I have a Remington 11-87 SPS super magnum that I picked up used. I am interested in shooting it in three gun type competitions. The Remington manual says that you can't use 3" barrels on a 3 1/2" receiver.

And here comes the question: Since I can't use a Remington smoothbore barrel with rifle sights, "I can only find them in 3" versions." The closest Remington makes in 3 1/2" is a rifled barrel with rifle sights.

So, would the rifled barrel work well enough with the bird shot and buck shot in three gun competitions? Most of my local three gun matches use a majority of bird shot in the courses to allow the use of metal targets.

Anyone used a rifled barrel like this before? What happens if you do put a 3" barrel on the magnum receiver?

Thanks for the help guys.

Your post has me abit confused as to what you have and what the restrictions are in your competion Colohunter? The best answer I have is that I have used shot loads in handguns(rifled barrel) before with usable close range patterns(10-15 feet). They do tend to lead the bore.

I have also used .22 rimfire shot loads to de-ice antennae at near 60 feet (vertical/up) with so-so results. That leaded the barrel of a rifle as well.

It is safe to fire a 2 3/4" shell in a 3 1/2" chamber. I can't know if it will cycle the action.

Cheezywan

I just got the shotgun so I haven't test fired it, but Remington says it will shoot anything from 2 3/4" to 3 1/2".

To simplify a little,would I be able to use a rifled shotgun to shoot stationary clay pigeons and steel targets out to about 20 yards.

From searching online I have found everything from "rifled barrels will cause donut shaped patterns" to "shot will pattern well even from a rifled barrel."

Let me know if I am still not making any sense.

Rifling in a shotgun barrel acts to really spread the shot.

http://www.gundogsonline.com/ArticleServer.asp?strArticleID=38F2A2F4-704F-45C0-B2F2-2A7E3EA502DA. link to an article about using rifling to spread patterns for short rangte upland birds.

Thanks moxgrove, that helps. That suggests that I will at least get an even pattern. I wonder if I will still have enough pellets to break a clay or knock down steel around 20 to maybe 30 yards?

Thanks moxgrove, that helps. That suggests that I will at least get an even pattern. I wonder if I will still have enough pellets to break a clay or knock down steel around 20 to maybe 30 yards?
Here's a thought---- try it at the range. No fuss no wondering

Like Jadek suggested give it a try with a few different loads. Likely you will find one that will pattern well at that distance. Good luck and good shooting.

I haven't bought the rifled barrel yet, the gun came with a regular vent rib barrel. I just wanted a little input and to see if anyone tried it before I put down $270.00 at Midway for the rifled barrel.