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 Shotgun- Rifled or Smoothbore?
EurAzn12  [Member]
3/6/2011 7:44:26 PM
Considering the Benelli M2 for 3-gun use, been a high power shooter my whole life and want to get into heavy metal competitions. For the shotgun configuration is it best to use a rifled barrel such as this: http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=30746 or a smooth bore: http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=30731 and just use rifled slugs when necessary? Thanks for the help
jtielke  [Team Member]
3/6/2011 8:23:28 PM
Smoothbore for certain. Their accuracy with slugs is good enough for any shot you will find at a 3-gun match. I'd guess around 90% of the shotgun shots I've taken at 3-gun matches in the last few years were birdshot. A rifled barrel won't perform well with shot.
TruePunisher  [Member]
3/6/2011 8:30:43 PM
Defiantly the smooth bore.

FYI, you will need to use a pump, not an auto, for the Heavy Metal Devision.
EurAzn12  [Member]
3/7/2011 2:22:00 AM
Gotchya, I guess I've got a lot to learn and it's perfect since I have a Mossberg 835 Ult-mag already :) Thanks! I figure a modified choke should be good?
Lmccrock  [Team Member]
3/7/2011 4:07:57 AM
A rifled barrel makes birdshot do funny things, so use a smoothbore.

You are allowed to change chokes during a 3-gun match, but modified and improved cylinder are common. Depends on your gun's patterns. And some pick a choke based on how well that choke shoots slugs.

Lee
AIRONE  [Member]
3/7/2011 9:54:38 AM
A rifled barrel spins the birdshot in a cone pattern with not much in the middle.

My buddy ended up buying 2 of the same FN SLP's so he thought.
We took on out and he could not knock down anything with it, even up close.. We got to looking and it had a rifle barrel on it.
The other had choke tubes and shot like a dream.
StealthyBlagga  [Member]
3/7/2011 10:15:02 AM
Originally Posted By TruePunisher:
...FYI, you will need to use a pump, not an auto, for the Heavy Metal Devision.


Not necessarily. Under IMA-SMM3G rules, for example, a 12ga pump is only required for Heavy Metal Limited division... Heavy Metal Scope permits the use of a 12ga semi-auto. Other match rules are different, so check the actual rules your match uses carefully.

Oh, and definitely no rifled shotgun barrels.
EKUJustice  [Member]
3/7/2011 10:15:47 AM
If the 835 is ported its an open shotgun not heavy metal. The capacity will also hurt you as well
Ironmaker  [Team Member]
3/7/2011 10:17:19 AM
Tacked thread in the shotgun forum:

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=1&t=179361

Mahamotorworks  [Team Member]
3/7/2011 8:32:52 PM
If your 835 is over bored like mine you can't do slugs either.

MAHA