This is a noob question

[Flowmini98]

You have a 18"barrel HD shotgun chamber to 3"...Can you:

Run any type of shotgun round? does it matter if its birdshot buckshot or slug as long as its 3" and shorter?

[Entman42]

What model shotgun?

[bballwizard05]

Yes you can run anything. If it is an older shotgun you may not want to use steel shot, but most shotguns with a 3" chamber will be fine with steel shot. You can use any 2 1/2" or 3" shell you wish.

[bjl333]

Just make sure the reciever is a 3" gun and not just the barrel is 3" ...

If the barrel has no chokes then shoot away with slugs as well. If it has chokes please post what kind ...

[Flowmini98]

No shotgun yet... Just trying to decide what I want

[Flowmini98]

On a side note can a 18" barrel Rem870 also have a longer(26") barrel put on it.?

[Lugiahua]

I thought the minimum length for a regular shotgun is 18.5, 18 would be a SBS

[JohnCriswell]

On a side note can a 18" barrel Rem870 also have a longer(26") barrel put on it.?

Yep. I bought an 870 w/ 18.5" barrel and bought a used 28" barrel for clays. It was an older wingmaster barrel but it fit and shot perfectly.

[BigDogatPlay]

You have a 18"barrel HD shotgun chamber to 3"...Can you:

Run any type of shotgun round? does it matter if its birdshot buckshot or slug as long as its 3" and shorter?

You can run 3 inch or shorter shells in a barrel that is marked as chambered for 3 inch shells but, as above, the receiver length is important. If you are looking at 12 gauge Remington 870s, a serial number that ends in "M" is a magnum length receiver. If it ends in "V" it's a 2.75 inch receiver. Different brands of gun will vary somewhat. In Mossbergs I can't remember a time when their pump guns didn't take 3 inch shells.

On a side note can a 18" barrel Rem870 also have a longer(26") barrel put on it.?

The 870 platform is fully capable of interchanging barrels of just about any length..... however there are a couple of caveats. Barrels that are from Remington's Special Purpose line do not always interchange with non Special Purpose receivers. Also, just recently, Remington has introduced a new 870 "tactical" model with a longer magazine tube. The barrel mount that slips over the mag tube on these guns is farther down the tube than pretty much any other 870 made through the 60 year history of the model, and standard barrels will not interchange with a receiver sporting that new longer mag tube.

I thought the minimum length for a regular shotgun is 18.5, 18 would be a SBS

18 inches is the minimum barrel length on shotguns under both federal and California law. Shorter than 18 is an SBS or, in some cases, an AOW. Most manufacturers make their barrels at 18.25 or 18.5 to avoid any possibility of the owner get jacked up needlessly.

[CK_32]

You should be able to run anything that's specified on your barrel as long as its loaded right and the proper guage.

[stkcode]

If it's smooth bore or rifled, you can pretty much shot anything through it. I haven't done it, but there have been mentions of not shooting slugs through certain chokes.

I remember something there being some deal about sabots verse slugs as an issue. As I recall, in-barrel chokes are ok with slugs, poly-type chokes (those at the end of the barrel, adjustable types) are a no-no. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

[SoCalXD]

You can run 3 inch or shorter shells in a barrel that is marked as chambered for 3 inch shells but, as above, the receiver length is important. If you are looking at 12 gauge Remington 870s, a serial number that ends in "M" is a magnum length receiver. If it ends in "V" it's a 2.75 inch receiver. Different brands of gun will vary somewhat. In Mossbergs I can't remember a time when their pump guns didn't take 3 inch shells.
The 870 platform is fully capable of interchanging barrels of just about any length..... however there are a couple of caveats. Barrels that are from Remington's Special Purpose line do not always interchange with non Special Purpose receivers. Also, just recently, Remington has introduced a new 870 "tactical" model with a longer magazine tube. The barrel mount that slips over the mag tube on these guns is farther down the tube than pretty much any other 870 made through the 60 year history of the model, and standard barrels will not interchange with a receiver sporting that new longer mag tube.
18 inches is the minimum barrel length on shotguns under both federal and California law. Shorter than 18 is an SBS or, in some cases, an AOW. Most manufacturers make their barrels at 18.25 or 18.5 to avoid any possibility of the owner get jacked up needlessly.

Wow, great summary sir! Thanks for all the concise info!