Barrel Work: When to do what?

[Taurus44]

I am in the process of building my first SBS "tactical" shotgun. Before I'm finished, I will have the entire gun (receiver, barrel, etc) refinished (leaning towards parkerizing at the moment), but I want to do some barrel work as well. I'm just not sure what should be done before finishing and what should wait until after.

On the list of things that will be done to the barrel are shortening the overall length (obviously), and lengthening the forcing cone. I'm pretty anal about these things, so I'm sure I will have the forcing cone and bore honed as well.

I'm also thinking about having it ported while I'm at it, but that is subject to change.

Now, I know that I will shorten the barrel and, if I decide to do it, get the porting done prior to refinishing, but should I do the forcing cone and/or honing before or after?

On the subject of barrel porting... I've been reading-up on the Vang Comp system, but his prices are a little rich for my wallet. One thing that really interested me, though, was his comment that his porting actually reduces muzzle flash. That is completely to the contrary of my own experience shooting ported guns. Granted, my experience is limited to ported handguns (hand cannons more like), but is the reduced muzzle flash specific only to his (Vang's) porting system, or are all ported shotguns that way?

 

[qbpc]

After why do it twice.
BB

 

[Taurus44]

I guess I was just wondering if the texture of the finish might negate the effects of having the bore honed/polished. Maybe I'm putting too much thought into it, though. I've been known to do that.

 

[qbpc]

Ask the GS doing the work. You might want to port shorten and other things. Then finish after that hone.
BB

 

[Dave McCracken]

Hans and his elves do good work, but porting ranks very low on my to do list.

As far as I can see, it just makes things louder.

If I was setting up a Practical shotgun, I'd have the cone done.

I'd have a short barrel, maybe overbored a mite, on it.

I'd have the trigger tweaked, and mount sights that I could see 24/7 and could zero with slugs.

I'd have the stock fitted to me over whatever vest I used and a top pad installed.

A sling, and lots of ammo complete the picture.

It might not win admiring glances down at the 3 gun arena, but it definitely could save my life under any conditions imaginable.

Actually, I did this, twice. I doubt porting would increase my life expectancy....

 

[czbegenner]

Ok guys,i just decided to cut my barrel of my Rem870express supermag down
around 20 right now its 25 or 26 since i will never go bird hunting i will make this a tacital shotgun.Just ordered the 8 shot exten,I call rem to look for a barrel first she told me that a different barrel would not fit.But i think she is talking about using 3"slugs but that's ok 2" are just find for what i will be using.SO before i cut the barrel i want to ask you guys about this matter,Will
any rem barrel work,as long as it's 12 gauge,

 

[Dave McCracken]

A standard barrel will fit, one just loses the 3.5" capability. Small loss.

In your shoes, I'd buy the smoothbore 20" barrel with open sights. Great practical barrel and venison acquisition tool.

Save your longer barrel for waterfowl and clays.

Also, most of us that use extensions use those that add either 2 or 3 shots. The bigger ones get mighty muzzle heavy mighty fast.....