18.5" 870 cylinder bore barrel for small game

I've been using my 20" barrel 12g for small game but I'm threaded for chokes, IM makes for easy head shots on grouse closer in. Further out is still an easy kill but I end up with a small amount of pellets in the breast, minimal meat dammage. If I had to choose an 18.5-20" barrel for thick bush hunting I'd get one with chokes or have it threaded, more versatile imho.
 
^Removable chokes for a short barreled shotgun that will be used in close bush=Waste of time, money and effort carrying the extra weight of thicker barrel, spare chokes and a choke wrench.

Fault free fixed chokes (lighter) that will never work loose and just vary your shells or point of aim IMHO.

Aim an inch or so in front of the beak equals dead bird with less pellets.
 
M12shooter said:
...or spend a bunch more cash and order a 26 in bbl with chokes... 18 inch tubes best for clearing out trenches, alleys and such...:cool:
Click to expand...

I already have that. It came with the gun in 1996. The 18.5" one i have is a semi recent purchase. The whole point of the shorter barrel is to make it more portable in thick bush while still being quite lethal. The area i live in is similar in countryside to what you would find if you drove up towards Thompson. So the shorter the overall profile of the gun, the better. :yingyang:
 
Brutus said:
^Removable chokes for a short barreled shotgun that will be used in close bush=Waste of time, money and effort carrying the extra weight of thicker barrel, spare chokes and a choke wrench.

Fault free fixed chokes (lighter) that will never work loose and just vary your shells or point of aim IMHO.

Aim an inch or so in front of the beak equals dead bird with less pellets.
Click to expand...

Disagree, my choke wrench is tiny and doesn't weigh anything. Nor do I carry extra chokes, I patterned it with multiple chokes out to various ranges then picked the appropriate one for the range I'd be shooting grouse at for the conditions I hunt in. I have yet to change it out and it's on there tight. I know my poa/poi as well as pattern at the distances I generally shoot game at. Pretty easy if you ask me, versatility is key. I'd rather not be stuck with a fixed choke on a 20" or sub length barrel, why limit yourself.
 
Gasoline boy, I have the experience that you assume I don't have.

I acknowledged that the OP was not concerned about long distance shooting. I have used 18" cylinder choked barrel several times, and found it lacking for my purposes. I have shot a lot in heavy cover with 26" and 28" barrels on ruffed and spruce grouse and snowshoe hare. I have found the better balance and smoother swing of standard barrel length is an advantage.

I have been hunting this way for more than 40 seasons. I don't have to "try" much anymore - I know from experience. I have patterned an 18" cylinder choke barrel, and 22" and 24" and 26" etc. etc. Most of those in 12, 16, 20 ga. and in .410 bore. With skeet chokes, and improved cylinder, and tighter chokes. With factory loads and in hand loads, sometimes with spreader wads or other special modifications.
 
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For many seasons bunny hunting I used a dual pistol gripped mossberg with an 18.5" cyl barrel. It was perfect for busting bunnies. I sold it to a friend. I miss that ugly thing but it worked for its purpose

A sxs will get you a shorter over all length if that's an option for you. There are several coach guns on the market
 
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