Review - shotgun work

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kotengu

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I don't know if this is the appropriate place for this or not, but.....

I just received an 18.5" 870 police take-off that I had sent away to be threaded to chokes and have the forcing cone lengthened. I used a guy in TX that has done some very good custom rifle work for me before, but this is the first shotgun work I've had him do. As with his rifle work, the job was done efficiently and perfectly in all respects. He had to install Thinwall Tru-Choke tubes because of the OD of my barrel - the cut is very clean and the barrel is refaced. The tube sits perfectly and matches the barrel length perfectly in all respects. The forcing cone is well cut with no chatter marks and smooth as can be. I also know from past experience if there is a problem with anything he's worked on (even if it's not necessarily his fault), he's quick to fix it, and stands behind his work very well.

His name is Ed Vandenberg Vandenberg Custom
 
How much did he charge? I am wanting to get the same thing done to a 18.5" Police take off that I have.

Thanks,

WJR
 
Ed charged me $50 for the forcing cone work and $50 to cut the threads and face the barrel. Add shipping and a choke and you're done.

I wanted the chokes in this barrel mostly to make it more versatile. From what I've read a longer barrel doesn't gain anything ballistically (just aids in "swing"), so why not stick with the short package I've got?

I use it primarily for 3-gun competition and the like, but I also want to be able to hunt with it, so it made good sense for me.
 
Ditto what kotengu said. However, I am mostly interested in the forcing cone work and am also considering the Vang back boring as well, but wanted to see if I could find a less expensive solution.

WJR
 
Mods done to short barrels make as much sense as those done to long ones, IMO.

Whether they're worth it to a particular user is up to that user.

And mission has to be taken into consideration.

Riot barreled 870s make great quail guns. Adding chokes and a long cone will tighten the pattern, but is that what we want on stuff often shot within 25 yards? Dunno how needed that is for THAT use.

But, that same 870 and barrel may find use as a HD tool, a pheasant gun, a varmint control tool, a slug gun, a 5 stand fun gun, or even used on waterfowl. While not ideal for some of those uses, it can suffice. GP shotguns are like that. Choke tubes can aid versatility.

I went through the same deal with Frankenstein's barrel. I had it cut from 28" to a nominal 21", the cone done and had it set up for Truchokes. Works well.

And thanks for posting this, maybe someone's needing a good smith...
 
Ed Vandenberg is a LEGEND in some circles and from what I have seen does fantasctic work. I have only purchased products from him myself but the work I have seen on a couple FAL's he built is absolutely first rate.

I suspect that you use or have used an FAL type for three gun kotengu? I had a big FAL kick, built a couple and bought a couple and shot them all. Only one gun left and it is a total mutt gun, nice looking mutt but a bonafide frankengun mutt that flat SHOOTS! Great weapons.
 
Yessir - just a lighweight FAL carbine that I built for 3-gun and the like (also hunt with it), but Ed did some fine work for me on my FAL "spacegun" that I use for Highpower and Long Range.

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