For international wingshooters who prefer the logistical ease of renting lodge shotguns but refuse to sacrifice precise pattern control, packing personal, extended aftermarket choke tubes is a brilliant tactical compromise—provided you match the correct thread pitch.
The Rental Armory Standard
Premium estancias like AWS Lodge equip their rental fleets almost exclusively with modern Beretta and Benelli 20-gauge semi-automatics. While the lodge armorers ensure these guns are impeccably clean, they typically deploy them with standard, flush-mounted factory chokes (usually Improved Cylinder). Many veteran shooters prefer premium, extended aftermarket chokes (such as Carlson's, Müller, or Briley). Extended chokes provide slightly superior pattern density, are much easier to check for tightness with bare fingers, and protect the end of the muzzle from damage. Bringing your own choke tube allows you to instantly customize a generic rental gun to your exact ballistic preferences.
| Shotgun Model (20-Gauge) | Standard Factory Thread Pattern | Compatibility Warning |
|---|---|---|
| Beretta A400 (Newer Models) | Optima HP (Optima-Choke HP). | Do not force older Mobil chokes into HP barrels; it will destroy the threads. |
| Beretta Urika AL391 / 390 | Beretta Mobil Choke. | The classic, most ubiquitous thread pattern in older Argentine rental fleets. |
| Benelli Montefeltro / M2 | Benelli Crio Plus or standard Mobil. | Verify the exact model generation with the outfitter prior to travel. |
The Pre-Trip Reconnaissance
If you plan to bring your own chokes, you cannot guess the thread pattern. You must explicitly ask the outfitter or the AWS Concierge to verify the exact make, model, and generation of the 20-gauge shotguns you will be renting. A Beretta "Mobil" choke will physically drop into an "Optima HP" barrel, but the threads will not align. If you fire the gun, the choke will blow out of the barrel, destroying the gun and causing a severe safety hazard. Once you confirm the correct thread, pack two extended chokes (an Improved Cylinder for morning doves, and a Modified for high afternoon flights or pigeons) inside your blind bag.
Tactical Field Note: Do not rely on the lodge armorer to have a choke wrench that perfectly fits your specific aftermarket choke. Always pack your own proprietary high-torque choke wrench and a tiny tube of high-temperature anti-seize grease. Apply the grease to your threads before installing the choke on day one to prevent the extreme barrel heat from welding your personal choke into the rental gun permanently.
Internal Connections
- Understand which chokes to pack via Best Choke Tubes for Argentina Dove and Duck Hunting.
- See why they seize up in the barrel in How to Pack and Manage Shotgun Chokes for High-Volume Hunts.
- Read the overarching rental strategy in Renting Shotguns in Argentina: The Armory Advantage.