Another stupid newbie question about barrels...

[CoastieTech]

This is probably a very dumb question, but I have to ask. Can you shoot anything other than slugs through a slug barrel? Like if I had a rifled slug barrel could I shoot buckshot through it?

[dfariswheel]

You "could", BUT........

Rifled slug barrels are for shooting sabot type slugs ONLY.

Although you can shoot birdshot or buckshot in one, the shot is "swirled" by the rifling and when it exits the muzzle it blows out into donut shaped patterns with a big hole in the middle.

Since the pattern is so big and with such a large hole in it, hits on target are pure blind luck.

Second, the rifling leads up BADLY, and the leading is extremely difficult to remove.

For these reasons, the rifled shotgun barrel is a specialty barrel used only for sabot slugs, and nothing else.

The situation is quite different with an unrifled slug barrel.
These are smooth bore barrels with (usually) an Improved Cylinder choke.
These barrels will shoot anything from birdshot, to buckshot, to Foster type rifled slugs.

[Twycross]

Shooting buck- or birdshot through a rifled barrel will not damage anything. However, it is not recommended because the rifling will spin the shell, and result in an oversized 'donut' pattern, with a lot of shot on the outer rim of the pattern, and not much in the center. It doesn't hurt anything, it's just rather useless for anything.

Rifled slugs can be fired through a rifled barrel, but won't be particularly accurate because the rifling in the barrel and the rifling on the slug twist in opposite directions and cancel each other out.

[bowfin]

The barrel shouldn't have any lead buildup because the shot should be safely ensconced in the wad until several feet downrange. However, plastic buildup from the rough handling of the wad might result in basically the same problem.

The patterns would indeed be "blown" at longer ranges, but to be honest, it might actually help a new shooter on closeup shots inside of 20 yards, much like a spreader load would. I would take my chances with such a set up for quail or prairie chickens and sharptails on a calm day moreso than I would a full choke.

Are you planning on using this gun for hunting, and if so, what type (bird or deer?)