Choke question before I buy a barrel

[bigalexe]

I am looking at getting a shorter barrel for my Mossberg 500A with the regular 5+1 Capacity. I currently have a 28" and am unhappy with it due to physical difficulties with handling it in the field.

I would like someone to simply look at the following barrels and make sure they will in fact accept regular Mossberg Screw-in type chokes, also i would like to make sure the barrel with rifle sights is in fact smoothbore and not rifled. All the barrels are im linking are listed on MidwayUSA so im not linking you to a random bubba-site full of viruses.

24" Barrel
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=155347

20" Barrel
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduc...ogle&utm_medium=free&utm_campaign=649#enlarge

24" Barrel With Rifle Sights.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=819612

18.5" Security, I'm not thinking of purchasing this barrel for field use but will still like to know.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=748383

 

[natman]

The only barrel listed that would be suitable for field wingshooting would be the 24" rib. The 20" is intended for turkey hunting, the riflesighted barrel is for slugs and the 18" for HD.

The 28" may be a bit long, but you don't want to go any shorter than 24" for wingshooting.

 

[hub]

Hey Bigalexe, I seen one of your posts before and you said you had a hard time shooting you mossberg while standing so I'm assuming weight is the reason your looking into a shorter barrel. That makes pretty good sense to me cutting eight or so inches off the end should make it feel a great deal lighter.

As for your questions about the barrels. Of the four you listed Midway links for, the first two the 24in and 20in vent ribs will accept choke tubes, and the 24in with rifle sights is listed as a fixed Cyl bore so no it will not. The 18.5 is also a fixed Cyl bore and will not accept chokes either.

Here is a link for Mossbergs barrel page it shows all barrels available and basic info. All barrels listed accu-set will accept accu-choke choke tubes and comes with one each of IC, Mod, Full choke tubes hense the name accu-set.
http://www.mossberg.com/products/access.asp?type=barrels&section=access

If you didn't know several brands of chokes are interchangable for the 500. Mossberg's accu-chokes of course, but also Browning Invector, Winchester Winchoke, and Weatherby. Here is a good link for choke interchange in case you go shopping for them.
http://www.choketube.com/guide.html

It didn't however list barrel weights and that would be my biggest concern to see if it would be worth it. I bet if you called their customer service they could probably help you out with that.

 

[oneounceload]

Lopping 4-6" off the barrel will save approximately 4-6 oz. as a ballpark rule of thumb. You WILL give up more smoothness to your swing and will have to focus harder to keep from stopping your swing with a shorter barrel

 

[bigalexe]

Alright thanks for the answers. Hub hit it with explaining about the accu-set. I pretty much just wanted to make sure whether or not I could use the 3 chokes I already have in the new barrels (IC, Mod., and Full). I know 20" is a bit short for hunting but maybe I can try it out.

When I talk about field hunting here I'm referring to laying in a blind calling in goose or duck, not walking a crop flushing for pheasant. I'd just like something to swing a little faster than that darn 28".

 

[The Deer Hunter]

If you choke it properly 20", in my opinion, isn't too short if your hunting for pheasant or other small birds.

My 870 has a 20" rifle sighted barrel for when I'm in the woods. It's a cylinder bore but the partridges we brush up every once in a while are usually pretty close. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot one with it.

When you go to order the barrel, call Midway and ask them as you place the order. They generally know, and if they send you the wrong barrel you can always have them send you a replacement.

 

[hub]

I'm glad I could help bigalexe. As for being able to use your chokes, yes you can which you already know now but from the discription in the links the new barrels will come with three new chokes too.

Are you going to keep the 28in? I think the 20in will do you just fine for hunting purposes if it helps you swing faster because of less weight.


Oneonceload is right about the smoothness of a longer barrel but if it's too heavy to swing then you may be better off using a shorter one.

You may want to borrow a friend's, or go to a shop and see how one feels before you buy one because if you get one from Midway and shoot it, or even put it on your shotgun they will not take it back. Good luck.

 

[bigalexe]

The 28" Barrel is going to stay with me and get its duties reduced to clay games only once in a while. If I do get rid of it I'm giving it to someone in return for a debt not owed (they did some work for me and didn't charge me).

If I can purchase the new barrels without new chokes that would be fine, although I cant find my damn choke wrench so I may need one of them .

 

[oneounceload]

I'd just like something to swing a little faster than that darn 28".

The issue then becomes this: The shorter barrel STARTS faster, but it also tends to make you STOP more abruptly, resulting in a miss behind. When you get your new barrel, go to your local skeet field and shoot the crossers to make sure you don't stop your barrel too soon.