What short barrel for Mav 88?

[MotoriousRacing]

I'm pretty much a gun noob. No military or hunting experience, just occasional plinking with a Ruger 10/22 I've owned for a long time.

I've gotten a Maverick 88 from a roomate that moved along and want to shorten the barrel for home defense and/or emergency prep.

This site says Mossberg 500 barrels fit the Maverick 88, and this page lists the barrels.

Of course I'm looking at the 18.5" and 20" barrels but am unsure about the different chokes (cylinder bore or Accu-Set) and if one might be a problem with slugs.

Thanks.

[MotoriousRacing]

Okay, no feedback here yet, so I researched on other sites. Cylinder bore is no choke and Accu Set allows chokes to be interchanged. I believe the Accu Set will still allow slugs, but that is my question. I think I would prefer the 20" barrel but I do not want to assume. Even the Mossberg website resource write up about chokes doesn't specifically say Accu Set will accept a slug.

Anybody know for sure? Thanks.

btw - yes, I did do a search in shotgun topics for mav 88 (etc.) and there is about 11 pages of threads. I would love to find my own info without being bothersome, but often, popular forums like this become cumbersome to search through.

Also, I searched for Personal Firearms Eligibility Check (PFEC) program and couldn't find answer to quick question. I expected a Sticky topic under 2nd Ammendment that had PFEC in the title, but didn't see anything.

[surfguy]

I'm not sure what barrels take accu chokes, but the barrel options depends on which magazine tube your 88 has. My 88 with 7+1 capacity has a 20" bbl and only a few options for changing the bbl. 88's with 5 round tubes are more common and interchangeable with mossberg 500 barrels.
Slugs are ok in cyl bore. Cut the barrel down to 20" and buy a rifled slug barrel would be how I'd do it. Slugs for home defense are probably a bad idea if you have neighbors.

[MotoriousRacing]

Thanks surfguy.

Anyone know if Mossberg ACCU Set barrels can shoot a slug? Maybe without a choke tube attached it could shoot a slug.

Good point about the slugs. I'm probably better off stocking buckshot, then the question about slugs is moot.

[reptilla]

Ok, the 18.5" bbl is perfect if you have the 5+ 1 mag tube. Imp cyl is perfect for slugs and buck shot for hd duty I wouldn't even mess with chokes.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

I agree. Chokes are mostly wasted in a short-barreled shotgun. Not because they don't work, but because the whole point of the short-barreled shotgun is to get a bit of spread in your pattern. However, if you do want them, there is nothing wrong with having them. DO NOT shoot a barrel that is threaded for choke tubes without a choke tube. That is a good way to ruin the threading. If your barrel is set up for changeable chokes and you want to open up your groups, just get the most open choke you can for it and leave that in.

As for the slugs, yes, they are safe for any choke. The ammo companies deliberately make them a bit undersized to avoid any problems with that very situation. That is why many people find that using an Improved Cylinder or Modified choke actually gives them better groups than they get with a cylinder bore.

-Mb

[MotoriousRacing]

I jumped the gun on the good advice about a short barrel (and could have saved some money), but I think I'll be happy. I bought this Mossberg Barrel Mossberg 500 12 Gauge 3" 20" Full, Modified, Improved Chokes Vent Rib Blue and the choke tube wrench.

It comes with 2 extra chokes (not sure which choke the 20-inch barrel ships with by itself). I'm looking for a multi-purpose gun anyway; I don't expect to ever go back to the long barrel.

I've been hording for TEOTWAWKI for about 12 months now. I envision scaring off a not-so-well-armed mob away from my stash, then shooting a crow for dinner. I think this option should work well for me.