Hushpower Shotguns

[Little Chopper]

Hi Guys, 

thought I would start a thread on Hushpower or moderated shotguns. I’ve had a few come and go over the years and thought it would be interesting to hear about the ‘ Good ones, the Bad ones , and the darn right ugly and tricky to use ones. The best cartridges to use? The favourite calibres to use and what sort of shooting are you doing with them? Had any interesting problems? I’ve a few stories to add which I will in a bit.

thanks in advance , Chopper🚜👍

[Ultrastu]

What do you want to know ? 

[Goldfish]

20 bore over and under for me, link here.

Edited October 11, 2022 by Goldfish

[Spr1985]

I considered an atec mod for my 12g’s but decided it was to expensive so gave it a miss, my mate has one and rates it highly especially when he goes out on the crows 

[Little Chopper]

Has anybody had any issues?

A purchase SH from the local RFD was a 410 single with full length mod. It was so carbon clogged I had to soak it in diesel for a week before it would eventually unscrew and then took a lot of effort to remove the outer tube. Being carfull not to ‘ bend’ the barrel. I re built it adding cooker hood carbon filter gauze into the outer sleeve to help absorb the gasses.
This has made it Springer air gun quiet using Eley Fourlongs. 
the Rats around the grain store  don’t like it🤔👍

How do you get on with your 20g O/U Goldfish??

[oowee]

I cleaned my 20g first time I had it. It was a pig to unscrew the tube. The wide thread gets choked up and you need to remove the bead to do it. After that not touched it. 

[Lloyd90]

My mates got a moderated Baikal 410. 
 

As it’s only single shot it’s not overly heavy and handy to use on close up stuff… the main problem is the fixed full choke that’s a bit tight. 
 

Not sure if you can get them with reduced choke. 
 

Handy enough think he uses Gamebore 11g of 6 shot as they are pretty quiet for shooting around his small holding. 

[jall25]

To be honest never cleaned mine so not sure about taking them apart

I have a 410 for early doors near the pen for crows and stoats and a 12 i use once they get accustomed to it - both pumps and not much difference in noise to be honest.

The 12 weighs a ton but i love walking from feeder to feeder shooting squirrels with it and shot hundreds if not thousands - the 410 in my opinion is very range limited 

Edited October 11, 2022 by jall25

[Ultrastu]

I currently have 2 moderated shot guns (had others in the past ) got another one on order. 

A single .410 and semi auto 20b .

And a pump .410 hatsan on its way .

Love my huspowers .and keep considering dropping a mod on my 12b .

I wouldn't put any flexible gauze or wadding in your moderator   apart from it needing to be fire proof .the huge blast can very easily deform it pushing it forward and crumpling it ,so potentially  blocking the muzzle for the next shot .very risky for your gun and health . 

As for carts I prefer normal full power carts and not subsonics .Subs  or just low power /speed carts just don't kill very well unless your very close .imo.

 

 

[Ultrastu]

Any porting of the barrel can seriously  Rob the cartridge of useful energy and strip any plaswads tearing off bits that can then find there way into the action jamming it up . I avoid guns with barrel porting as they could be disastrous  with steel shot .(worth considering for 2025 ) 

[Rat Boy]

I recently purchased an Investarm 20 bore. Mt main permission is a large farm that runs a pheasant shoot. The hushpower allows me access to most areas of the farm during the game shooting season. So far it has been great for pigeons and crows from a hide.  

It does feel like swinging a 2" drainpipe but I have got used to it. It's quite heavy and not very good for walking the fields. I purchased it as a used gun but it was immaculate. The lacquer on the stock started to lift after several outings so I used Nitromors  to remove the original finish. I then gave it loads of coats of boiled linseed oil. It really brought the best out of the woodwork.

All in all a good but expensive purchase.

[jall25]

Got a 410 pump for sale if anyone fancies it drop me PM - like new 

[Centrepin]

17 hours ago, Spr1985 said:

I considered an atec mod for my 12g’s but decided it was to expensive so gave it a miss, my mate has one and rates it highly especially when he goes out on the crows 

More or less the same here, you can pick up a single barrel 12g for under £30 or even free but the mod makes it untenable. 

[bunny_blaster]

I’ve got a mossberg .410 and I’ve just purchased a 20g O/U hushpower. The 20 shoots surprisingly well considering how cumbersome it looks. I will hopefully be giving it a proper go this weekend but the noise reduction with even with standard cartridges is very good

[Goldfish]

20 hours ago, Little Chopper said:

Has anybody had any issues?

A purchase SH from the local RFD was a 410 single with full length mod. It was so carbon clogged I had to soak it in diesel for a week before it would eventually unscrew and then took a lot of effort to remove the outer tube. Being carfull not to ‘ bend’ the barrel. I re built it adding cooker hood carbon filter gauze into the outer sleeve to help absorb the gasses.
This has made it Springer air gun quiet using Eley Fourlongs. 
the Rats around the grain store  don’t like it🤔👍

How do you get on with your 20g O/U Goldfish??

Hi @Little Chopper

I have to say the O/U 20b is defiantly the best gun out there. Not being made any more but worth searching out.

Follow the link in post 3 above to read the additions I added and the ammunition I use.

As for the purchase of secondhand guns, don't unless the moderator outer can be removed, you only have to take a couple of shots to realise the moisture that builds up in the moderator and the corrosion that can develop. I bought a 410 single a few months back from a dealer and first shot the moderator and baffles blew off the front of the gun due to corrosion!!!!!😱

I always remove the outer sleeve and clean and dry before assembly and putting away, it only takes a few minutes and is necessary if you want the gun to last a few years. When you have done it once you will realise that without a clean you might as well take a gun out in the rain and put it away without wiping it down!!!!

The pumps are the only guns being adapted at the moment due to the price and availability of tubing but an O/U 20b or a single with a full length moderator are worth searching out.

30g of 5 shot out of a 20b is so much better than a 410 with 18g however the 410 is a great tool even in pump action but you do need to know its limitations and pattern it.

The o/u 20b is quieter than the pump 410 due to the porting and full length mod

Get one, great for a walk with the dog and no ear defenders, you can listen to the birds!!!

Edited October 12, 2022 by Goldfish

[Walker570]

I have a 410 pumper with moderator and great for pigeon and crow shooting over decoys, unfortunately not getting a lot of work lately.

[hawkfanz]

heres my 2 pennerth,tried a mossy pump 20g what a nasty bit of kit,huge an really unmanagable for me anyway,had an investarm hussy 20g it was ok but too heavy for carrying across fields,but ok to shoot once in hide,my fave was the 410 mossy hushy,shot loads of crows an woody with it,but lost the perm were it was needed so sold it on.bear in mind im 72,got prosthetic left leg,an now shoulders are big deal with arthritis so now just shoot 20g full time.