Questions for Survivor 45/410 owners

[tsalam]

Forgive the long post but need some answers on the operation of a used NEF Survivor 45/410 I just found. Who better to ask than the experts:)
What type of ammo to buy, ie pistol ammo, Long Colt only, both? What brand/type do you use?
It has one choke and a key but the key does not fit the choke. Do you just screw the choke in by hand?
 I assume the choke goes into the muzzle screw threads first which leaves the other end sticking out 1 1/4 inches. Is that correct?
It has a scope mounted. Any problem with that, ie recoil, etc.?
The mount is quite a bit forward so the scope is a little far forward but that still gives a full view.
Thanks for your help guys.
Bob

[garbhead]

As far as the choke goes, it seems the one I had screwed in but ended up flush  with the barrel, not sticking out and if the key doesn't fit, it is prob not the correct choke..I shot reg 45 colt pistol ammo and various 410 types, but remember to remove the choke before shooting the 45 colts

[tsalam]

Thanks Garbhead. I was wondering about the choke. It just doesn't make sense to have it sticking out. I was thinking if it was inserted the other way, you could use the key to screw it into the muzzle.
However, I then asked a guy at Cabelas and he said it was normal to have the choke sticking out. Hmm, apprehensive about shooting the 410 if it is the wrong choke. 

[tacklebury]

How about a pic?    Typically the choke will have the two slots on the end that is supposed to stick out.  If there isn't any slots on the end you're looking at, it could be backwards.    Unfortunately, someone may have taken it out and put it back in cross threaded.  If this is the case, you're going to want to return it.

[tsalam]

Tacklebury, I will try to attach a couple of pics to show what I am talking about.

[tsalam]

Here's the second one. (Just learning here:))

[gjdykeman]

The choke is in backwards. The barrel gets gunked up, clean and fit tube in, threads out. tighten until just firm and should be flush. Anti seise or wonder lube on the the whole thing. Remove and clean frequently or it will get really stuck. It takes three horses and a vise to get out after firing a number of times.

[tacklebury]

Definitely not right.  lol  Only turkey chokes stick out and not that far either.  If it won't screw in the other way, there is a chance someone crossed the threads at some point.  The threads do appear to have some damage about 1/3 the way up from the correct side for starting.  If you cannot get it to go in with grease as gjdykeman stated, you might just want to take it back to your dealer if it's not too far away.  Sometimes having a gunsmith run a die down the threads on the choke can straighten them up some and get it to re-thread, but once you start modifying, it gets harder to get a return accepted.   8(

[tsalam]

Thank you gjdykeman and tacklebury. This is what I expected. It just didn't look right inserted the way you have to. I will clean up both the piece and inside the muzzle and see if I can get it to work. Right now I can't even get it to insert the way it is supposed to so I'm not encouraged at this point. If I can't get it inserted I will return the gun. I think we are looking at crossthreading and that would be a major fix. It has a 30 day return policy and I already put them on notice that if everything was not working I would bring it back. Thanks again for your help.
Bob