Rifled barrel or smooth bore?

Pops1085 · April 12, 2013, 04:29 PM

I just got an excellent deal on a used Remington but the only downside is that it has a rifled barrel. If I was going to keep this gun around for HD, casual small game hunting, and maybe small bird hunting (grouse are very common in my area and make for a really fun time) would I be foolish to trade barrels for a smooth bore 21" barrel with rifled sights on it? I have rifles for dear hunting but another friend said hang on to the barrel because they are hard to find.

Pahoo · April 12, 2013, 04:40 PM

Quote:

would I be foolish to trade barrels for a smooth bore 21" barrel with rifled sights on it? I have rifles for dear hunting but another friend said hang on to the barrel because they are hard to find.

Not foolish but I would agree with your friend about hanging on to it, at least for a time. Your rifled barrel is worth more than a smooth bore. Take your time and look for a used barrel. You did not mention the model number so I'm assuming that after market barrels are available. ....

Be Safe !!!

customaquatics · May 5, 2013, 10:45 AM

yea you said there hard to find? so it must not be a 870.

Boomer58cal · May 5, 2013, 11:03 PM

Get the smoothie!

johnwilliamson062 · May 8, 2013, 01:16 PM

For HD the rifled barrel isn't bad. Makes a nice wide buckshot pattern.

BigD_in_FL · May 8, 2013, 04:45 PM

Hunting small game and upland is best done with a smoothbore, but NOT with rifled sights - a simple bead, a barrel about 26"or so will do the job. Too short of a barrel and you will be missing from behind as you stop your swing

abherbitter · May 18, 2013, 11:53 AM

Slightly off topic here but does anyone know of the KSG (Kel Tec Shot Gun) is rifled or smooth?

Creek Henry · June 1, 2013, 11:28 AM

The Kel Tec? Whichever is cheaper

Noreaster · June 1, 2013, 09:20 PM

Randy Wakeman had a write up on using shotshells and rifled slugs from a rifled barrel. He found a deal on an 870 with a rifled barrel and used non sabot rounds in it. If you can find it on the net it's worth a look.

publius · June 2, 2013, 09:00 PM

Keep your barrel and go to the next gun show and buy yourself a 26" smoothbore. You should be able to get a used one for less than $100.00 Probably way less

natman · June 3, 2013, 11:48 AM

The rifled barrel is great if you want to shoot sabot $lugs out of it.

Otherwise, it's pretty much useless for anything else, including HD. The last thing you want is a big doughnut pattern spewing buckshot everywhere except where you aim.

If you don't intend to shoot sabot slugs, trade / sell it and get a smoothbore.

Nathan · June 3, 2013, 12:32 PM

Quote:

The rifled barrel is great if you want to shoot sabot $lugs out of it.

Otherwise, it's pretty much useless for anything else, including HD. The last thing you want is a big doughnut pattern spewing buckshot everywhere except where you aim.

If you don't intend to shoot sabot slugs, trade / sell it and get a smoothbore.

+1 this trade is usually pretty easy to do. With some smooth talkin', you might be able to get an 18.5" smooth bore for HD and a 28" interchangable choke barrel for little money added.

theblakester · June 5, 2013, 04:05 AM

The rifled barrel is worth more than a smooth bore barrel. Shooting "shot" out of a rifled barrel will throw a wider spread and usually make a somewhat donut shaped pattern. I wouldn't want a wide pattern for HD and I certainly wouldn't want a donut shaped pattern. If u only get 1 smoothbore barrel, I would suggest getting one with a choke system to to satisfy your hunting needs. All that being said, I also have rifles, but I really like my scoped rifled barrel for large game hunting at around 100 yards.

L_Killkenny · June 5, 2013, 12:04 PM

I have a large disdain for rifled shotgun barrels. Their intended ammo, sabot slugs, cost too damn much and they aren't good for anything else. On the flip side for your intended needs I wouldn't get a smoothbore with rifle sights unless you are gonna use it for deer/big game hunting. Get the shortest barrel you can find that will accept choke tubes (a must!) and a bead on the front (another must!) and you be well ahead.

April 12, 2013, 04:29 PM	#1
Pops1085 Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2012 Posts: 369	Rifled barrel or smooth bore? I just got an excellent deal on a used Remington but the only downside is that it has a rifled barrel. If I was going to keep this gun around for HD, casual small game hunting, and maybe small bird hunting (grouse are very common in my area and make for a really fun time) would I be foolish to trade barrels for a smooth bore 21" barrel with rifled sights on it? I have rifles for dear hunting but another friend said hang on to the barrel because they are hard to find.

June 5, 2013, 04:05 AM	#13
theblakester Member Join Date: May 6, 2011 Posts: 88	Rifled barrel or smooth bore? The rifled barrel is worth more than a smooth bore barrel. Shooting "shot" out of a rifled barrel will throw a wider spread and usually make a somewhat donut shaped pattern. I wouldn't want a wide pattern for HD and I certainly wouldn't want a donut shaped pattern. If u only get 1 smoothbore barrel, I would suggest getting one with a choke system to to satisfy your hunting needs. All that being said, I also have rifles, but I really like my scoped rifled barrel for large game hunting at around 100 yards.

May 5, 2013, 10:45 AM	#3
customaquatics Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2011 Location: illinois Posts: 678	yea you said there hard to find? so it must not be a 870.

May 5, 2013, 11:03 PM	#4
Boomer58cal Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2013 Location: closer than you think Posts: 967	Get the smoothie!

May 8, 2013, 01:16 PM	#5
johnwilliamson062 Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 9,994	For HD the rifled barrel isn't bad. Makes a nice wide buckshot pattern.

May 8, 2013, 04:45 PM	#6
BigD_in_FL Junior member Join Date: December 20, 2012 Location: The "Gunshine State" Posts: 1,981	Hunting small game and upland is best done with a smoothbore, but NOT with rifled sights - a simple bead, a barrel about 26"or so will do the job. Too short of a barrel and you will be missing from behind as you stop your swing

May 18, 2013, 11:53 AM	#7
abherbitter Member Join Date: March 11, 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 31	Slightly off topic here but does anyone know of the KSG (Kel Tec Shot Gun) is rifled or smooth?

June 1, 2013, 11:28 AM	#8
Creek Henry Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2009 Location: Dallas Posts: 514	The Kel Tec? Whichever is cheaper

June 1, 2013, 09:20 PM	#9
Noreaster Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2011 Location: New England Posts: 1,449	Randy Wakeman had a write up on using shotshells and rifled slugs from a rifled barrel. He found a deal on an 870 with a rifled barrel and used non sabot rounds in it. If you can find it on the net it's worth a look.

June 2, 2013, 09:00 PM	#10
publius Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2005 Location: Mississippi/Texas Posts: 2,505	Keep your barrel and go to the next gun show and buy yourself a 26" smoothbore. You should be able to get a used one for less than $100.00 Probably way less

June 3, 2013, 11:48 AM	#11
natman Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2008 Posts: 2,681	The rifled barrel is great if you want to shoot sabot $lugs out of it. Otherwise, it's pretty much useless for anything else, including HD. The last thing you want is a big doughnut pattern spewing buckshot everywhere except where you aim. If you don't intend to shoot sabot slugs, trade / sell it and get a smoothbore.

June 5, 2013, 12:04 PM	#14
L_Killkenny Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 2,676	I have a large disdain for rifled shotgun barrels. Their intended ammo, sabot slugs, cost too damn much and they aren't good for anything else. On the flip side for your intended needs I wouldn't get a smoothbore with rifle sights unless you are gonna use it for deer/big game hunting. Get the shortest barrel you can find that will accept choke tubes (a must!) and a bead on the front (another must!) and you be well ahead.