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Old 03-08-2019, 04:47 PM
 
Location: Eastern Washington
17,106 posts, read 56,720,019 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NJ Brazen_3133 View Post
Ok then let me ask you, what is the maximum length of smoothbore barrel, can you shoot a regular slug out of? Is this maximum slug barrel, a bare minimum for birdshot/wing shooting with no choke?

It's not the length of the barrel, but the choke. *Most* slugs are small enough to go through *most* full choke barrels. I have not tried this but I don't think the choke helps accuracy with a slug.


For slugs, generally a cylinder choke is considered best.



A cylinder choke will shoot birdshot but the patterns will get wide quickly (see previous post with illustration) and effectiveness will fall off at a relatively short range.


In general for something like an 870, I would again suggest a cylinder bore barrel with rifle sights for slugs (or a rifled barrel, those exist as well, and do have superior accuracy) probably relatively short at 18 to 20", and a somewhat longer barrel with interchangeable choke tubes for birdshot.



If you really insist on one "do it all" barrel, probably the best you can do is the shortest birdshot barrel you can find, 24, 26" or so, with interchangeable choke tubes, and use a cylinder or improved cylinder choke tube for slugs.



For 870 and similar, though, there are all sorts of factory and aftermarket barrels available and they are not that expensive.
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Old 03-13-2019, 09:44 PM
 
Location: Lost in Montana *recalculating*...
19,376 posts, read 22,315,065 times
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I would rather have a 24-26” barrel and a folding stock than a fixed stock with an 18” barrel.
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Old 03-13-2019, 10:01 PM
 
4,985 posts, read 3,913,580 times
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"Can you shoot birdshot out of 18in smoothbore barrels?"
yes.
"How much accuracy does bird shot lose when coming out of 18in barrel?"
lots.
"Or will 20in be better for both slugs, and birdshot?"
no.

for "survival" shooting slugs/birdshot/etc., use a rifled barrel 18 inch improved modified choke.
here is why: a rifled barrel (instead of smoothbore) will "spin" modern shotshell plastic cups
to impart a wider pattern at close range. also, using a slug, an IM choke will stabilize the slug
during the last 2 inches before the muzzle to prevent "keyholing" at target distances.
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Old 03-14-2019, 12:52 AM
 
10,319 posts, read 5,496,089 times
Reputation: 10411
Quote:
Originally Posted by turkeydance View Post
"Can you shoot birdshot out of 18in smoothbore barrels?"
yes.
"How much accuracy does bird shot lose when coming out of 18in barrel?"
lots.
"Or will 20in be better for both slugs, and birdshot?"
no.
Why would lots of accuracy be lost using an 18” barrel?

Quote:
for "survival" shooting slugs/birdshot/etc., use a rifled barrel 18 inch improved modified choke.
here is why: a rifled barrel (instead of smoothbore) will "spin" modern shotshell plastic cups
to impart a wider pattern at close range. also, using a slug, an IM choke will stabilize the slug
during the last 2 inches before the muzzle to prevent "keyholing" at target distances.
An IM choke will “stabilize” a slug, but the 18” rifled barrel won’t?
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Old 03-14-2019, 11:04 AM
 
Location: Maryland
2,269 posts, read 1,613,484 times
Reputation: 5198
Speaking of choke, I have a coach style 12 gauge with one modified and one full choke. It’s engraved on the barrel “Not for use with slugs”.
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