Precision & Performance For Your Shotgun
Building a competition-ready skeet (clay) shotgun? Fine-tuning your duck hunting shotgun? Restoring an old classic? Our Shotgun Gunsmith Services are built around both precision and reliability.
Every modification, repair, or upgrade we perform is backed by years of experience and the same quality craftsmanship that made DNA what it is today!
Lengthened Forcing Cone — smoother transition, tighter patterns.
What can a lengthened forcing cone do for your shotgun?
Standard shotgun chamberings end on a 5 degree taper, which acts as a funnel (forcing cone) from the chamber to the bore. By changing the taper angle from 5 degrees to 0.7 degrees, you lengthen your forcing cone by almost 2 inches!
The removal of this abrupt angle can increase velocity and minimize shot deformation. To elaborate, the abrupt angle deforms pellets as they enter the barrel, which scatters your pattern and can reduce downrange energy.
Benefits by application
Competition skeet / clay shooting
- Tighter, more consistent patterns — reduced pellet deformation helps keep pellets together so more pellets hit the clay instead of flying wide.
- Better target-to-target consistency — you’ll see more repeatable patterns shot-to-shot, which improves confidence and scoring under pressure.
- Cleaner transitions on long presentations — small velocity increases and reduced pellet yaw help maintain pattern density at the outer edges of the target envelope.
- Less “stringing” and fewer surprise misses — the gentler transition reduces unpredictable pellet scatter that costs points in fast rotations.
Duck & dove hunting
- Improved terminal performance — less-deformed pellets retain shape better, which helps with penetration and energy transfer on small and medium game.
- Denser patterns at realistic hunting distances — more pellets in the kill zone increases the odds of a clean, ethical harvest.
- Works well with light/fast loads — lengthened cones reduce deformation on smaller pellets and high-velocity loads commonly used for upland and migratory birds.
- Consistent performance through different choke options — when properly done, forcing-cone lengthening complements a tuned choke setup for hunting scenarios.
What to expect after the forcing cone modification
- Measurable improvement in pattern quality (varies by gun, ammo, choke).
- A precision gunsmithing process — we ensure headspace, chamber integrity, and alignment are maintained.
- Recommended re-patterning session after the modification so you and our gunsmith can verify optimal performance with your preferred loads.
FAQs
- Will this change my choke or require different chokes?
No — the modification is compatible with standard choke tubes, but after the work we recommend re-patterning to confirm choke selection and distance.Will it increase recoil or cause damage to the gun?
When performed correctly by a competent gunsmith, the process does not increase recoil or damage the shotgun. We protect barrel integrity and check all dimensions afterward.How long does the job take?
Turnaround depends on shop workload and required fit checks; we’ll provide a timeline when you book. (We’ll also include a recommended pattern test after completion.)Is it worth it for casual shooters?
If you care about consistency and getting every possible pellet into the pattern — yes. Competitive shooters and serious hunters will see the most benefit, but many casual shooters notice improved patterns as well.