Certainly everyone agree that for hd, the 18.5 is up to the task. From what I've read here, the 18.5 would be suitable for hunting deer using rifled slugs out to 50 yards. But would anyone recommend small game hunting with an 18.5? I've got a Winchester 1200. Is there a choke I can get to fit onto the end of the barrel to get the pattern tighter?
Can a 18.5in smoothbore barrel be an all purpose barrel?
- Thread starter aquapong
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When I purchased my Moss 500 it had a 26â€open cylinder rifle sighted barrel. I purchased a used 18.5â€bbl for it and now it’s my HD gun. Since I had no need for a rifle sighted bbl, (have a 30.06 for deer hunting) I took the 26â€bbl to my gunsmith and was going to have him tap it and turn it into a variable choke bbl that I could use for Turkey hunting. However once at the shop I noticed he had a good used dial a choke bbl that fit the moss and so I traded him the 26†bbl and $15 bucks for the choked bbl. This cost me much less than what it would have cost to have the 26†reworked.
Perhaps you could find a used bbl that will accept chokes and simply switch bbls when small game or turkey season comes along.
Perhaps you could find a used bbl that will accept chokes and simply switch bbls when small game or turkey season comes along.
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
No choke works out to say 25 yards with better ammo. Beyond that it gets chancy and no ethical hunter takes chancy shots.
A decent smith can set up your barrel for tubes, but it'll cost about the same for a used 1200 barrel.
And while choke tubes are a good idea, plenty of fine shooting and meat making has been done with fixed chokes. Out of 8 870 barrels here,half have tubes. The fixed ones get plenty of work too.
A decent smith can set up your barrel for tubes, but it'll cost about the same for a used 1200 barrel.
And while choke tubes are a good idea, plenty of fine shooting and meat making has been done with fixed chokes. Out of 8 870 barrels here,half have tubes. The fixed ones get plenty of work too.
plateshooter
Member
I have a Defender that came with a 26" cyl bore barrel. I had it cut down and threaded for Rem Chokes (since I have a few Remingtons and their tubes) . It cost me 100 bucks to have it done, but now it's good for everything I do with a shotgun. I use it for IDPA and have used it for sporting clays with pretty good results. Makes a good rabbit gun too.
Have not hunted with the 18" Defender, but have shot a lot of clays with it. I think it would be great for Dove or other upland at closer range.
I even asked about the price of getting the short barrel threaded for choke tubes. I remember about $50 or so...plus tubes....
But then I got a SXS I really like, so I always use that for hunting.
But I think a short barrel smoothbore with choke tubes would be a pretty versatile hunting tool. Sorta like a smoothbore Guide Gun.
I even asked about the price of getting the short barrel threaded for choke tubes. I remember about $50 or so...plus tubes....
But then I got a SXS I really like, so I always use that for hunting.
But I think a short barrel smoothbore with choke tubes would be a pretty versatile hunting tool. Sorta like a smoothbore Guide Gun.
Mike Irwin
Member
My only concern with an 18" barrel is they uniformly swing like poop on passing shots.
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