Any reason not to?

[Warners]

I'm wanting to get a Mossberg 500 or 535 combo pump shotgun with a full length barrel and also a rifled slug barrel. I've narrowed it down to 2 different choices (links below). My question is, Is there any reason NOT to get the option with the 3 1/2" chamber, which would allow me to shoot all shells, including the 3 1/2" shells, if I ever wanted to? Besides the trivial $7 price difference, is there any potential DISADVANTAGE to the one with the larger chamber?

Let me know your thought and thanks,

Warner


http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/336/products_id/14657


http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/336/products_id/46905

 

[RaceM]

Many will tell you that 3 1/2" shells are not needed because 2 3/4 or threes will get the job done. I happen to like having the ability to lob up to 2 1/4 oz. of lead downrange at one go. Before you go that route, see if the barrel chambered for 3 1/2" is over-bored or not. If it is, then firing Foster type slugs through it is not recommended (and it will say so on the barrel). Other than heavy recoil with the 3 1/2" dinosaur killing loads there's no issue.

 

[Warners]

Many will tell you that 3 1/2" shells are not needed because 2 3/4 or threes will get the job done. I happen to like having the ability to lob up to 2 1/4 oz. of lead downrange at one go. Before you go that route, see if the barrel chambered for 3 1/2" is over-bored or not. If it is, then firing Foster type slugs through it is not recommended (and it will say so on the barrel). Other than heavy recoil with the 3 1/2" dinosaur killing loads there's no issue.

RaceM, thanks for the response. The smoothbore barrel on that combo is NOT over-bored. However, it DOES come with a rifled slug barrel, so the likelihood of shooting slugs down the smooth barrel would be just about zero anyway. I have shot 2 3/4" 1 ounce slugs before from a 870 Wingmaster, and shooting even those from a bench rest was NOT fun! I can't even imagine what the 3 1/2" ones would feel like. But like you, if there's no DISadvantage to the larger chamber (difficulty cycling smaller shells, etc), then I see no reason not to spend the whopping $7 extra to have that capability.

Thanks again,

Warner

 

[RaceM]

There *is* one little niggle. If you run a lot of 2 3/4" through that long chamber it'll leave crud in the throat, plastic residue, that'll need cleaned out before running the 3 1/2"ers or they may not chamber. That's not to say you can't shoot both types in the same session, just be aware of the potential issue.

 

[Warners]

There *is* one little niggle. If you run a lot of 2 3/4" through that long chamber it'll leave crud in the throat, plastic residue, that'll need cleaned out before running the 3 1/2"ers or they may not chamber. That's not to say you can't shoot both types in the same session, just be aware of the potential issue.

Good to know....thanks for the additional info...

Warner

 

[Rshooter]

IMHO, unless you are hunting migratory waterfowl or turkeys you gain nothing from the 3 1/2 inch shells other than a sore shoulder. I have a three inch chamber in my shotgun and shoot nothing other than 2 3/4 after a range day that included fifty 3 inch shells. One reason to stick with the shorter shells is you are able to follow up much quicker.

Nice choice on a shotgun and good luck.

 

[Lord Palmerston]

Unless you shoot only sabot slugs, you WILL shoot slugs through the smoothbore barrel. Remember that the rifled barrel is intended to shoot sabot slugs only, whereas ordinary, non sabot rifled slugs should be shot through the smoothbore barrel using a wide choke.

 

[bejay]

Unless you shoot only sabot slugs, you WILL shoot slugs through the smoothbore barrel. Remember that the rifled barrel is intended to shoot sabot slugs only, whereas ordinary, non sabot rifled slugs should be shot through the smoothbore barrel using a wide choke.

While most non saboted slugs are rifled and made to shoot from smoothbores there is some that is designed for rifled barrels or even both just a few examples.

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/rem...ug-designed-rifled-barrels5-rdbx-p-73465.html
http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/bre...-rifled-smooth-bore-barrels-rdbx-p-91132.html
http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/win...-rdbx-smoothbore-rifled-barrels-p-102212.html
in terms of slugs you may have to try a few different brands to see what works best in your gun and you really are not gaining much with the 3 inch slugs about the same speed and weight.
the 3.5 inch chamber is really only going to be usefull option for waterfowl or turkey.