Slugs in smooth bore - 12 ga.

[Wicked Pete]

I have a Mossberg 500 and a Remington 870. I found that the my lead slugs have rifling and are intended to expand in the barrel; I cut a slug round open and did some inspection.

I don't have a barrel micrometer, but I took the (sample) slug and let it slide through the Mossy 18" smooth barrel, it had a lot of play. Shoots great, I am very happy with the accuracy at 100 yards.

The same slug in the Remington long barrel: rattles until it gets to the last 1 1/2 inches of the barrel. It won't go. I know lead is soft, and when hot is pliable, but this was tight. Choke! I cut off the last 1 1/2" of the barrel.

It seems to me that the last "scrunch" will slow down the slug round, how would you know? It shoots fine; did I do wrong? Don't shoot skeet or bird hunting.

[Notblake]

It depends on what choke you had on there if any. If the difference was only minor, (a few 16ths maybe) it would only serve to increase pressure which would increase muzzle velocity. Hot lead is VERY pliable.

I hope you didn't cut 1 1/2 inches off of an 18.5 inch barrel btw. =) Just sayin...

If you really wanted a definitive answer, you should make a friend with a chrono, and shoot your chopped slugger against a stock shotgun.

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me will chime in tho.

[Wicked Pete]

I'll certainly admit that I am not a slug expert, would like to learn more. The barrel I cut was the long one. Someone told me to go ahead and cut off the long barrel to 18", he said it won't make any difference. eh?

I wonder: wouldn't a longer (over 18") smooth bore do better for the long shot. Time for more testing at the range. Thanks

[aippi]

Your long barrel is of course a sporting barrel and was most likely I/C choke which is fine for slugs or modified which is the best. If it was an older barrel and was full choke, well, it is not a barrel you should have been shooting slugs from to begin with. I recommend taking no more adivce from the guy that told you to cut it off. You pretty much ruined the long barrel by cutting it off as it is now a a cyl bore with no choke. The length of it has no value in any application now and it is little more then a pipe now. Cutting it down to 18.5 is now the only usefull application for that barrel other then sending it out for threading for choke tubes.

Your other barrel on that other weapon is most likely cyl Bore with is not that great with slugs as it does not stabilize the slug. However it could be an I/C choke which as I said is just fine. The best choke for slugs is Modified as it stabilizes the slug and gives you consistant accuracy. So to answer your question, "NO" the longer barrel gives you nothing for the long shot. These are not rifles and shotgun shells do not produce the gases that rifles do. All the powder in a shot shell is burned up in the first 12" of the barrel (maybe less, and someone may correct that statement for me).

As for barrel length on a shotgun, makes little difference in performance of the round your firing. Sport shooters want longer barrels for the handling of the weapon as they swing it. Duty and HD weapons have shorter barrels as they are better in crusiers and when in buildings. Cut that barrel down to 18.5" and it will perform the same as it is now at 26" or whatever you made it by cutting the choke off.

[Wicked Pete]

well AIPPI, thanks for the info. Sometimes (shooting sports) it is a "live and learn" situation. I am living, and I am learning. Another told me to go to a gunsmith and have a choke installed. Think I'll take your advice and cut to 18.5; I am just a plinker. By the way, I'm pretty good with the hack-saw and a flat file, got any weapons you want cut up?

[mif_slim]

@Appi, unless their shooting shots, which will make a difference in range effectiveness and pattern group. Try a 18.5" skeet/trap shooting! or swing a 30-32" barrel in CQB. Each tool is for a diffrent job, but you are correct on all the other stuff. (Not that your not correct on this one, just adding it in incase others think that a short barrel with I/M cyl will group the same as a long barrel with a extra full choke)