Shorting a barrel on a Marlin Goose Gun

[streak]

I hope this is the forum for this question!
Anyway I have a 10 gauge Marlin Goose Gun and was thinking of having the barrel cut back to maybe 24 or 26 inches and using this as a close in coyote buster! The barrel now I believe is about 32" and shooting geese with it that is a good barrel length although you have the feeling of tracking the birds with an anti- aircraft barrel
Anybody ever experimented with this or have any thoughts? Pros or cons!!

[Maritime Storm]

I have a Marlin 55 GDL in 12ga with the barrel shortned to 25.75". Weighs in at 8lbs, the cylinder bore is good to 25yrds for Hare & Grouse. If you have yours shortned have your 'smith put screw in chokes in it in order to extend the useful range of it. At that barrel length you will end up with a heavy but balanced shotgun. For me, mine ended up being exactly what I wanted from it, a short range, repeater for hunting Grouse & Hare, I wish it was a little though. Hope this info is of use.

[streak]

Thanks for the info! The screw in chokes is a good idea. I would think it would pattern # 4 buckshot fairly well for coyotes within 25-40 yards.Also could use BB`s which might even pattern better. Naturally could still use it for ducks and squirrels with # 6 or 4 shot at reasonable ranges.

[mcwoodduck]

hen you chop that much off of a gun it will shoot really high.
You may want to add rifle sights to the gun or a really high bead.
 have a couple guns that were 30" that a buddy choped to 18 to 20 and he had standard beads installed and they shoot way high.
Later  found a real Riot model 11 emington and it had a 20" barrel with a .25" pad under a standard beed that makes it shoot point of aim.
No sense sending loads of #4 buck over the tops of the coyotes.

[Spanky]

Don't cut it.



Spanky

[streak]

mcwoodduck,
That is interesting that cutting back about 6"off the barrel would cause it to shoot high. I see on the NEF Rifle & Shotgun forum on here where guys cut barrels on their shotguns back to as much as 18" ,so I wonder if they have a problem with those types of shotguns shooting high?  I will check and see. Good information to know! Thanks !

[Maritime Storm]

Mine shoot center at 25.75", 000 buck patterns decent at 25 yrds. Can't seem to hit center with slugs with it for some reason. Slugs hit 4" high and 6" right through it for some reason, but center with loose projectiles. If you shorten the barrel have the rear sight removed at the same time.