Shotguns and Slugs

[film495]

I inherited two 20 gauge shotguns a few years ago and have yet to fire either of them. Recently, I found a property that is suitable to shoot at and got permission to do so. I've cleaned and gone over the two firearms, but have little experience with shotguns.

Ithaca Model 37, pump, 20 gauge
has 2 barrels, one appears to be cut to 18.5ish inches

Franchi Model 48, 20 gauge

I was thinking of trying these out - they both as far as I can tell seem to be in good condition and cycle dummy round fine. Couple questions and then general input requests.

1. How would you go about testing them?
2. Can slugs be fired out of any shotgun barrel? 3 years ago when I go them I did some research and got a small lot of various ammo for them, but am not sure if slugs are an issue or not depending on the choke of the barrels, which I believe I looked up before, but don't recall off the top of my head.

 

[George P]

Are you limiting yourself to only slugs? If not, hit the pattern plate at your local trap/skeet club to see what any shot loads do; if only for slugs, shoot it like you would a rifle but keep the distance to about 50 yards - at least to start.

There are two basic types of slugs, one is encased in a plastic "sabot" (or shoe) and is for rifled barrels only; the other, typically a Foster, is designed for smoothbores only.

 

[Armored farmer]

Open choke only.
Not full or modified....
Cylinder bore or skeet would be fine.
My old skeet barrel shoots cheap foster slugs really well.

 

[George P]

While Fosters CAN be fired through tight chokes such a M, IM, or F; usually the better accuracy comes from a SK or IC choke

 

[entropy]

I'd shoot slugs through the 18.5" barrel on the Ithaca; that's exactly what my HD shotgun is, and slugs are fine through it out to 50 yards. The Franchi is a great pheasant gun; light, easy to carry all day. Slugs through it would be brutal.

Neither of these guns are old enough to where it would be dangerous to shoot slugs through a Full or Modified choke, but as George P says, better accuracy with the more open chokes. As a rule, I agree with Armored Farmer. It'd have to be an emergency before I'd shoot slugs through a full choke.

 

[film495]

not limiting myself to slugs.

3 years ago when I got them, I did a bunch of research and got manuals for them and did a basic cleaning and service on them. Looked up about the chokes and figured slugs were safe, but that was 3 years ago and if I'm actually going to shoot them I should sanity check what I'm going to do again - they are both smooth bore - so got the Foster slugs, and a variety of ammo, buckshot, birdshot, just to have a little on hand.

If the Ithaca works out good with the shorter barrel, that will likely get adopted as a HD gun, either with slugs or buckshot. Only think I don't like about it is there's no front sight, it was just cut off. I'll have to measure the length again on the cut barrel to make sure it is 18.5 or more - that is the limit, correct?

 

[entropy]

Legally, 18" is the minimum limit; most gunsmiths, myself included, will not cut a shotgun barrel below 18.5" A gunsmith should charge about $30-$50 to drill, tap and put a bead in if you decide to do it. My barrel has a rib on it, it was not cut by me-it was actually an evidence gun I bought from the shop I worked at some time ago. It is just above 18"-about 18.1". I measured it three times in the same manner the ATF measures, to be sure. I cut the rib back (they had hacked it off between posts and left it), squared and deburred the muzzle, and drilled and tapped it for a Spark-II fiber optic bead.


It did not have a buttstock when I bought it, I had to install one before I could bring it out of the store.

 

[George P]

not limiting myself to slugs.

3 years ago when I got them, I did a bunch of research and got manuals for them and did a basic cleaning and service on them. Looked up about the chokes and figured slugs were safe, but that was 3 years ago and if I'm actually going to shoot them I should sanity check what I'm going to do again - they are both smooth bore - so got the Foster slugs, and a variety of ammo, buckshot, birdshot, just to have a little on hand.

If the Ithaca works out good with the shorter barrel, that will likely get adopted as a HD gun, either with slugs or buckshot. Only think I don't like about it is there's no front sight, it was just cut off. I'll have to measure the length again on the cut barrel to make sure it is 18.5 or more - that is the limit, correct?

18 is the absolute legal minimum, but most folks go 18.25 to 18.5 for a JIC CYA situation.

As to the front sight, don't worry about it; your eyes are the sights as you point your shotgun

 

[Paul R Zartman]

I don't have a sight on my 18.2 barrel, someone in the 70's cut mine before I bought it, I've been just point and shoot with it, just like you practice point and shoot with no sights with handguns. Alot of fun and you learn alot of good techniques. Using as a HD I didn't need sights, but I did install a quick release scope mount for my Banner II 1.5-4 scope for shooting slugs and 00 buckshot, I shoot 75 yards no problem. Slugs at home might go thru a wall or 2, or 3 or 4

 

[film495]

Anyone know the barrel markings for the Ithaca and AL48 to tell what the choke is? The cut barrel is Cylinder, yes? I'll have to get them out and go over them again before I get a trip up to this property set up. It will probably be a whole day affair, between these shotguns and a bunch of other things I want to test or try. I'll have to make a list and take notes. It is too easy to get wrapped in the fun and forget what you're supposed to be function testing.

Yeah, I'll probably stick with a pistol for HD for now, but - I like the idea of being able to have these tested and working as possible options.

 

[George P]

If the barrel has been cut back, you have no choke, aka Cylinder

 

[1KPerDay]

Anyone know the barrel markings for the Ithaca and AL48 to tell what the choke is? The cut barrel is Cylinder, yes? I'll have to get them out and go over them again before I get a trip up to this property set up. It will probably be a whole day affair, between these shotguns and a bunch of other things I want to test or try. I'll have to make a list and take notes. It is too easy to get wrapped in the fun and forget what you're supposed to be function testing.

Yeah, I'll probably stick with a pistol for HD for now, but - I like the idea of being able to have these tested and working as possible options.

The franchi will have stars or asterisks stamped on the underside of the barrel near the breech. You’ll likely need to remove the forend to see it. Good idea anyway because if you’re going to shoot slugs through it you’ll want to make sure the friction rings are arranged correctly for heavier loads. It’s basically the same as the Browning A5 setup so look it up and make sure your rings are all present and you have the beveled end of the magazine spring spacer ring facing the friction ring and that the outer/double clamp ring thing is present on the friction ring.

the typical Italian/European choke marking is as follows:

* = Full
** = Improved Modified
*** = Modified
**** = Improved Cylinder
CL or C, sometimes with 4 stars after it= Cylinder

 

[1KPerDay]

Also: DO NOT let the bolt slam forward on the Franchi without the barrel in place. Keep your hands and surfaces away from the bolt release button.
Also if you are unfamiliar with the 48 AL manual of arms, the magazine will not feed a shell onto the lifter unless the barrel cycles under recoil. There is no manual way to empty the magazine other than pressing the button, depressing the lifter, and pressing the shell catch to the side and removing the shells one at a time.

Thus, to load you fill the magazine and then retract the bolt smartly which will lock it back. Drop a shell into the ejection port and press the button to let the bolt slam home. Keep your fingers clear.

this system also means you can easily clear/unload the chamber for crossing fences or whatever. Just retract the bolt and the round will be ejected from the chamber but no round should feed onto the lifter.
To reload, just drop the cartridge into the port and press the button.

I also found more details for you regarding the friction ring setup.

The tube should always be lightly oiled. The spring always goes on first and seats down against the receiver. IIRC, the Browning A-5 stores the governor under the spring during light load use, but not the Franchi 48AL.

The "governor" is the steel ring with an internal bevel cut on one side, with the other side flat.

For light loads: The beveled side of the governor goes against the end of the spring. The bronze friction ring, with its steel tension sleeve, sits against the flat side of the governor. This setting provides minimum friction.

For heavy loads: The flat side of the governor goes against the end of the spring. The bronze friction ring, with its steel tension sleeve, has a "male" beveled edge that goes into the "female" beveled side of the governor. This setting provides maximum friction by wedging the friction ring tightly against the tube during recoil.

 

[DocRock]

Stick to 7/8 oz loads in the Franchi. It's a good and reliable gun, so this isn't about durability, but its much more of a carry much - shoot little gun, owing to its light weight.

 

[illinoisburt]

Open choke only.
Not full or modified....
Cylinder bore or skeet would be fine.
My old skeet barrel shoots cheap foster slugs really well.

Foster slugs can be safely shot through any standard choke - cyl, imp, mod, full are all perfectly safe. Heck Remington recommends improved cylinder choke for best accuracy with their slugger brand fosters and the old deerslayer shotguns are all full choke sized the length of the barrel. It is not safe to shoot slugs through an extra full waterfowl or turkey choke (they are generally not safe for steel shot either). The old Hasting rifled choke tubes squeeze down close to full, too (they were made for foster slugs and some people reported damage with sabots in them).

 

[Armored farmer]

Foster slugs can be safely shot through any standard choke - cyl, imp, mod, full are all perfectly safe. Heck Remington recommends improved cylinder choke for best accuracy with their slugger brand fosters and the old deerslayer shotguns are all full choke sized the length of the barrel. It is not safe to shoot slugs through an extra full waterfowl or turkey choke (they are generally not safe for steel shot either). The old Hasting rifled choke tubes squeeze down close to full, too (they were made for foster slugs and some people reported damage with sabots in them).

Yeah. I know that is the ....theory, however my friend was shooting fosters through his nice 16ga browning auto 5 with full choke. The barrel split from the muzzle back about a foot.
I know of others, and have heard of even more. I wouldn't shoot them from a full choke if I had any other option.

 

[Paul R Zartman]

I know my poly shoots slugs best at improved or one notch tighter, but have also shot at full with no issues. There are always problems that can cause trouble with any gun, I always take my poly apart and clean good. There is also the possibility that a aftermarket adjustable choke system was installed with imperfections, factory or by a Smith, and issues arise down the road. I always take my guns to a good Smith every year or two and have them do a good cleaning and inspection. This is a dangerous way of life we love so much.

 

[film495]

Both Ithaca barrels have a 2 stamped on them, which I believe is modified choke. Since I have the cut one, if I shoot slugs I think I'll stick to putting them through the cut one just to play it safe.