tell me about slug barrels...

[JeepGeeek]

Folks-
new to shotguns, just having bought my first one (used, from a friend- F2F transactions are legal in my state).

I got a Mossberg 500A with a slug barrel and the standard shot barrel.

I expected the slug barrel to be rifled- it's not. Is this odd?

I want to cut down one of these to 18.5"- I'll be running mostly 00 buck for HD use, with the occasional remote possibilty of a slug now and again. Am I correct in thinking that I should cut down the slug barrel, as it's probably thicker to contain the pressure behind the slug as it blasts down the tube?

OK to use rifled slugs?

what is the minimum OAL for a shotgun, according to federal law? I will cut the barrel down to 18.5" as measured from the bolt face with the gun empty and in battery. This gives me a half-inch to play with, as the minimum barrel length is 18". Correct?

I am debating on a collapsible stock, but can see definite advantages to not going with the tacti-cool look should I ever need to use the weapon in it's intended purpose.

 

[scythefwd]

Slug barrels may have iron sights on them or scope mounts. They will also probably not have a screw in choke. Rifles slugs are made fore smooth bore barrels. I you want to get a rifled barrel with a rail to shoot sabots, they run about 100 and available for the 500a.

 

[JeepGeeek]

so I'm thinkin' since I may at some point use a slug, I should cut down the slug barrel and keep it on there for the most part?

If I ever get into sporting clays or some such, I'll probably just buy one of those cheapie shotguns that Mossberg puts out, or buy another used. Probably best to dedicate this weapon to HD only. Correct??

 

[scythefwd]

Jeep,
No need to buy a whole new gun, just get a new barrel. They can be changed out in about 30 seconds with practice. The longer the barrel, the more accurate with a slug it will be. Making an 18.5" barrel for slugs wouldn't be worth it. Slugs are too powerful for HD anyways. A slug will go through a human, the guy behind them, and probably through your wall, reguardless if it hits a stud, if fired in a house. 0000 shot will do will in the house.

If you get into clays, just get the new barrel, it will cost less than a used gun. I'd cut down the shot barrel and have a new bead installed. I'd keep the slug barrel whole. If you get into clays, go out and buy a 28" with a ridge.

 

[JeepGeeek]

well see- I paid $200 for this gun with both barrels.

I can get shotguns for $200 or less at the local pawn shops, in the papers, and at gunshops on the used rack, all day long.

A quick search shows a new barrel costs about $150:
http://www.tjgeneralstore.com/moss-bbl.htm

At that point, I'm thinking just buy another gun. :shrug:

 

[mnrivrat]

If you consider this mainly for HD then I would cut the slug barrel and save the regular barrel for clays, hunting, etc. Assuming you don't slug hunt for deer, in which case the other way around may work best for you.

The non-rifled slug barrel was the standard up until a few years ago. The rifled slug barrel came out in conjunction with sabot slugs. Shooting sabots through the rifled barrels give better accuracy for longer range deer hunting or slug shooting.

The sabot slugs will not perform well out of the smooth bore barrel - use the old standard rifled slugs from them - cheaper anyway !

Overal length must be maintained at 26 inches minumum for the shotgun. Yes, 18 inch minumum for the barrel from the breech face to the muzzle.

 

[JeepGeeek]

Great info, MNVrat.

I'm about to start cutting shortly. That measurement is from the breech face with the weapon empty and in battery, I take it?

Thanks!

 

[scythefwd]

You could buy the new 18.5 barrel and leave the other two alone. It will run you 80 plus shipping.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat602007-cat20805&id=0005579212148a&navCount=1&podId=0005579&parentId=cat20805&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IJ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20805&hasJS=true

 

[Sergeant Sabre]

You could buy the new 18.5 barrel and leave the other two alone. It will run you 80 plus shipping.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...805&hasJS=true

I have this barrel for my 500. It's awesome. Very short and very light weight.

 

[JeepGeeek]

thanks for the link guys.

I'm gonna chop this one down for HD use, but will be getting the 24" scoped combo for deer season.

The rear sight is damaged on this one anyway, so it'll be more of a point-click interface, which I believe is what you want for HD use, no?

 

[mnrivrat]

That measurement is from the breech face with the weapon empty and in battery, I take it?

That's correct - on an empty gun with the bolt closed all the way forward drop a wooden dowel or something of that nature down the muzzle end of the barrel until it hits the front face of the bolt - mark the dowel where it comes out at the muzzle and this measurment has to be a minimum of 18" to be legal - you have it right . If I remember correctly most of the Mossberg slug barrels were made 24 inchs long from the factory. If that is the case with yours you will be cutting off 5.5 " measure at least twice - cut once.

 

[JeepGeeek]

that's basically what I did.

Pulled the barrel off- measure the setback of the boltface in battery, from the front of the bare receiver. 3/4"

Installed the barrel, measured forward 18" from the front of the receiver.

Cut it with my chopsaw to get a good straight cut. Reassembled, remeasured. 18" barrel (plus the .75" setback, giving me a 18.75" barrel).

If you're looking to do this quick and easy by using my figures, folks- don't. I'm not the one that'll have the NFA violation if you screw it up. You are.

 

[JeepGeeek]

another question occurs to me:

if I get a rifled slug barrel:
1- do I have to use rifled slugs? IE: can I cast my own smoothsided slugs?
2- can I still fire buckshot in a rifled barrel? I'm thinking "no"..

 

[Sergeant Sabre]

A rifled barrel works best with sabot slugs. Rifled (also called "foster") slugs are designed to work best in smooth bore barrels. You can fire them in rifled barrels, but there is no guarantee that accuracy will be better, and barrel leading is likely to be a problem.

If you can get your slugs sized properly, I don't know why you couldn't cast your own. Again, you might experience barrel leading.

You can fire buckshot in a rifled barrel, but probably won't get a good pattern. Rifling often results in a "donut" pattern. You can probably imagine what that's shaped like.