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Author Topic: Chopping a barrel on 500?  (Read 812 times)

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Offline Lon371

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Chopping a barrel on 500?
« on: November 11, 2009, 02:19:17 PM »
  On a Mossberg 500 12 guage. Has anyone chopped a vent rib and checked accuracy with slugs? I have a spare barrel and am thinking of cutting back to around 19". 
 
  I have a 27" vent rib on my gun now. It is what I have used for somewhere around 15 years for slugs(not let me down yet) Just pondering hacking the spare. 

Lonny
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Offline Graybeard

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Re: Chopping a barrel on 500?
« Reply #1 on: November 12, 2009, 02:10:59 AM »
When cutting a shotgun barrel with vent rib you can't just pick a length and go to cutting. You must make sure to cut at a support point or just in front of that support point really so as to finish it up with that support point at the muzzle end.

Any time you cut a vent rib barrel you run the risk of rib separation regardless of where you cut. Chances are it won't but be aware it might. Once you've done the deed it will then be a straight cylinder bore. It might or might not shoot the slugs OK but it will then have zero choke so will be a close range gun only from that point with bird shot.
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Offline Lon371

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Re: Chopping a barrel on 500?
« Reply #2 on: November 12, 2009, 12:19:10 PM »
 Thanks. I think I may wait and just trade it off for a slugster barrel or one of the short home defense barrel like the Maverick.

Lonny
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Offline wookalark

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Re: Chopping a barrel on 500?
« Reply #3 on: November 15, 2009, 03:57:11 AM »
  Can a gunsmith rethread a shot gun barrel for a choke?
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Offline Lon371

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Re: Chopping a barrel on 500?
« Reply #4 on: November 15, 2009, 01:56:33 PM »
 Not sure about treading for a choke. I think it would be easier and cheaper to sell it, and buy a used slugster.

Lonny
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Offline bluebayou

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Re: Chopping a barrel on 500?
« Reply #5 on: November 21, 2009, 12:49:22 PM »
I chopped mine.  As Bill said, you have to cut it at one of the vent rib supports, so that kind of limits your choices for length.  A shotgun can be threaded for new chokes.  Call a gunsmith and ask.  I never bothered as I just wanted a home defense and short range deer shotgun.  I chopped to 20 inches and I have a 4-5 double-aught pellets in a 8-9 inch pattern at 25 yards.  Not very exciting performance.  I have heard that the Federal Flite Control will improve that, but haven't tried. 

I cut the barrel on a cheap, beater shotgun.  If it was my only shotgun.....I don't think that I would do it.  I used a 4-1/2 angle grinder with cutoff wheel.  Then I faced it up with a file to make 90 degrees.  If you cut at any angle then the pattern will be off to one side. 
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