I have an 18" smoothbore cylinder barrel for my Mossberg 500 that I use for home security. I'd like to hunt deer this year in our shotgun zone. Do you think that the short-ness of this barrel will lead to any issues while firing rifled slugs?

I have an 18" smoothbore cylinder barrel for my Mossberg 500 that I use for home security. I'd like to hunt deer this year in our shotgun zone. Do you think that the short-ness of this barrel will lead to any issues while firing rifled slugs?

I have a 16 GA 18-1/4" barreled 870 that I shoot Slugs through, and find the best accuracy to be with the Brenke slugs. I don't think you will be giving up a thing using your smooth bore 12 GA with slugs, just remember to get within 40 yards for best results. I have rifle sights on mine, and can hold five shots on a desert plate at 40 yards.

Lee L.

You will have no serious loss in the short barrel. Most Slugs from the major factories load with a burn rate of Herco. Even with some of the slow burn powders we use with our heavy slugs show little loss in 20" barrels. Maybe a little more blast is all.....James

You will have no serious loss in the short barrel. Most Slugs from the major factories load with a burn rate of Herco. Even with some of the slow burn powders we use with our heavy slugs show little loss in 20" barrels. Maybe a little more blast is all.....James

Agree with Mr. gates...the 20" barrel hasn't shown any significant vel. loss in my tests...at worst, 60 fps...average is 37FPS. Unimprotant.

Lack of sight radius is more imporatant...with iron sights, short sight radius usually equals larger groups. Lack of good iron sights usually equals larger groups.

So...with a good set of rifle sights, a short 20" barrel will normally out group a 28" barrel with bead sights....may be 60FPS slower, but I'll laways put my money on the barrel that sends the bullet (or slug) to the point aim.

I certainly agree with friend ribbonstone on having sights on any slug barrel.........James

I have a MB500 with short barrel and ghost ring sights. Works with slugs just fine. You can probably find a used 500 barrel with rifle sights cheap on the net. Easy to switch.

I have an 18" smoothbore cylinder barrel for my Mossberg 500 that I use for home security. I'd like to hunt deer this year in our shotgun zone. Do you think that the short-ness of this barrel will lead to any issues while firing rifled slugs?

Suspect that's an 18" barrel with a bead sight...and for home defence use, a very good choice as that situation is short range and more reactive shotting than precision.

Stepping off the max. range possible in the house...depends on the house and length of hallways...will probably find the range to be in the 17-22 yard area. Forthat kind of distance, a big bold bead does fine and is what my home defence 12ga. wears.

For hunting will usually take a rifle sighted 12ga. or a red dot equiped version. Not looking for more distance, am looking for more precision and better low light performance. Also pretty much plan of getting into the brush and going after the deer rather than sniping them across open fields.

Soucp mounts (or Red Dot sight mounts) are a bit of a problem...but eh current Mossbergs have 4 drilled and tapped holes. These are larger size screws than most scope mounts and with the use of good adheasives combined with a light weight Red Dot, it will stay put.

It is VERY difficult to acheive much accuracy without sights of some kind on your gun. With just a bead all you can do is try to center the bead and hold it as best you can for elevation.. not a good choice. I have a Rem 870 that I had a gunsmith drill and tap the receiver for a mount. I use a red dot or a 1 1/2 to 5 power scope on it. This approach is probably cheaper than trying to get rifle sights installed and can be removed easily when not desired and leaves the bead in place. I would also suggest you try various brands of slugs as some will shoot better/differently than others. Since you have a smoothbore, don't mess with the sabot slugs as they will not do well in an unrifled bore. Another option is to buy a Mossberg rifled barrel as they sell them at very reasonable prices over the internet. You will probably be happier with a rifled barrel as far as accuracy and the sabot slugs tend to be faster and shoot more accurately. Just my $.02 worth