[.357MagTaurus]

Hello All!!! I am new to this site. I am considering bidding on the above mentioned shotgun on an online Gun Auction. It is a 12 gauge with a 28" barrel that states it is a modified choke. Can anyone explain this barrel and what it can be used for? There is no screw on choke, I might add. Thanks much.

[Jorg]

An 870 with a 28" barrel with a modified choke is a pretty good all around shotgun. I used one for about 20 years for everything from doves to pheasants to casual clays out in the desert.

Modified is just one of the standard choke "sizes". It's in the middle, more or less. Not as much constriction as a full choke, but less than an cylinder. I consider it good compromise if you are going to have a fixed choke for wingshooting.

[.357MagTaurus]

Thanks, JORGThat told me everything I need to know. I guess what I am really looking for is a shotgun that will double as an occasional Deer gun and also for Home defense.

[logical]

Neither deer nor home invaders have wings. I'd keep looking for one with either an 18.5 inch smooth barrel for HD or a 20 inch rifled barrel for deer and then buy the other barrel to swap between uses. Some do shoot deer slugs with a smooth barrel so you can find wingmasters with 20 inch smooth barrels and screw-in chokes...that would work too.

[JohnBT]

A 28" barrel with a MOD choke will work for everything. Sounds like a nice gun.

Okay, if you want to shoot birds up close, say 15 or 20 yards, you might be better off with a looser Improved Cylinder choke, but a MOD will work and you can always let the bird fly 5 yards more before shooting.That will let the pellets spread out a little more.

JT

[gp911]

That is a great all around shotgun that can be used for almost anything. You can get a rifled slug barrel later if you want it, but I'd probably just try several traditional slugs first and see how they group out of that barrel. Lots of food has been brought to the table via guns exactly like that one.

gp911