Mossberg 500 Modified Choke Barrel

W

WacosSon

New member
Been upland hunting for the last few seasons with my 870. Solid piece but as you know, not exactly light. I'm doing a 5 day hunt this upcoming season where I'll cover about 12 miles of property, so I think I'm going to default to my synthetic mossy 500 for the weight loss.

This sounds like a rookie question, but since I've never hunted with it, I've never paid attention to chokes for it. It's a stock 500 with the 28" "modified choke" barrel. As far as I can tell (and correct me if I'm wrong) this barrel is already built "modified" and you can't screw a choke into it. Is that correct? If so, is my solution to this to just purchase a different barrel that you can attach a choke to? Id thats the case, can anyone recommend a barrel that will fit my 500 that I'll have the option to choke? Thanks in advance.

-WS
 
Hi, dismount the barrel...

and look at the muzzle.
If it's a choked tube barrel, there should be two notches visible, 180 degrees apart. all you need is the wrench to remove and spare tube to put in.

What type upland game, may want to consider the SKT or IMP Cyl., for over dogs or heavy brush for getting up close.
If for pheasant may want to keep the MOD for 30 yds +plus shots..

If it a integral choke (old style) then consider opening the choke or buy a tube barrel.

Really to much difference weight-wise between the 870 or 500??

hope this helps.
 
If the word "MOD" or "MODIFIED" is roll stamped on the actual barrel, it came from the factory with NO THREADS... A person could have sent it off for threading but not too likely. If you have the two notches at the muzzle end as mentioned, a quarter will work as a wrench if the choke wasn't installed too tightly or left in 'tween cleanings.
Brent
 
Just because it is marked "Modified" doesn't mean it shoots like a modified choke. THAT will be determined by you at the patterning board using your intended hunting loads.

It is generally accepted as a percentage of pellets inside a circle of known diameter at a known distance, typically a 30" circle at 40 yards with around 60-67% pellet concentration for Modified
 
Thanks guys. I'm very familiar with typical chokes, so I think this is just a factory "modified choke barrel". Gonna contact mossberg about getting a replacement with choke options. Thanks for the input! I was surprised that not many people were familiar with the pre-choked barrel. Seems like mossberg only shipped them like this for a little while? Could be wrong...
 
Naw... There are jillions of non threaded mossberg barrels from the first 500 on up to present.

The threaded barrel is fairly new technology but it really took off and in the last 20 years, many folks have learned on the high tech stuff so many never knew "pre threaded" days...

Basically, "pre-choked" is not an accurate term as shot guns have been "choked" pretty much since the beginning.

Brent
 
I was surprised that not many people were familiar with the pre-choked barrel. Seems like mossberg only shipped them like this for a little while? Could be wrong.
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Only you younguns!....Us old farts grew up with fixed chokes....(and in many instances, I prefer them). Choke tubes haven't been around THAT long that all of the older ones are gone.

A Modified is a great all-around choke for upland and waterfowl using steel.
 
Only you younguns!....Us old farts grew up with fixed chokes....(and in many instances, I prefer them). Choke tubes haven't been around THAT long that all of the older ones are gone.

A Modified is a great all-around choke for upland and waterfowl using steel.
Click to expand...


I bought the gun about 4 years ago, so I was just surprised that it wasn't threaded and choked.

I assume that since the majority of my hunting is 25-40 yards away (I hunt in a blind on a river mostly) that the modified choke barrel is probably fine for me. I typically shoot Kent steel. Even if I obtained a barrel threaded and installed a choke, I would guess a modified choke is what I would install. Can you confirm that for me?
 
Waco - if you look at the typical SxS of today from the better makers from Spain and Italy, you'll typically see them with fixed chokes. Perazzi makes O/Us with fixed chokes if you want them. Many folks prefer the simplicity and the ease of cleaning involved with a fixed choke. Others prefer to have one gun be a little more versatile by using choke tubes.
 
You use steel for upland fowl? Or are you asking about waterfowl? I am no pro but in my understanding, You tighten chokes on duck to increase range mostly. But for upland birds, it is about specie size as well as reducing meat damage so you reduce shot size and decrease choke restriction for smaller quarry and reverse for larger or hardier bird species.
Brent
 
I assume that since the majority of my hunting is 25-40 yards away (I hunt in a blind on a river mostly) that the modified choke barrel is probably fine for me. I typically shoot Kent steel. Even if I obtained a barrel threaded and installed a choke, I would guess a modified choke is what I would install. Can you confirm that for me?
Click to expand...

IF the barrel is steel rated, you typically shoot one choke more open than if you were using lead - example, a M for lead = F for steel and so on. Depending on how far you're shooting on the river, maybe an IC or LM might be a good choice as well
 
You use steel for upland fowl?
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No, just for Waterfowl. Use lead for the upland stuff. The majority of my hunting has been waterfowl.

Think I'll keep the barrel on my trusty pump for now. Maybe when I get my 870 I'll start playing with different choke patterns.
 
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