Ideal 12 gauge barrel

[rangerysidro]

In Michigan last two years I have shot deer with a Creedmoor, 20 gauge buckshot, and .223.

I hunt heavy brush, and I've thought about loading my 12 gauge with rifled slugs + buckshot (I have a scoped/rifled barrel but I'm trying to make it harder on myself / use this for close in swamp hunting).

What's the ideal barrel length for a 12 ga to shoot rifled slugs to 80 yards, but also have a buckshot load before/after it?

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

If you're shooting rifled slugs you can shoot either smoothbore or rifled barrel (lots of fouling). For a more compact weapon in the brush, I would look for 20-24" barrrel with decent fiber optic sights.

24" is pretty standard for rifled slug barrels. The buckshot won't hurt the rifling, but the rifling will impact your pattern, so good idea to see what kind of pattern it delivers before the season if going rifled.

 

[rangerysidro]

Thanks - to be clear, I'm looking for a smoothbore recommendation length. Like everyone I'm probably trying to decide if 20/22/24 is the perfect length.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Thanks - to be clear, I'm looking for a smoothbore recommendation length. Like everyone I'm probably trying to decide if 20/22/24 is the perfect length.

24" is what I would go with on a smoothbore, still makes for a compact weapon. I ran my Mossberg and Ithaca 37 with 24" slug barrels and they were very quick handling.

 

[Novashooter]

Barrel length is the least of your concern, and doesn't really matter at all. To get good accuracy at 80 yards from a rifled slug requires either a good slug gun, or rifling. A rifled choke tube would do it. You aren't going to do it with a basic smoothbore barrel that you slap on your frame. A vent rib barrel with clamp on sights, the gold standard is 3" groups at 50 yards. Most such guns will only shoot 8"-12" at 100 yards. Rifling ruins buckshot patterns. If you accept you will only have an effective range of 50-60 yards, then your criteria is ok.

Buckshot can be hard to predict what works good. A moderate or low velocity load generally patterns tighter. Buffered loads almost always pattern tighter than non-buffered. Federal flightcontrol buckshot is a great option, but there are others out there. There are special buckshot choke tubes, but I'm not sure how many are rated for slugs. I would stick with standard modified and full chokes. There is no standardized pattern test for buckshot. For sure you will want to pattern a minimum of 3 shells, 5 being better. Buckshot can vary, although the best quality loads are pretty consistent. For deer, size can depend on your laws. In Wyoming 00 is the smallest allowed. 4 buck is used in the southern states, but Ive only ever used that on coyotes. 1 buck and 00 buck are the most common you will find in 12 gauge, and both will be good. 000 might be an option too. Shot size can be a big factor in how a load patterns. I personally would want to average a minimum of 3 pellets in a 10" circle. This will probably be 35-40 yards for you, but can be farther.

 

[RayF]

Shotgun powder is fast. Unless you’re lengthening your sight plane or going for a better swing, the longer barrel does absolutely nothing ballistically.

The truth about shotgun, choke and slug (or even shot) combos is two matched models can shoot completely differently. Lots of range time, with different shells and chokes is the only way to chase the accuracy you’re after. Even then, if you get a smoothbore combo that can consistently put it in the boiler room at 80yds, never let it go!

Ever see how a standard slug from a smoothbore travels? An imprecise chunk of lead doesn’t slip through air evenly. About 10yds out, it starts to noticeably fly a corkscrew pattern. Small at first, but increasing the whole way.

If you go with a Russian style, with a “fin” stabilizer, you get more straight travel.

Humble recommendation: Go with a short barrel and concentrate on slugs.