I am gearing up to start competing in multi-gun shooting and I have an 870 with a 26" barrel. I have put a synthetic foregrip on it, a side saddle and am looking to purchase a pistol grip rifle stock but my question is this: Should I cut down the 26" barrel to 18.5-20" or buy a new barrel. I am on a tight budget and do not bird hunt anymore.
Multi-gun match and the 870
- Thread starter Shin71
- Start date
I am gearing up to start competing in multi-gun shooting and I have an 870 with a 26" barrel. I have put a synthetic foregrip on it, a side saddle and am looking to purchase a pistol grip rifle stock but my question is this: Should I cut down the 26" barrel to 18.5-20" or buy a new barrel. I am on a tight budget and do not bird hunt anymore.Sell your barrel and buy a new or used barrel. Or swap. There are always barrels for sale.
Cutting the barrel will make it cylinder bore. Cylinder bore is the biggest pattern choke. In most shotgun stages, cyl bore will have trouble knocking down plates with bird shot. improved cyl or modified are preferred. They are good for plates with birdshot and will shoot slugs just fine. After cutting the barrel, if you want to thread it, it will cost $100 plus. You might as well shoot what you got, until you find another barrel.
You will want at least an 8 round mag tube. That is the most allowed in some divisions. Less and you will be doing a lot of reloading. I have a 8+1 extension and it ends about an inch beyond my 21 inch barrel. So i would not go shorter than 21" and not longer than 24". Easier to swing around barricades and such.
Cutting the barrel will make it cylinder bore. Cylinder bore is the biggest pattern choke. In most shotgun stages, cyl bore will have trouble knocking down plates with bird shot. improved cyl or modified are preferred. They are good for plates with birdshot and will shoot slugs just fine. After cutting the barrel, if you want to thread it, it will cost $100 plus. You might as well shoot what you got, until you find another barrel.
You will want at least an 8 round mag tube. That is the most allowed in some divisions. Less and you will be doing a lot of reloading. I have a 8+1 extension and it ends about an inch beyond my 21 inch barrel. So i would not go shorter than 21" and not longer than 24". Easier to swing around barricades and such.
Can I assume that you will be shooting steel plates, pepper poppers, and maybe Congs? I also assume that these targets will be placed 10,15,and maybe as far as 20 yds down range? Safety requirement will require these targets be placed more down range than place across the range. I would shoot my first shotgun stage with a stock as possible gun. A 26" barrel would swing 45 degrees left & right pretty well (fast). Also I would shoot 1oz low base 8s or 9s.
Good Luck!
Bones
Good Luck!
Bones