question on cutting down a shot gun barrel

iblong · September 3, 2009, 07:03 AM

Last winter one of my venders gave me a Moss.535 12 ga.w/28" barrel and slug barrel.for amount of money spent with his co.
I talked to my Smith and he said he would cut it down to 24" rethread it for my choke tubes,ect.Im thinking about turnning it into a dedicated coyote gun since I have nothing into it.
He wants 115.00 for the work.do you guys think this would adversely afect the preformance.it shoots well with a .680 choke,but its a little unwieldly with a 28" and a extended choke tube.Your input is wanted.
Thanks,Bob.

hogdogs · September 3, 2009, 07:27 AM

For that kind of price, you might consider going with Briley. They are top of the line and also make the choke tubes...
If the smith is off by even the slightest... it will pattern like crap at best and could allow a shot load to hang up on the inner lip of the tube resulting in a catastrophic failure that will ruin the barrel at minimum or cause severe injury or death at worst. Personally, if it were me, I would keep that barrel and spend the same $115 or less on a brand spankin' new mossberg barrel of my desire...

Mossberg barrels are the cheapest in the industry, cost wise. Havlin Sales is your second call after mossberg factory as they may have a different selection and usually cheaper than mossberg factory...
http://havlinsales.com/default.htm
Brent

Gbro · September 3, 2009, 08:48 AM

If you only knew how difficult it is to agree with hotdogs

But i also would go with a new barrel.
Years ago I had my 30" cut down and threaded for choke tubes and am not happy with the results. each choke insert needs to be hand fitted to the barrel, at least on mine.
I 1st noticed the problem when I found wadds with kinked fingers, then found that they came from my gun

.

hogdogs · September 3, 2009, 08:55 AM

Quote:

If you only knew how difficult it is to agree with hotdogs

Me thinx I was jist called "disagreeable"... that is like saying "don't drink margaritas while eating applesauce" don't ask how I know this...

BRENT

jmr40 · September 3, 2009, 12:17 PM

According to Mossberg's website the barrel you want will be $200+ new. The 500 barrels are cheap, not the 535.

I have had a couple cut down and rethreaded with good results, but I only paid around $40. Of course that was several years ago too.

I would sell the gun and extra barrel and use the funds to buy what you want rather than spend that much to get 4" less barrel. You will likely be able to do so and have money left over.

hogdogs · September 3, 2009, 02:27 PM

If you accept the 3 inch max shell, i understand the 500 barrel will interchange (call to be sure) which was what i meant in my sub $100 claim.
Brent

Jack O'Conner · September 3, 2009, 08:28 PM

I bought a ribbed barrel for my Mossberg that has screw-in choke tubes. Love it! My original 28 inch plain barrel was no longer of use to me. It was cut down by local smith to 19 inches and bead relocated. He crowned the muzzle, too.

sawed off barrel results on paper (20 yds):

- cheap #6 ammo by FEDERAL patterns poorly with softball sized blank
areas on paper.

- plated high base #5 patterns amazingly well with no oversized blank areas

- high base #7.5 pattens almost identical to Modified pattern

- 00 buck by Remington with bead buffering shoots a consistent 14"
pattern at 20 yards

- plain rifled slug by Winchester shoots 3 holes into a 6 inch circle at 50
yards; accuracy would likely improve with rifle type sights.

Does a "sawed off" throw an extra wide pattern at 20 yards? Not this one.

Good shooting to you.

Jack

September 3, 2009, 07:03 AM	#1
iblong Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2008 Location: MN Posts: 559	question on cutting down a shot gun barrel Last winter one of my venders gave me a Moss.535 12 ga.w/28" barrel and slug barrel.for amount of money spent with his co. I talked to my Smith and he said he would cut it down to 24" rethread it for my choke tubes,ect.Im thinking about turnning it into a dedicated coyote gun since I have nothing into it. He wants 115.00 for the work.do you guys think this would adversely afect the preformance.it shoots well with a .680 choke,but its a little unwieldly with a 28" and a extended choke tube.Your input is wanted. Thanks,Bob.

September 3, 2009, 08:48 AM	#3
Gbro Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,084	If you only knew how difficult it is to agree with hotdogs But i also would go with a new barrel. Years ago I had my 30" cut down and threaded for choke tubes and am not happy with the results. each choke insert needs to be hand fitted to the barrel, at least on mine. I 1st noticed the problem when I found wadds with kinked fingers, then found that they came from my gun. __________________ Gbro CGVS For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, But to us who are being saved, It Is The Power Of God. 1Corinthians 1-18

September 3, 2009, 07:27 AM	#2
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	For that kind of price, you might consider going with Briley. They are top of the line and also make the choke tubes... If the smith is off by even the slightest... it will pattern like crap at best and could allow a shot load to hang up on the inner lip of the tube resulting in a catastrophic failure that will ruin the barrel at minimum or cause severe injury or death at worst. Personally, if it were me, I would keep that barrel and spend the same $115 or less on a brand spankin' new mossberg barrel of my desire... Mossberg barrels are the cheapest in the industry, cost wise. Havlin Sales is your second call after mossberg factory as they may have a different selection and usually cheaper than mossberg factory... http://havlinsales.com/default.htm Brent

September 3, 2009, 12:17 PM	#5
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,809	According to Mossberg's website the barrel you want will be $200+ new. The 500 barrels are cheap, not the 535. I have had a couple cut down and rethreaded with good results, but I only paid around $40. Of course that was several years ago too. I would sell the gun and extra barrel and use the funds to buy what you want rather than spend that much to get 4" less barrel. You will likely be able to do so and have money left over.

September 3, 2009, 02:27 PM	#6
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	If you accept the 3 inch max shell, i understand the 500 barrel will interchange (call to be sure) which was what i meant in my sub $100 claim. Brent

September 3, 2009, 08:28 PM	#7
Jack O'Conner Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2005 Location: Manatee County, Florida Posts: 1,976	I bought a ribbed barrel for my Mossberg that has screw-in choke tubes. Love it! My original 28 inch plain barrel was no longer of use to me. It was cut down by local smith to 19 inches and bead relocated. He crowned the muzzle, too. sawed off barrel results on paper (20 yds): - cheap #6 ammo by FEDERAL patterns poorly with softball sized blank areas on paper. - plated high base #5 patterns amazingly well with no oversized blank areas - high base #7.5 pattens almost identical to Modified pattern - 00 buck by Remington with bead buffering shoots a consistent 14" pattern at 20 yards - plain rifled slug by Winchester shoots 3 holes into a 6 inch circle at 50 yards; accuracy would likely improve with rifle type sights. Does a "sawed off" throw an extra wide pattern at 20 yards? Not this one. Good shooting to you. Jack __________________ Fire up the grill! Deer hunting IS NOT catch and release.