Looking at 20 gauge Shotgun

[excelagator]

Ok guys you got me. I am going the 12 gauge route.

I did stop and look at a 870 at the gun shop yesterday. The owner had a 870 with a barrel that shot bird, buck shot and slugs. I "thought" you needed a rifled barrel to shot slugs. Please excuse my ignorance on this. It seems like the options seem endless with a shotgun.

Dan

 

[Tororider]

Look at the mossberg 500 12ga too. I have been very happy with mine. If you are going to be deer hunting at all make sure to get the fully rifled barrel as well.

 

[DocHeb]

You can shoot anything through a plain shotgun barrel - Birdshot to Buckshot to Slugs. Using a rifled barrel gives more accuracy but you will need use special slug loads designed for rifled barrels.

 

[schmism]

You can shoot anything through a plain shotgun barrel - Birdshot to Buckshot to Slugs. Using a rifled barrel gives more accuracy but you will need use special slug loads designed for rifled barrels.

i never did understand this....

i thought any gun with a rifled barrel = rifle

but a shotgun with a rifled barrel is still considered a shotgun?

 

[DocHeb]

but a shotgun with a rifled barrel is still considered a shotgun?

A bit of an oxymoron, a "Rifled Shotgun", similiar to "Jumbo Shrimp" and "Government Intelligence".

I have a Hastings aftermarket rifled and scoped barrel for my Browning BPS Shotgun. It works well. There are even rifled barrels for handguns.

 

[Tororider]

A rifled barreled shotgun is still a shotgun. The bullet or slug has the same trajectory, or similar. After about a hundred yards the slug shot out of a rifled barreled shotgun falls of the table, a rifle round is still flat if not rising at that point. Many shotguns are sold as a package with a rifled barrel and a smooth barrel which allows you to shoot both. Its nice for me since in southern Michigan you can't hunt deer with a rifle, its shotgun only.

 

[excelagator]

Thanks guys for the replies!

I picked up a Mossberg Model 88 / Maverick pump. It has 5 rounds + 1 capacity, 28" barrel. Pretty close to the Mossberg 500. The barrels interchange, the safety tang is different on the 500 vs model 88. The pump handle is sloppy, but heck out the door plus tax under $200!

The barrel is smooth and has a mod. choke. So can I shot slugs from this barrel. The manual does not cover any of this!


Dan

 

[Tororider]

Congrats, now the fun begins. The gun was the cheap part, shotgun shells aren't getting any cheaper. Have fun!!!

 

[Birdmayon]

The barrel is smooth and has a mod. choke. So can I shot slugs from this barrel. The manual does not cover any of this!


Dan

See if there is a FAQ on their website. I know with the remington 870, they recommend going with an improved cylinder choke (vs the mod choke that comes standard with alot of the 870 express models) for shooting slugs.