Rifled choke or Rifled barrel

[crackerman]

It seems like some of the places I may deer hunt this year will be shotgun areas. So most things I read say sabots are better but my question is.

For sabot slugs should I use a fully rifled barrel or would a rifled choke be good enough?

[BigDogatPlay]

My preference on sabots is to use the rifled barrel. I know a lot of guys in the eastern US where shotguns are more the norm. All of them who shoot sabots use a full rifled barrel. A lot of them use scopes too....

[aippi]

Having seen this question posted before I can tell you the use of rifled choke tubes split about 50/50 like about anything else. some say they give no better accuracy then rifle slugs and other report increased accuracy at greater distance. Since a true shotgunner can kill about anything that walks on this rock with a rifled slug and bead sight at 100 yards and increase that with rifle sights, the rifled choke tube seems to be a gimmick to me.

The fully rifled barrel with sabots give you kill shots at 150 yards Plus. Your only restriction is your ability and there are clients of mine that take big game out to 175 with this set up.

I don't recommend any slug shooting with choke tubes. Choke tubes are for small shot that will not put a lot of pressure on the tube. If you screw the choke tube out and look at the threads you are looking at the reverse of the threads in the barrel. The choke tube is stainless steel and the threads in the barrel are softer. As a slug exists the barrel it is somewhat compressed to stabilize it. So you have a hard stainless steel tube being forced against a softer steel.

Very few of us would ever fire sabot slugs through a rifled tube often enough in our entire life to cause any damage. The negative effect would be more toward smooth bore barrels with tubes shooting rifled slugs. But you still have to make sure the choke tube is tight before you shoot or there will be damage.

If you go to the Remington LE web site and look at the 18.5" and 20" police models you will not find one with Rem Choke. Yet these weapons are intended for buckshot and slugs. Choke tube will come on Sporting models and the civilian tactical models because they sell, not because they are smart.

Yes, it you already have a barrel that is threaded for Rem Choke and want to shoot sabot slugs and can find one to give you the best accuracy then it is safe to do. You will never shoot enough $3 dollar sabot slugs to damage you barrel as long as you make sure the tube is tight and clean the barrel properly.

[plumbum]

For a dedicated hunting setup, I think the rifled barrel is going to be better for extending range, and improving accuracy - it is also going to be more expensive. I have had good results with lobbing lead from a smooth bore out to 75 yards, but if you think you will need more range than that, I would look at getting a whole new barrel or gun. I love the idea of a 20 gauge Handi-Rifle or a youth sized 870/500 slugger setup.

If you are so inclined, some shotgun areas are also allowed Blackpowder rifles as well.

[Shrubmaster]

Just buy another gun, there's deals everywhere and it'll cost close to what just a barrel would cost. What kind of gun are you using now?

[Cokebottle]

What's the diameter of the slugs?
I thought a rifled barrel greater than .50 was a DD?

[crackerman]

Just buy another gun, there's deals everywhere and it'll cost close to what just a barrel would cost. What kind of gun are you using now?

My venerable Mossberg 500, I may just get the slug barrel to go with the muzzleloader, security, and waterfowl barrels I have

What's the diameter of the slugs?
I thought a rifled barrel greater than .50 was a DD?

True for rifles but shotguns are an exemption one way or another, not sure if it is based on ammo design (plastic hull vs metal case) or type of gun (rifle vs shotgun).

[POWG]

Rifled Choke or Rifled Barrel

The purpose of "rifling" is to spin and stabilize the projectile and in so doing, increase accuracy.

Think about it ... which would better impart the needed stabilizing spin ...a 3" [maximum] tube or a 20+" barrel??

No contest.

Nuff said and POWG is out.