patterns could be beneficial for specific long-range shots in sporting clays or other competitive shooting events where a tight pattern is desired. However, for general skeet or trap, a more open choke might be preferred.

Q: How often should I clean my choke tube?
A: It's recommended to clean your choke tube after every hunting trip or shooting session, especially if you've been shooting heavy loads or in wet conditions. Regular cleaning prevents residue buildup and ensures smooth operation and consistent patterning.

Product Specifications

Feature	Detail
Model	Carlson's Bismuth Bone Buster
Gauge	12 Gauge
Choke System	Browning Invector-Plus
Material	17-4 Stainless Steel
Range	Extended Range
UPC	723189092054

Elevate Your Shotgun's Capabilities

The Carlson's Bismuth Bone Buster Browning Invector-Plus 12 Gauge Extended Range Choke Tube is more than an upgrade; it's an investment in superior performance and ethical hunting. Designed with precision, built with rugged 17-4 stainless steel, and optimized for the most effective modern ammunition, it equips you to take on the toughest challenges in the field. Experience the difference a purpose-built choke tube can make.

You can find the Carlson's Bismuth Bone Buster and a comprehensive selection of other premium shotgun accessories to complete your setup at DEGuns. Elevate your game and hit your mark with confidence.