Chopped 20 gauge for squirrel?

[Panzerschwein]

Hello all! I've got a 20 gauge H&R Pardner single shot shotgun coming in the mail to my local LGS. It's a NIB gun, and comes with a 26" barrel:



When I get the gun, I am going to have the barrel cut to 18.5" and a new bead installed. I've got a 12 gauge Pardner single shot I had done up like this, and boy is it ever a sweet package. I always wanted a 20 gauge version in the same length, due to the heavy recoil from the 12 gauge I have.

I'm buying this as an all-purpose shotgun, it will serve as a bedside gun and as a range/woods blaster/plinker for the most part. But, I'm going to take up squirrel hunting this autumn and this shotgun will be my squirrel hunting gun. I am wondering though, will cutting it back to 18.5" make the shot spread to much for squirrel hunting?

I think the 18.5" barrel would be great for maneuvering in the thick brush around my area, but I'm worried it will affect the shot string in a negative way. I'm also worried that the shortened sight radius will reduce accuracy. I'd really like to eat some fried squirrel this year!!

So, what do you guys think? Will I still be able to successfully use this gun to harvest squirrel if I have it cut down? Should I just not do this?

Let me know guys, I'll have the gun in a few days and I need to know what to do. Thanks so much!

 

[ironworkerwill]

I wouldn't, but its your duck. I just un-rusted and rusolium-ed that exact same make and gauge. The owner says it shoots really high after the barrel was cut off.

I recommended using the hood ornament from a Lincoln Continental instead of a front bead.

 

[rcmodel]

I am wondering though, will cutting it back to 18.5" make the shot spread to much for squirrel hunting?

Yes it will if your trees are tall.

If you want to cut it, send it to Carlson's and have them cut it and install choke tubes.

http://www.choketube.com/choke-tube-installation.php

Then you will have the best of both worlds.

rc

 

[jmr40]

One of the advantages of a double or single shot break action is shorter overall length. It will be about the same overall length as a pump or semi with a 22" barrel. Already pretty short and handy.

For squirrel hunting I'd not want to give up the choke. Having it cut and fitted for choke tubes is certainly one option I'd consider if I just had to have it that short. But I bet it would cost more to have the work done and buy a set of tubes than the gun cost.

 

[Pete D.]

No.

Don't cut it. What would be the point? Seven and a half inches of barrel....are you gonna have a better firearm when done? Nah.
What will you have gained? Slightly more manuverable (maybe) in a house.....how often do you expect to use it that way?
You lose the choke. You lose the bead. (expensive to reinstall either bead or choke) You compromise its outdoor use (swing, perhaps pattern, Balance) How often will you use it to hunt? To shoot some clays? More often than in the house?

Pete

 

[Hookeye]

I wouldn't run an open choke for squirrel.
But the gun in question is a recent production H&R.
Heck, even chopping an old one.............it's still an H&R (even if folks have them priced higher than they used to be).

 

[336A]

I used the exact same shotgun but with modified choke all season last year. I wouldn't cut it back if it were mine because your losing the choke. This is important during the early part of squirrel season when they like to go high up in the oak trees. And yes usually if you have the barrel cut back it generally raises the POI. The Pardner with Slugs that it likes is a real deer hammer too, drops em' like a boat anchor.

 

[ironworkerwill]

And yes usually if you have the barrel cut back it generally raises the POI.

I've never heard of that till recently. I couldn't confirm it by any means other than hearsay. I've also never cut a shotgun down to notice before and after POI.

If it could be re-threaded for choke tubes I suppose that would work. I would still be worried about POI because I'm just weird like that.

 

[cc-hangfire]

Last year I saw a demonstration of your question at my dad's house. He used a 12ga pump HD shotgun to try and shoot a pesky squirrel in an oak tree. He and my nephew emptied the shotgun a couple of times with no effect - my brother rounded up a normal hunting shotgun, Remington auto if I remember correctly, and got squirrel on the first shot.

The short barrel open cylinder choke won't reach out far enough for hunting.

 

[TimSr]

Not sure the purpose for cutting it down because basically you are just cutting the choked portion of the barrel off. Squirrel are tough enough with a full choked in 20 guage. It would pretty much be useless for any hunting except maybe rabbits, or shooting foster slugs. What is the purpose in shortening it?

 

[Panzerschwein]

Not sure the purpose for cutting it down because basically you are just cutting the choked portion of the barrel off. Squirrel are tough enough with a full choked in 20 guage. It would pretty much be useless for any hunting except maybe rabbits, or shooting foster slugs. What is the purpose in shortening it?

They are just so awesomely cool when cut down. Extremely handy. Here is my 12 gauge pardner:



So nice to use. It's always been my dream to have one just like this but in 20 gauge for reduced recoil, as this 12 gauge kicks quite badly. I use these single shots as "all rounders", that will include as a home defense weapon and boy are these short and handy for the purpose.

But, I've also been wanting to hunt squirrel (and to EAT squirrel) for several years now, and for one reason or t'other haven't gotten around to it. This year though, that's going to change and I'm already getting ready but I haven't got a squirrel gun. I've got a couple 12 gauges, a .308 semi-auto, and various handguns but I've always heard and read a 20 gauge is the proper gauge for bushies.

Decisions decisions!!

 

[Pete D.]

Kewl

awesomely cool when cut down.

I wonder what that means for you. Beauty is in the eye of...and all the rest.
It looks like a butchered gun to someone else.
I have cut down two guns in my life....both times, after a while, I wished that I had not done it. Hence, my advice not to.
Pete

 

[T.R.]

When I was a young teen, I hunted with a cut down Savage single barrel in 20 gauge. Barrel was 20 inches and it shot wide patterns which were great for running rabbits. I used low base #6 for everything. Sitting squirrels present a much smaller target and I feel that a modified or full choke is best for these animals.

TR

 

[TimSr]

I guess you'll have to choose whether to look cool shooting at squirrels that are laughing at you, or look like a dork actually taking squirrels. You can't have both.

For what you would spend on two single shots, and having them cut down, you could probably have bought a pump with a cool defnder barrel AND a choke changeable hunting barrel.

 

[Choctaw]

I'm with everyone else, I just wouldn't do it. I'm still kicking myself over a shotgun I had cut down and that was 28 years ago. However, if you want to do it, that is all that matters.

 

[Davek1977]

A hunting shotgun with NO choke? Utterly and completely useless for most purposes. I couldn't fathom a reason to chop the barrel unless it was going to be used EXCLUSIVELY as a home defense weapon. As a hunting or "all-around" gun its next to worthless IMO

 

[jaguarxk120]

When I see those short barreled gun at the gun show, I just keep on walking. Won't waste my time on them, utterly useless.

 

[Blue68f100]

The only way I would even consider it would be to have the choke tubes installed. Then you have control over the pattern. Other wise it will be useless for hunting.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Well guys, I picked up the gun today:



I really like it! It's marked "modified", will that be enough for squirrels in eastern Kansas?

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Modified choke should work just fine for the squirrels around these parts.

 

[WestKentucky]

Best bang for the buck in your price range is a youth 20ga pardner pump and a slip-on recoil pad...but the gun is already on its way, so if you absolutely must cut the barrel back then consider reinstalling a choke, and definately consider putting weight in the forearm. Even the 20 ga singles can be pretty snappy, especially when put on a weight loss program. I have bought a bunch of junk over the years just as a cool toy to play with and do stuff to. Every shotgun I have chopped down has been nearly worthless (more so than before) when completed. I would recommend against it, because as others mentioned you lose choke, sights, and a huge reduction on effective range. Bushy tails are not tough but they are small, and small shot works well, but with huge open patterns at more than 50 ft your 50-50 at best.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Great guys!

I put one box of ammo through the gun, 25 rounds of Federal #8 birdshot. The gun shoots so well! The action is tight and locks up perfectly, but is not stiff. The trigger is nice, light and crisp. Recoil seems less than my 12 gauge cut down one. So far I am LOVING this shotgun... I don't really care for the laminated wood look, but that really means nothing. I love how light this gun is, and it's really handy and well balanced, and feels shorter than I thought it would.

Yep, for now, this gun won't get cut. So, in general, how would you all rate a single shot 20 gauge with fixed modified choke for a squirrel getter? I've always heard 20 gauge is a good squirrel cartridge. I just want to be sure when I hit the field later this year, I'll have the right tools as I've never done this before.

Thanks everyone!!

 

[Zippidydudah]

I would pattern the gun at 20, 25, and 30 yards on brown Kraft paper or cardboard to see how the actual pattern is at those distances. Every gun is a little different as are the loads . Once you know how it patterns you can determine usable range on the bushytails. Good hunting.

 

[rcmodel]

Yep, for now, this gun won't get cut. So, in general, how would you all rate a single shot 20 gauge with fixed modified choke for a squirrel getter?

Possibly as good as you could get.

Unless your trees are 150' tall.
Then a full choke would be better.

At any rate, your Modified un-cut barrel is going to prove to be 100% better then a sawed-off 18" with no choke.

rc

 

[jlr1962]

I miss the squirrel dinners at my grandparents. I have the .410 that grandpa used most of the time. He had a term for people that used a 12 or 20 gauge for squirrel. He used the term regularly on my cousin and uncle.