Topic: Rifled barrels vs. rifled choke tubes for a shotgun

[adrewiske]

Has anyone out there ever used rifled choke tubes? I've been looking around for rifled barrels for my 870, although not extremely pricey, $200 is $200. I started looking around on the internet and found that Carlson's makes rifled choke tubes for the Rem. I was curious if they offer relatively the same accuracy as a barrel and if they are a worth while alternative for shooting sabots and maybe Hornady's SST slugs?

[TrooperBrian]

If you really need the extreme accuracy of a rifled slug, you're better off using a rifle.

I'm by no means an expert, but it would be like building rifling into a muzzle brake and using a smooth bore rifle. It's the principle of having an entire bore rifled versus just the tip giving it a "spin" before it heads downrange.

I've never used a rifled choke, but I still get great accuracy using a cylinder bore choke and an EOTech and Federal slugs. But if you intend to dedicate this long gun to slugs, then it would be in your best interest to just buy a rifled barrel.

[XDMHMMWV]

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/94611-1.html
$167 here.
Check Cabella's bargain cave, and haggle the price down, if you can.

[adrewiske]

Thanks, I will check that out! The whole reason/scheme behind this is hunting units in MT that are short range weapons only. I've used shotguns there for years and years, I"d just like a tad bit more accuracy.

[XDMHMMWV]

Check out the Box "o" Truth. There is a good article on Bernake ( rifled)  vs Sabot rounds.
It appears, there is not much difference through a rifled shotgun barrel.
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot46.htm