Cutting Shotgun Barrels

[Mortblanc]

The gun that fired that 95% pattern with 8 pellets in the center circle was my 20" turkey barrel using a standard 12ga Mossberg full choke tube. I was using that barrel because it has a scope and makes aiming more precise for this work.

I showed the results of those two tubes due to the general presence of full chokes and its drastic comparison to cylinder bore.

I was also shooting a Remington 870 having a 28" barrel with screw in choke tubes and did not see any difference in pattern density when compared to my 20" barrel with equal choke rating. I do not have a full set of tubes for the Remington so all the math I did was using the Mossberg, for which I have an entire set of tubes from cylinder to xtra-full.

I also shot 1/4 and 1/2 chokes and the practical difference is more dependent on weather than choke rating. Only a 5% difference in pattern count on the industry standard. On one target I got a tighter pattern with the IC choke than the 1/2 choke gave me. I shot the modified just as a puff of wind hit and got a scattered pattern.

I must say that screw in choke tubes are the best of all possible worlds. If I am not getting good performance from the choke I can cure the problem with a new $20 choke tube rather than a new gun or expensive barrel work.

After reading the material GH posted I look at the results of my test and consider the options. My #4 buck is .24 caliber and 40 grains traveling at 1275 fps. That is the same as a .22 long rifle slug and people will argue that a .22 is "adequate" all day long. Energy is the same, penetration is the same. Only one difference.

Just imagine 16 of them hitting you from head to crouch, at the same instant?