870 Rifled Slug Barrel

[RDG]

I'm building up a early 90's 870 to give to my son on his 15th birthday this year.
Thanks for MA fun new laws, he's going to be stuck with a pump for hunting while in MA until he's 21.
The 870 is my FIL's but he doesn't hunt anymore and gave it me years ago and now it's time to pass it along for my son to use.
It's a pretty standard 12G express magnum.

I'm going to try and make it into a "do-it-all" shotgun for him.
First order is to get him a good slug barrel for it.
It's got the shorty smoothbore slug barrel but I'd rather spend the money and get his one that is rifled and has a cantilever mount.

A quick google search and it seems the only option are a used Remington barrel off eBay or Mossberg makes a 24" rifled barrel that's still in productions?

Remington 870 12 Gauge Slug Barrel, Cantilever Mount - 24" - Matte

Remington 870 12 Ga. 24" slug barrel with cantilever scope mount and fully-rifled bore. Matte blued finish.

www.mossberg.com

Any thoughts on the Mossberg Barrel vs a Remington barrel. Hate to spend the money on the Remmy barrel from eBay only to get ones that's shot to shit and doesn't group worth a damn.

 

[HorizontalHunter]

FWIW:

Honestly, l love my smoothbore slug barrel on my Winchester. It is easily minute of deer out to 100 yards, I have taken one out to 80 yards, it is half the weight of a rifled barrel and slugs are a quarter of the cost of saboted slugs.

Hunting style matters though. The way I hunt I don’t get 100 yard plus shots.

For whatever reason the only slug mine shoots well is the Remington slugger. Every other one I have tried produces a pattern not a group.

The weight difference is the game changer for me; especially at the end of the day.

You might put some slugs through the smoothbore barrel and be pleasantly surprised.

Bob

 

[bdb]

I have that same barrel on mine with a Leupold 2-7. It took a few loads to try but I found a Hornady sabot that prints very nice groups. It has worked well for me but I don't hunt with a shotgun much in MA. If I had to do it over again I would leave the 870 alone and pick up a Savage 220 (or 212 if you want 12 gauge) but since I hunt 95%+ with a bow I have never gotten around to it. The 870 with that rifled barrel and an option is a nice, relatively cheap option. One of these days I will buy a 220 though.

 

[RDG]

I have that same barrel on mine with a Leupold 2-7. It took a few loads to try but I found a Hornady sabot that prints very nice groups.

are you talking about the Mossberg Cantilever rifled barrel?

 

[bdb]

I thought it was but I just checked and its a Remington rifled barrel. Same cantilever mount though.

 

[ccm75]

I have the same gun and about 35 years ago I bought a Hastings rifled slug barrel for it.
Made in France I believe. Look on Gun Broker. If you can find an old one they are some quality steel.

 

[Mr. Malibu]

I have the Mossberg barrel on my 870 with a Nikon 3-9x. The barrel has been great. No complaints.

Nothing to do with the barrel, but I wish I had a lower magnification on the scope, (1-6x or something) for hunting in MA. Sometimes the 3x seems way too zoomed in certain places.

 

[Sparkey]

Try shooting the smooth bore slug barrel I have killed plenty of deer with one with open rifle sights.
I believe I have a Hasting 870 rifled barrel will look tomorrow would part with it for short money if interested.

 

[RDG]

Try shooting the smooth bore slug barrel I have killed plenty of deer with one with open rifle sights.
I believe I have a Hasting 870 rifled barrel will look tomorrow would part with it for short money if interested.

If it’s a cantilever barrel then I’d be intersted.

 

[Sparkey]

I found the barrel today it is actually a Remington factory rifled barrel with fiber optic sights. No cantilever.

 

[Marlin1]

That slug barrel with the smooth bore is plenty good. Teach the boy to shoot open sights.
The foster slugs are less expensive and are good for deer inside 100 yds where most likely he'd be shooting anyway.
They are lethal much further

The rifled barrels are fine, but they will cost around $300 -$350.
Money better spent on another gun, or gear.IMO.
Ive been shooting deer in Ma. with my 870 then a BPS with a smooth bore for 40 years. Very few ocassions I wished I had a sight etc.
Best option as far as im concerend is get a dedicated deer gun in time. The previously mentioned Savage is great for stand hunting.
Use the 870 with the slug barrel when moving, or other barrel for birds, rabbits clay and buckshot.
My $0.02

 

[Mark from ?]

Smoothbore is fine.. Killed many deer with an 870 and open sights when I was younger.

Slugs are cheaper too.........

Screw the rifle barrel, i say in the MA deer woods it gives you zero advantage.

 

[45Badger]

Hastings barrels are amazing. Worth the coin to have a shotgun that will shoot cloverleafs at 100-125 yards.