[ODB]

I am looking to fix up a HD shottie from what I have in the cabinet. I have 1100's, Auto 5's, Model 12 and Franchi's I am gonna work with. I don't want to chop off a good barrel so I am looking for a spare barrel. Some are harder to find than others. Question - I have found a good deal on a Auto 5 rifled slug barrel. What would be the effect of the rifling on a buckshot load? Would it just totally distort the pattern or what? Thanks for your input!

[spyderdude]

You could shoot buckshot out of a rifled barrel, but the rifling would scatter the shot a lot quicker than a smooth bore would. Rifled barrels are best for shotguns that are used as slug guns only, at least that is my understanding of it. I would just get an 18" smooth barrel and put it on the 1100 if they're available.

[lipadj46]

Would it just totally distort the pattern or what?

Yes it will spread the shot into a donut pattern. I have a Savage A5 clone with the smoothbore barrel chopped of to 22" (bought it that way). I keep it in my closet for HD, it stone cold reliable and has no sentimental value to me so if it sits in a police evidence room for a year, whatever. I'd be willing to sell it if you really want it, got a near complete set of backups parts for it too.

[mgkdrgn]

It will affect the pattern, but at HD distances the BG isn't going to notice one little bit. :evil:

[Fred Fuller]

If you can guarantee that all your gunfights will be at across-the-room ranges, it won't matter. Personally I want a shotgun that will pattern buckshot usefully at 25 yards (inside 12" at 25 yards meets my definition of useful patterns) and shoot slugs well out to 100 or so, in case i have to take it outside.

OPMMV of course.

lpl

[Titan6]

If you can guarantee that all your gunfights will be at across-the-room ranges, it won't matter.

I am not so sure Lee. I have rifled barrels that open to huge ineffective patterns at '15.

[ocharry]

i have remington smooth bore slug barrels with rifle sights on both my 870 and my 1100

they both seem to get the job done nicely

ocharry

[blutarsky]

...What would be the effect of the rifling on a buckshot load? Would it just totally distort the pattern or what? Thanks for your input
ask and ye shall receive...

The Box O' Truth #43 - Buckshot in a Rifled Shotgun Barrel:

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot43.htm

short answer, one load that was 4" at 5yds through smooth bore went to 18" at same range through rifled barrel (bottom of page one has picture that shows classic "donut" pattern) -- and that's only 15 feet!

[txgolfer45]

I ordered an 870 Express 18 inch barrel from Cabelas. It should be in next week. $119 less $20 coupon was a pretty good deal.

[Titan6]

The big deal with such a large pattern, say at 20 feet would be that you would hit things you did not want to, even if you hit your target.