Wingman Posted June 16, 2017 Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 (edited) After much research and advice from PW, I decided to take the plunge and trim my 30" full choke Mossberg 500 barrel to a more useful 25". Obviously it now has no choke but I was happy with how it came out cosmetically, I followed the advice on a US site to use a foam sanding block to finish the muzzle it came out great and looks "crowned" nearly like it did originally. I then gave it a full sanding down, and finished it with the dreaded cold blue (tetra gun blue), it looks great now but I expect it wont last that long. So today with a couple of hours spare I headed down to AGL for a quick 50 bird try out. I have to say I am very happy with the result. The gun swings better and feel lively (as much as a 25 year old pump can) and I was breaking clays with no problem at all. Icing on the cake was on a stand with a high driven and L/R midi crosser which had confounded me last week with my Perazzi. I managed to hit a good few on this challenging (to me anyway) stand, so very happy. Now I am not recommending you do this but it worked well for me and I am very happy with the results. I'll be out in the morning on the decoys and will certainly be taking the Mossberg with me! Also makes me realise that for my rather low level of shooting skill this choke lark is tosh! Edited June 16, 2017 by Wingman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver pig Posted June 16, 2017 Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 Looks like a real neat job, having that confidence in your equipment helps to break the clays IMO. Have a good day tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impala59 Posted June 16, 2017 Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 Nice finish and it's a true slug gun now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twistedsanity Posted June 16, 2017 Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 Hi chap, might do mine now I've seen that, where exactly did you measure the 25" from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted June 16, 2017 Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 Hi chap, might do mine now I've seen that, where exactly did you measure the 25" from? The beginning of the tape? Sorry, it's an old one I know, but I couldn't resist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted June 16, 2017 Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 Well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingman Posted June 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 Thanks all, I am pleased with the result, tomorrow will the day of reckoning out on the pigeons, only have a few hours so going our early will see what I can do in 3 or 4 hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingman Posted June 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 (edited) Hi chap, might do mine now I've seen that, where exactly did you measure the 25" from? I took off the barrel, and placed a snap cap in the chamber. I measured three times from the back of the snap cap to the required length and to be sure I used different tape measures as I was paranoid about getting it wrong! Marked up the length wanted with a sharpie marker and went a few mm's over to compensate for filing to finish. I then slipped a metal hose clip to the line and used that as a cutting guide, I bought a new 32TPI hacksaw a quality one not a 2 quid cheapo and started to cut round the barrel using the pipe clip as a guide. I carried on going round until the hacksaw had gone through it took about 20 mins but the barrel steel is as thick as on old sewer pipe! Once I had lobbed off the end I removed the pipe clip and secured the barrel in a padded vice. I then filed the end flat using a flat mill file (bought from Screwfix for the job) and used a carpenters square to get the angle right. I then followed the instructions on this website http://www.rem870.com/2012/02/11/shortening-shotgun-barrel-finishing-muzzle/ to get the "crown" done, I spent about an hour on this before getting bored I reckon had I spent longer it would have come out even better but it looks great I think anyway. After that I sanded the whole thing down and gave it a cold bluing, I used Tetra Gun Blue and it came out very nice! Thats about it, it was a nice little project and makes a barrel that costed less that 50 quid really useful now! Edited June 16, 2017 by Wingman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted June 16, 2017 Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 put the bead back on ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingman Posted June 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 put the bead back on ? No I didn't feel confident in getting it lined up properly, so used a stick on ruby fibre optic sight I had lying round and never used. May get a gunsmith to put a bead back on for but not that bothered about it really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddler Posted June 16, 2017 Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 Hi chap, might do mine now I've seen that, where exactly did you measure the 25" from? Not sure about the snap-cap method. I just close the action & measure fron the bolt face by inserting a steel rule or tape measures down the barrel....handy if the snap-caps aren't to hand or you don't have any! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingman Posted June 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 Not sure about the snap-cap method. I just close the action & measure fron the bolt face by inserting a steel rule or tape measures down the barrel....handy if the snap-caps aren't to hand or you don't have any! Yep that would work just as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe soapy Posted June 16, 2017 Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 Has anybody tried using a hose crimper to put a little choke back in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingman Posted June 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 Has anybody tried using a hose crimper to put a little choke back in? How the hell would that work?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe soapy Posted June 16, 2017 Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 A choke is a constriction, a hose crimper works by compressing a thick collar onto the hose in a very controlable way. compressing a barrel would be easy, might need a slight honing after to get the exact dimension wanted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted June 16, 2017 Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 Hi chap, might do mine now I've seen that, where exactly did you measure the 25" from? I had exactly the same done to my SX2 a couple of years ago at a gunsmith he only charged me 30 quid and he put the bead back on. H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted June 16, 2017 Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 No I didn't feel confident in getting it lined up properly, so used a stick on ruby fibre optic sight I had lying round and never used. May get a gunsmith to put a bead back on for but not that bothered about it really. that sounds good to me...i bet it comes up a treat....good fast target location........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonepark Posted June 17, 2017 Report Share Posted June 17, 2017 I suspect with barrel steel that thick it could be teagued for multi choke if required at a later date. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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