Help! I think I made a booboo

delavan

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Hello,

I bought a 14" single shot Sinsinati shotty today. My intent is to have a fairly compact shotty to carry in a backpack, going fishing, firing flares, bear bangers, slugs, 2 aught, etc...Now Im afraid that the 14" barrel, with the huge spread, render that purchase useless for its intended purposes. I wanted a backpacker of sorts...now that 14" is too short isnt it? 18.5 would be much more versatile...

Thoughts?
 
For flares, bear bangers & slugs I doubt it will make a difference, only on the double buck and shot will it probably spread more, but at close range I don't think it will be a problem even then.
 
It's the choke that determines the pattern, not the barrel length... if it is cylinder bore it does not matter if it is 14 or 18 inches... the spread is the same.
 
the shotty comes with Removable Choke Tubes 2 extra tubes included with Choke Key...just don't know which types of chokes they are...
 
I would suggest that whether it's 14 or 18 1/2" wouldn't make a difference for your stated purpose.

If the shotgun is "packed" in a backpack and a bear charges you would never get it out in time - so barrel length wouldn't matter.

If you saw the bear first and it was just curious a shot or two in the air would change it's mind about where it wanted to be - again, barrel length wouldn't matter.

If you saw the bear approaching with the intention of showing you "who is boss" and you managed to get the shotgun into position the bear would be close enough at that point that while at a given distance the pattern from a 14" barrel is probably a little more "loose" than an 18.5" (all else being equal), that again, barrel length probably wouldn't be a factor.

I think where it absolutely would be a factor would be - since this is a single shot, if you "missed" and were forced to use your shotgun as a (stick) to try and keep the bear away, he could get 4 1/2" closer to you than if you had the longer barrel :p
 
I would suggest that whether it's 14 or 18 1/2" wouldn't make a difference for your stated purpose.

If the shotgun is "packed" in a backpack and a bear charges you would never get it out in time - so barrel length wouldn't matter.

If you saw the bear first and it was just curious a shot or two in the air would change it's mind about where it wanted to be - again, barrel length wouldn't matter.

If you saw the bear approaching with the intention of showing you "who is boss" and you managed to get the shotgun into position the bear would be close enough at that point that while at a given distance the pattern from a 14" barrel is probably a little more "loose" than an 18.5" (all else being equal), that again, barrel length probably wouldn't be a factor.

I think where it absolutely would be a factor would be - since this is a single shot, if you "missed" and were forced to use your shotgun as a (stick) to try and keep the bear away, he could get 4 1/2" closer to you than if you had the longer barrel :p

Man...
I got you there...STAWP!


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I already have a Mossberg 500 with a 18.5" barrel. But I found that 14" thing interesting. I guess I suffer from buyer's remorse, but as I ordered today I might have an opportunity to swap it....
 
Well,

when I took my PAL course, there was mention of shotgun types and calibers, chokes, etc. But a 14" shotty, is outside of the "common dog" area. They never covered the "rubber bullet, bear bangers, flares, etc...situations and uses.


I just found this topic:
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...-Single-Shot-Shotguns?p=12284879#post12284879

I'm now happy to have chosen the 14", as I'm obviously not the only one lol.
 
14" is no problem for bear defense, however, I would be worry about the single shot...., I would prefer at least a two barrel (o/u or side by side) or a pump.

Bear banger is a good idea., but if a bear charge you prepare yoursef With buckshot 00/slug
 
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Single shots for any sort of serious "defense" work are stupid. the length of the barrel is fine, it's the lack of ability for a follow up shot that is no good.
 
Not a good idea to shoot flares in any shotgun that is choked. The constriction may trap the flare before it clears the muzzle where it will burn and damage the barrel. Cylinder choke only.
 
i have shot a few short barreled shotguns and the pattern does not seem to be affected by barrel length all other things being equal until you get down to the ultra short 8.5 inch variety. i am not sure what happens but the pattern does open up. i believe the velocity loss has something to do with it . there is some good info available on the internet were a barrel was cut down from twenty eight inches to six and three quarter by one inch increments and slugs and buckshot were fired . 12 . 5 inches was determined to be the best compromise for compactness versus performance . below that velocity was lost at a large rate and the pattern opened up substantially. i will see if i can find the article as i have seen it posted on this site as well. if memory serves correctly there was a 250 ft .per second loss from the original barrel length to the twelve inch mark and another 250 foot per second loss from there to six and three quarter.
 
It's the choke that determines the pattern, not the barrel length... if it is cylinder bore it does not matter if it is 14 or 18 inches... the spread is the same.

i have shot a few short barreled shotguns and the pattern does not seem to be affected by barrel length all other things being equal until you get down to the ultra short 8.5 inch variety. i am not sure what happens but the pattern does open up. i believe the velocity loss has something to do with it . there is some good info available on the internet were a barrel was cut down from twenty eight inches to six and three quarter by one inch increments and slugs and buckshot were fired . 12 . 5 inches was determined to be the best compromise for compactness versus performance . below that velocity was lost at a large rate and the pattern opened up substantially. i will see if i can find the article as i have seen it posted on this site as well. if memory serves correctly there was a 250 ft .per second loss from the original barrel length to the twelve inch mark and another 250 foot per second loss from there to six and three quarter.

Nice to have this ^^ clarification and proof. Think of a hand gun versus a rifle - does the shortness of the barrel make the bullet go wonky? Not at all!:)
 
It's the choke that determines the pattern, not the barrel length... if it is cylinder bore it does not matter if it is 14 or 18 inches... the spread is the same.

This.

Read this article for proof:

http://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=111

An excerpt:
The spread of the 12-inch barreled version was almost identical to the much more cumbersome 24-inch barrel, with an extreme spread only 1.5 inches greater. After conducting these tests it is our opinion that a 12-inch barreled shotgun with proper sights gives the owner/operator the best performance in the smallest practical package without any major sacrifices in size or performance.
 
The single shot's are lighter to carry and will still pack one good punch..... just need to make it count if it's a big threat!
A home made bayonet mount might be good "hack" as the kids say...... :)
 
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