New to shotguns

[Don29palms]

I have a question. Can you shoot shot shells through a rifled slug barrel without damaginig the barrel?

[Wicked Pete]

I had this same question myself. I found a general opinion: No, it won't hurt the barrel, but you will have no accuracy. Suppose up close wouldn't matter, but no range. Good Luck.

[Don29palms]

I recently acquired a Mossberg 500AB. I have no clue what I have and I haven't been able to find any info on the internet. I do know it's a 12guage pump shotgun with a 18.5" barrel. Any info or website I can get info about this gun would also be appreciated.

[Bigdaa]

If the barrel is rifled for slugs, you must give it thought as to what a shot wad or capsule is going to do going down the barrel. It wants to keep the shot all nestled up nice and tight for it's release out of the barrel. Now, the rifling is going to want to just spin the sh-t out of that wad and its cargo and try and tie that wad into knots and otherwise turn your expected pattern into something unrecognizable, a mutant pattern if you will. Where the wads expect a smooth transition down the barrel with minimum friction, they will experience friction and heat build up along with tearing and separation. In the end, it pretty much boils down to an invitation for trouble.

This whole mess can be alleviated with the purchase of an additional barrel.

[diirk]

I just attended a training class where one of the participants had a rifled barrel. At 15 yds with 00, the only thing that hit the target was the wad. There was a nice circular patten along the edges of the target from the shot. It was pretty interesting.

[BigDogatPlay]

I recently acquired a Mossberg 500AB. I have no clue what I have and I haven't been able to find any info on the internet. I do know it's a 12guage pump shotgun with a 18.5" barrel. Any info or website I can get info about this gun would also be appreciated.

The A stands for 12 gauge in the Mossberg nomenclature, the B for the gun was originally intended for a mass marketer... e.g. Wal Mart, K Mart, Montgomery Ward (back in the day) etc. There were all kinds of letter combinations. I have a 500ATP which was how they marked guns intended for law enforcement / defense before the advent of the 590 series. Mine is a 5 shot with 18.5 inch bead sighted barrel. They also did 8 shot 20 inch marked as 500ATP as well.

Regardless of how it's marked, for the most part, a 500 is a 500 is a 500. Deluxe models (500xD) were a much better quality of furniture.

[bjl333]

The rifled barrel won't be hurt shooting bird shot 12 gauge through it. The pattern would be gone by 10 yards or so. The rifled barrel will spin the shot and spread it very very fast.

To your question: Yes you could and it won't damage the barrel.