Rifling a shotgun barrel
I own a left handed 870 (12 gauge) with standard 28" RemChoke barrel, with access to a spare barrel (28" fixed choke). I would like a rifled barrel but they appear to be as rare as an honest politician. (I didn't need the LH version for anything other than it is MINE - keeps my danged right-handed kids outa the gun safe!)
Questions - Is it possible to get the spare barrel rifled? I would want it cut to 20" and sights installed.
While reasonable cost enters into the equation, would the rifling process (assuming just grooving is done, leaving lands to the original diameter) take too much metal and make the barrel unsafe?
Or, when all is said and done, would it just be cheaper to get a right-handed 870 slug gun for those few times that I would hunt with it?
Any gunsmiths who might be a good source?
Questions - Is it possible to get the spare barrel rifled? I would want it cut to 20" and sights installed.
While reasonable cost enters into the equation, would the rifling process (assuming just grooving is done, leaving lands to the original diameter) take too much metal and make the barrel unsafe?
Or, when all is said and done, would it just be cheaper to get a right-handed 870 slug gun for those few times that I would hunt with it?
Any gunsmiths who might be a good source?
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Am I missing something here?
Here's one for $163:
http://tinyurl.com/6nd8ke2
One for $190:
http://tinyurl.com/6pbqkl9
EDIT: Oh, I see. The left handed barrels are different than the right handed ones.
Try here:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/767053/hastings-paradox-slug-barrel-remington-870-left-hand-12-gauge-3-24-rifled-with-rifle-sights-blue
It doesn't help you, but Remington lists a Lefty 20 gauge 870 slug barrel for sale on its website. I doubt it, but it might be worth a call to them to see if they've got any similar 12 gauge ones.
EDIT #2: Just to be clear here, all the links at the TOP of the page are for RIGHT handed rifled slug barrels. Those are readily available. I didn't realize that the barrels have their own handedness. As you say, lefty slug barrels DO exist, but they're harder to find.
Here is another source for a LEFT handed 870 slug barrel with rifle sights. Its 24", but at $225, that's a pretty good price, if they have any in stock:
http://www.bucksrunsports.com/gunbarrels.htm
Edit #3:
Just did the reading.
Apparently both Remington and Hastings USED TO make lefty 870 slug barrels, but neither does anymore. These definitely are out there. If two sources I listed above don't have any in stock, you'll just have to keep looking.
While I'm sure you could get a gunsmith to cut down your spare barrel, rifle it, and then install rifle sights, I doubt that this option would be cost effective.
Edit #4:
This one has a cantilevered scope mount. IIWY, I'd just put a red dot or 2x scope on there, but could always have it jiggered for iron sights, I guess:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/705144/hastings-paradox-slug-barrel-remington-870-left-hand-12-gauge-3-24-rifled-with-cantilever-scope-mount-blue0 -
Sorry - my search didn't come up with as many as you found. Maybe my browser is broke.
Thanks for your lead - but you can see the Hastings Paradox is a discontinued item. I think the price of that barrel alone will be a reasonable price for a used RH slug gun on a friendly gun auction site (know any like that?).0 -
FWIW, "Discontinued" isn't the same thing as "Out of stock", since retailers certainly can have residual discontinued merchandise in stock. If you want to know for sure, you have to pick up the phone and ask.
The question is how committed are you to a left handed fully rifled slug gun?
I'm not actually lefty, but I have gone shotgunning plenty of times with lefties, and they all seem to do just fine with "ordinary" right handed shotguns.
Absolutely, you can buy an entire brand new RIGHT handed 870 fully rifled slug gun with rifle sights for under $400. (Or as mentioned, if you already have a righty shotgun, just the barrel for under $200).
That goes to under $300 if you're willing to "stoop" to a "lowly" Mossberg 500.
And if you're willing to buy a used Mossberg. . .well, here's one for just over $200:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=2888988960 -
Midway shows that left hand barrel in stock.
The Hastings web site still say they re making left hand barrels for 870,s.0 -
Thanks to all for the info.
One of my sons has a Mossberg 20 ga with an additional rifled barrel - he likes to shoot some OLD BRI sabot slugs (3" - which rattle my teeth).
As I mentioned, for the few times that the slug barrel would be used, it's not out of the question to buy a used Mossy in 12 ga. Now all I have to do is convince my wife to let loose some of the butter/egg money.
Shoot safe!0
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