870 vs. 535 and Twist / slug question?

[Brent62Beck]

What is the twist in the Mossberg 535 slug barrels?

I assume there would be a signifigant performance difference in the rifled barrel with a sabot and the smooth barrel with a traditional slug. What is the best Sabot for performance and value?

As well, what is the recommended slug for performance in a smooth bore twelve with a modified choke?

I appreciate your help. I have an option to buy an 870 wingmaster chambered for 2 3/4 with a 28" barrel - modified choke, ( I understand it can be bored for 3" and the ejector moved) but am leaning towards a Mossberg 535 with a 28" and a 24" rifled barrel as in the long run it is likely going to be more versatile.

What to do? Opinions?

Brent

 

[Dave McCracken]

Dunno about the twist but here's some info on your other questions....

There's no ineffective 12 gauge slugs. Buy some 5 pack of various makes, bench test and buy lots of the best grouping.

At hand here are a hundred OK Brenekke 1 oz, about the same in Winchester's HP, some Federals, Rottweil Brenekkes in both 12 and 20 gauge, and the leftovers of a long and active deer hunting life.

Modified oft works best with the Forster style slugs. The first three I mention are such.

Except for waterfowl and turkey, a 2 3/4" only 870 with that barrel has little downside and max versatility. What do they want for it?

Nothing against the Mossie, but nothing beats an 870.

HTH....

 

[Brent62Beck]

$200 Canadian ...

Unfortunately there are far more turkeys and geese here than partridge. can I effectively load this gun for these? What loads would you recommend?

 

[Dave McCracken]

Expensive but effective as heck,Brent, Hevishot will do the job even in the short case. With 3", I'd go with 2s for geese,4s for ducks and turkey.

 

[Brent62Beck]

Pricing ..

Strange world. Availabilty up here in Canada is a bit of an issue. SIR mail order is the easiest and best priced supplier for new guns, and prices are reasonable. I can't purchase extra barrels from other suppliers without paying a premium price, and I don't think I can order them direct from the USA - at least not from Mossberg. A smooth bore short barrel gun is the best option for bear defence up north, which is where I will be for 4-6 months, but the best value gun is a Mossberg 535 24" rifled/28" sb combo package at $353 Canadian. I would like a shorter 22" turkey barrel and deer barrel combo, but it is unavailable through this supplier, or having the combo and purchasing an 18'5 sbore would be good. The Remington 870 with a 28" barrel is the same price as the Mossberg with 2 barrels - of which the deer barrel would be very useful to me as there are a number of places with shotgun only hunts, and there is some open terrain where the sabots would be beneficial. A second barrel for the 870 would be ~ $250. So I have a delima. There is this used wingmaster for $200, but it has it's limitations. It is long for canoeing in the north, and short chambered for turkeys and geese, but it is a reasonable value and argueably a better gun. I have only a single shot 12 and am looking forward to another shotgun. I am on a budget, as taking a leave from work and taking a family of 5 to the west coast and up to the Yukon/ Alaska for a few months does not come cheap. We are leaving at the end of the month and returning in August. I am just trying to find the best value for the long term. My shotgun options right now include the Maverick 88 for $209-219 with a 18.5 or 28" barrel, a Mossberg 535 for $353 with the 2 barrels as listed, an 870 with a 28" for $340, or a used Wingmaster for $200. Decisions, decisions.

Cheers,
Brent