Slugs in a Rem 870?

[advantage1one]

I can't seem to determine what kind of choke I have on my 870 Express Synthetic - 18" barrel. I thought it was suppose to say on the barrel what kind of choke but it doesn't. The reason I'm asking is because I want to shoot slugs but I read that if it has the wrong kind of choke, slugs can ruin the barrel. When I look down into the barrel it looks smooth...can I shoot 00 buck and slugs in this? Thanks for any info...

[aslink]

I would have to say now I'm curious too. I have an 870 with an 18" barrel and just assumed that due to the 18" barrel there was no choke. My manual states never fire the shotgun without a choke installed.

I've already run several rifled slugs through it. It seemed to work without a hitch.

I'm going to have to check into this a little more. I'll check back with any info I find on my end.

[gunrun45]

This usually applies only to shotguns with removeable chokes. All shotguns have some kind of choke. It is the measure of taper to the barrle and interior diameter of the barrel at the muzle that determines the choke.
If you have a fixed choke gun (nothing that screws in and out of the muzzle) then you should be OK.

[fusionstar]

There are fixed chokes where it is designed into the barrel and is usually non(or the size of the cylinder)

and there's removable choke. Never fire a removable choke barrel without a choke. I don't think anything will happen but its bad juju.

My 18" 870 express came with a cylinder bore fixed choke (or no choke).
For buckshot, you want to use as little choke as possible. Although certain chokes WILL make the group smaller. Too much choke can constrict the rounds too much and deform your pellets and or bulge your barrel.

I try to fire rifled slugs in smooth bore no choke rifles and sabot slugs in rifled barrels.

although you can fire sabot slugs in a smoothbore, the sabot round wouldn't be 100% of its potential and or tumble in mid air. I've never fired a rifled slug in a rifled barrel. I think this would result in huge lead fouling.

[luchador768]

It should have CYL, or IMP on the barrel somewhere. All 870's are CYL as far as I know, all 3 of the 870 I have owned have been cylender bore/choke.
IMP= improved both are totally safe for slugs and buck.

[mk3mitch]

Your model is Cylindel choke. I own one. I LOVE shooting slugs out of mine. Its amazing how accurate the gun is with rifled slugs.I also shoot buck shot. Your very safe to use both

[advantage1one]

Thanks for all the info...much appreciated...

[bowfin]

I'm not sure where the myth came that shooting buckshot out of a full choke barrel will cause a bulge. I know dozens of guys who have shot hundreds of rounds of #4 buck out of their shotguns on coyote drives, and not a single bulged barrel ever reported.

Not a lot of people using slugs out here, but again, I can't believe that a rifled slug would cause any damage to a barrel of an 870, regardless of choke.

[tierod]

specs

whats the min legal specs for a shotgun in CA
i remember it used to be 18.25 inch barrel and 26inch overall
is that still right where can i find this out.

[knuckled]

whats the min legal specs for a shotgun in CA
i remember it used to be 18.25 inch barrel and 26inch overall
is that still right where can i find this out.

Still the same - the min barrel length is 18", 26" overall. Typically manufacturers sell 18.5" barrels to be 'certain'.