Can a short shotgun barrel[legal length] be threaded for screw-in chokes?

[Buckshot Bill]

Howdy all. I just got a real nice Mossberg 500 AG 12. ga. and the only bad part is someone cut the original 28" modified choke barrel down to 18 1/2". What's left of the barrel has no choke left in it, so can it be threaded for screw-in chokes or is there another way around this-outside of buying another barrel? I haven't tried to pattern the cut off barrel yet, and am wondering if any of you have come across this situation and what I could expect? Thanks for your help, Buckshot Bill

 

[sargenv]

There are three avenues.. you can get it cut for screw in chokes, but that is probably worth more than the gun is. You could also get a new barrel with the screw in chokes already installed, likely the least expensive option, or you could look for a "poly choke" and have it soldered onto the barrel. Option 2 would be the cheapest.

 

[PTK]

Yes, I've got a 12" barrel being threaded for chokes. There are a few companies that do this - prices range from $60-$200, depending on type of chokes desired.

 

[Ricky B]

I would opt for a new barrel and that gives you both a short barrel for HD and a longer barrel for sporting use.

 

[mnrivrat]

In my area the cost is about $100 for threading the barrel to receive screw in chokes.

My 19" barrel on my 20ga. Savage M24 is set up for internal screw in chokes. There is likely no reason why it can't be done on your gun.

 

[rcmodel]

Best deal & fastest service I know of. They usually have about a three day turn around.

http://www.choketube.com/instal.html

rc

 

[Hungry Seagull]

Get a new barrel and be done with it.

If you have a barrel that was yea long cut down to yea short and you thread a choke onto it there... the barrel may not be able to withstand the pressure at the yea short cutoff point.

 

[rcmodel]

He's talking about a Mossberg 500 here.

A cut-off mossy 500 barrel has enough wall thickness to put two screw-in chokes in it!!

If it was an older Browning A-5 or Model 12 Winchester, that is a valid point.
But not a Mossy 500 barrel.

rc

 

[Buckshot Bill]

Thanks, everyone for the quick and varied replies. I hadn't checked into what it would cost to thread a barrel for screw-in chokes, but I was kind of expecting that it wouldn't be cost effective to do that. I think the best route at this point would be a new barrel and be done with it. Mossberg 500 barrels are relatively inexpensive so I guess the search is on!

Does anyone have a good source or two to look for Mossberg barrels?

Thanks again for all your help. You guys are the best!
Buckshot Bill

 

[RetiredLawman]

Here is a good price list:

http://users.dls.net/~rdouglas/MikeOrlen.pdf

 

[oneounceload]

If you have a barrel that was yea long cut down to yea short and you thread a choke onto it there... the barrel may not be able to withstand the pressure at the yea short cutoff point.

HUH?...If the barrel is of legal, non-NFA length, this has no bearing on the original question

 

[scythefwd]

find a good machine shop. They really can center and tap your barrel pretty cheap. I wouldn't expect it to clear 70 dollars to get it threaded to match a choke thread. Heck, most community colleges with a traditional machining course would even do it (even cooler if they use a good cnc mill to do it ).

 

[kirklandkie]

Buckshot, sorry i may be missing something but what would stop you from just buying a tap set and tapping the new threads yourself? it's exceptionally easy

-kirk

 

[Bud Tugly]

It's pretty critical that the threads be cut exactly in line with the barrel. If they're off-center even just a little then the choke tube won't be quite lined up straight with the bore and the gun won't shoot to point of aim.

The gun as is would probably work OK for a heavy brush gun where shots are mostly very short and probably be fine for buckshot and slugs. The only way to be sure is to go shoot it at some pattern boards and find out.

For hunting more open terrain, waterfowl, clay games, etc. I'd just pick up a second barrel that's already threaded.

 

[RetiredLawman]

Did anyone check out the price list that I posted?

http://users.dls.net/~rdouglas/MikeOrlen.pdf

I found it on shotgunworld. SGW members get the discount price. BTW, SGW membership is free. If I read the price list correctly, it costs $55 per barrel to have them threaded. If you are a member of SGW, it is much less.

I have read good things about Mike.