New to Shotguns, Before I Buy My First

[HAZMATT]

I will likely be buying my first shotgun in the coming weeks. I will likely buy a 12g pump with a 20" barrel and full length tube magazine. I have not decided on what brand of shotty I will buy yet. But, it would be used for home defense and target plinking fun, if you can consider shooting a 12g plinking

I have done enough research to know that rifled slugs can be shot through a improved cylinder bore. However, here are a few questions...

1. In IC shotguns, that do not use different chokes, does the bore gradually decrease in size, or does it only decrease toward the end of the barrel?

2. Does it make a difference whether the change in bore is gradual or only toward the end of the barrel?

3. If I decide to buy a shotgun that has a full bore, and uses replaceable chokes, can I still shoot slugs through a IC choke?


Maybe I am just over thinking this, but I am a newbie and I would rather be informed than remain in the dark.

 

[Centurian22]

I'm no expert, but I did quite a bit of research into 12ga pumps last year before hunting with one. To the best of my knowledge all chokes are tapered Relatively near the end of the barrel (this is partially based on reading of people who have cut off several inches of a 24" or longer barrel in order to remove the choke to be able to shoot slugs). That being said, a NON interchangeable choke (IC in your mentioned case) could be tapered for a longer length back from the muzzle than an interchangeable. Put another way, interchangeable chokes are Cylender Bore (or full sized) from the chamber (or forcing cone of the chamber if you want to be technical) all the way down to where the interchangeable choke begins. At that point the type of choke, cylinder bore, improved cyl, modified, full, ex full, ect, tapers down until the muzzle.

I don't know how much difference the degree or length of taper would make in the pattern of the shot so I will leave that question for another to answer.

Theoretically you should be able to fire slugs through a full choke gun with replaceable chokes once you purchase and replace the choke with an IC. However, to the best of my limited knowledge (and I'm sure I will be corrected if wrong) there would be little to no point. You would be much better off just buying a cyl bore (againg full diameter sized) choke for shooting slugs for both safety (I know they say it's ok to shoot through IC but I just don't like to take any chances) and for accuracy. I have read that slug accuracy can be adversely affected when shot through a choke as compared to cyl bore.

My other reccomendation would be to look at either a Mossberg 500 ($300-$500 depending on model length and features) or a Mosberg Maverick 88 ($190-$250 depending). The Mav 88 can accept most Mosberg 500 interchangeable parts including barrels. At that price point you could own a barrel with interchangeable chokes (accu-choke system if I remember correctly) for all buckshot and bird shot shooting and have a rifled slug barrel Which can be scoped, that when used with 'sabot' slugs can be accurate to 100-200 yards!

Sorry for the long post but I hope this helps, good luck with your purchase.

 

[rcmodel]

The choke is a reduction in the last 1" - 2" of the muzzle of the barrel.

If the barrel were only tapered from one end to the other, the choke would not work.

It's kind of hard to explain, but imagine the shot column going through the bore until it comes to the choke.
At that point, it has to suddenly squeeze down, and the timing is such it doesn't have time to rebound the other way and spread out when it comes out of the muzzle.
Think garden hose, as opposed to garden hose nozzle.

You can shoot slugs through any degree of choke.

Best accuracy is usually found with more open Cyl, Imp Cyl, or perhaps Mod chokes.

rc

 

[BADUNAME37]

If the gun you want is a Mossberg, make sure you have the proper length barrel so as to enable replacement if you want to change barrels, to, say, a fully rifled slug barrel with sights (suitable for saboted slugs).

Having such an option may mean you really want the magazine tube to be a bit shorter. Otherwise, the slug barrel (or any other, for that matter) will not be interchangeable without having to also take off the magazine tube which only lasts for several removal-replacements as the threads from the magazine tube into the receiver are on the rough side.

I say this from experience.
I could not just change out my long-magazine barrel without changing out the magazine tube as well. You want to try to avoid that, if using other barrels is what you may be doing down the road!

 

[IMTHDUKE]

From Mossberg

Anatomy of a Shotgun

A choke is to a shotgun, like a nozzle is to a water hose.

http://www.mossberg.com/content.asp?id=493&section=resources

 

[HAZMATT]

Thank you very much Centurian22. that is not a long post in my opinion, just very informative.

The more I read, the more I am thinking about sticking with a cylinder bore for home defense and plinking fun.

I am considering the Mossberg Maverick 88. Being able to use 500 barrels is a bonus. If I decide to go shoot some clays with a friend, I could change to a longer barrel and tighter choke.

This raises another question. Can you attach a longer barrel to a Maverick 88, with the longer magazine tube, like the one that comes with the 20"?


Edit:
I guess Friendly answered my question while I was typing it...stop reading my mind, you may not like everything you see in there

 

[BADUNAME37]

Sorry, I only brought it up as it was a BIG issue for me, one that cost me $$$ to make easy to change between barrels, without having to change the magazine tube and innards. I can literally swap from my short barrel smoothbore to my fully-rifled Williams Fire-Sighted barrel in about 30 seconds! Of course, with the fully rifled barrel, I shoot saboted slugs.

Oh, this is for a Mossberg 500 12 Gauge.

As for your mind?

 

[HAZMATT]

Thank you for the info Friendly. There is a used 18.5" Maverick 88 for sale locally. The more I think about this decision, the more I like the idea of being able to change out the barrel.

Now, get out of there. Those are my private thoughts...LOL

 

[BADUNAME37]

Me-GONE!

LOL

 

[Centurian22]

Friendly, thank you very much for adding that fact, I had forgotten about the different tube sizes on the Mav 88, as I never actually got around to purchasing one last year after my many countless hours of research. I was fortunately given an Ithaca 37 12ga pump (4 shot tube) deerslayer meant for slugs and used that. Federal 1oz truball rifles slugs shoot great out of it (non rifled cyl bore barrel). Unfortuneatly anything that isn't a slug gets scattered all over the place, smaller the shot larger the spread. But still an awesome gun that's 10 years older than I am and shoots great, if you ever happen upon a good used deal on one I wouldn't hesitate to pick it up. Bottom load and bottom eject, nice feature.

 

[HAZMATT]

Centurian22, I have seen some info on the Ithaca 37. I like the sounds of them. If I find one at a good price, I may just have to jump on it.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Ithaca 37s are classics, well designed and made. After the 870, it's my favorite pump.

 

[mastercrasher]

I only have 2-1/2 shotguns. A Beretta Silver Hawk 12ga, A Saiga 12 modified per 922r and a Taurus Judge (that's the 1/2 and the bedroom gun. Every other round PDX1 (3) and .45 (2). If things get serious for the 12's I have Centurion, and Macho Goucho. The rest of the collection is target and big game. I added a Poly-Choke II to the Saiga and it takes longer to clean it than it does the gun.

 

[HAZMATT]

I will probably end up with 2 shotguns. A 20" with the full length mag tube for home defense, and another for clays.

 

[Centurian22]

When I looked at the Mav 88's that became my plan as well the new barrels were 1/2 - 3/4 the cost of a whole new gun so rather than allways having to switch back and forth it makes sense to have a dedicated HD gun and one for hunting.

 

[Kiln]

The Maverick 88 shotgun is one of the few real value buys left in the firearms world.

Don't let the somewhat gritty pump action turn you off as it will smooth out after a short time of use. Or you can do like I did and work the action about 100 times, this will make it much better.

I have had a Mossberg 500 and like the 88 better. Why? Price is great on the 88 and delivers the same performance.

 

[HAZMATT]

I am liking what I see from the Maverick 88. Now, if only I could find a 20" in my area.

 

[Centurian22]

My LGS (local gun store) was helpful and willing to order one in whatever configuration I wanted. They can also be found online at Cheaperthandirt or other such stores for a very good price and shipped to an FFL.

 

[Kiln]

Mine is the 26" (I think that is the length) ribbed barrel and accuracy is nothing to laugh at. I'd actually buy another Mav 88 in a heartbeat if they ever had shorter barrel configurations locally...every time they get one in it gets bought though. The way I see it is, the average cost of a shorter barrel for the 88 is almost as much as buying a new one with the barrel already in place.

In short, the Maverick 88 is good enough that I'd buy another one just because of the shorter barrel length over buying just a barrel for it. They're good guns with a fair price and will go many thousands of rounds problem free.

 

[snooperman]

Take your time , but do look at some good used Ithaca model 37s. The action is butter smooth, they are light, yet easy to handle. Also, the Remington 870 is an excellent choice, although a little heavier. Either one would last a life time and some. I see very good used Ithacas and Remingtons for $250 in pawn shops. I have several Ithaca 37s and like them the best of all the pump guns, especially when hunting. Good luck on your search. Snoop

 

[303tom]

Remington 870........Get a Wing Master, you won`t be SORRY..........

 

[handyman163]

I have the Maverick 88 that I bought on sale with the 26" vent rib barrel for $160 on a Black Friday deal at Academy Sports. For $75, you can get the 18.5" cylinder bore barrel from Midwayusa with the bead sight, and $235, you'll have a bird-hunting gun AND a self defense gun. 20" barrels are usually rifled for the mossy, but I could be wrong. The 18.5 with cyl. bore and bead sight is by far the cheapest option, and i have no problem hitting anything with it.

The self-defense short barrel version is $225 to start, and if you ever wanted a new 26" vent rib barrel, that'll run you at least $120 on top of the $225. Do it the other way around. Buy the "hunting" package and make it a HD gun.

BTW, the 6-shot version of the gun is the standard Mossberg barrels and shot tube. If you buy an 8-shot version, you'll severely handicap your barrel options. Who needs 8 shots in a 12 ga anyway?

Lube up the Maverick 88 with some Break Free CLP or some other teflon-added lube, and it'll cycle smooth as silk. The only thing that's not compatible with the Mossberg 500 is the trigger group, safety, and the pump handle - the maverick has a plastic 1-piece pump handle that just slides over the shot tube whereas the mossy has a 2-piece half wood/plastic/half metal carraige for the pump.

From what I've heard, used 870 - especially a wingmaster over 10 years old are great. Newer ones are suspect, and always pricier than a Maverick 88.

Also, as far as ammo out of a short barrel - reduced recoil 00 buck patterns tighter at distance than the standard loads and are much more pleasure to shoot - a synthetic stock short barreled 12ga is really light and will educate you on recoil with the stout loads.

 

[MCgunner]

Used shotguns are on pawn shop shelves everywhere and if you know what you're lookin' at (not the case here, I don't think, but correct me if I'm wrong ), one can find some real gems. I think you're probably better off buying a first gun new and there's plenty to choose from in pumps. Mossberg and the Maverick line are good shotguns and affordable.

If you know what you're lookin' at in a used gun, yeah, look around, but it's easy for those that are familiar with such guns and have their favorites and know pricing and what a gun's worth to say that. They just might need to think about back when THEY were clueless on such matters and seeking help. Easy enough to educate yourself, though. When I was a kid, i read every publication like "Gun Digest" that I could get my hands on. Now days, there's the net and google.