Cut the barrel, or get a new one?

[Jenrick]

First off let me say that I don't hunt.

I picked up a Mossberg 535 Waterfowl (28" barrel) the other day from a LGS. It was a good deal, so the extra $40 that my gunsmith would charge to cut it down isn't a big deal. However I've been thinking about dabbeling in the shotgun sports, and I'm wondering if I should leave the 28" barrel intact for trap/skeet/clays and get a shorter one for HD use.

I have zero plans to ever shoot a 3.5" shell of this gun, so I have no issues going with a 18.5" barrel cut for 3" shells. Mossy 500 18" barrels are about $100 online, and Brownells even has a "high capacity kit" with a 20" barrel and an extended magazine tube for $150.

Would it be worth the extra $50-$100 to hold onto the 28" barrel?

-Jenrick

 

[Teachu2]

Yes. If you ever decide to sell it...

 

[Zoogster]

If you plan to do much recreationally with it then yes.

Every inch of barrel reduces the report significantly.
18.5" inch barrels are much louder than a 26" barrel.

A good swing on small moving targets is also harder with a short barrel. They start and stop too fast lacking momentum, and lack the long sight radius that makes it more intuitive to determine where the shot is going without aiming down the bore.

 

[Hunterdad]

I'd pick up a new barrel. They're cheap enough to justify spending the cash.

 

[jmr40]

There are lots of cheap barrels for Mossberg 500's. I'm not sure if buying another barrel is a feasable option on the 535. With some guns buying another barrel is going to cost 80% or more of the cost of a new gun. I'm just not familiar enough with the 535 to say for sure. With a 500 or Remington 870 extra barrels are abundant and cheap. Are you sure the 500 barrel will fit?

If not I'd just keep what you have, and invest in a 2nd gun with a shorter SD length barrel.

If you do decide to cut the barrel paying a gunsmith $40 is a waste of money. You can do it yourself just as well for free. It is a 5 minute job from start to finish.

 

[oneounceload]

Keep it at 28 and go enjoy the clay sports while getting the 18.5 as an extra

 

[Jenrick]

jmr40: Any Mossberg 500 component will fit a 535, however only the 535's receiver and barrels would allow the shooter to shoot 3.5" shells. So I could put a 500 barrel on it, and it would still feed and chamber a 3.5", however firing it would probably be catastrophic.

I think I'll keep the 28" barrel, and get a 20" or 18.5" 500 barrel for general SD use.

-Jenrick

 

[Hunterdad]

^^^good choice!