Shotgun barrel machining

[BigK421]

Hey guys, any recommendations for shotgun barrel work? I have a Mossberg 500 that I want to modify. I need a barrel shortened and rethreaded for accu-chokes. I have another cyl bore barrel that I want shortened and a new sight installed. Thanks!

 

[Fatcamp]

I had a thin walled Winchester 120 done by Scheels in Sioux Falls. Very happy.

 

[Loper]

I wanted to do something similar a few years back and the gunsmith I spoke to said cutting and threading a shotgun barrel for chokes can be tricky because many times the walls are so thin. He recommended just buying another barrel, which I ended up doing. I’m sure there are some gunsmiths out there that don’t have an issue doing it though.

 

[letrbuck]

Briley or Mike Orlen, how short are you wanting to go? With it being a Mossberg 500, you might be able to find an additional barrel for similar cost that suits your needs

 

[Billy Goat]

Briley is who I have used.

12 Gauge Automatic and Pump Choke Installation (Automatic and Pump Choke Installation) | Briley

Looking for 12 Gauge Automatic and Pump Choke Installation for your specific firearm? Shop now for 12 Gauge Automatic and Pump Choke Installation at Briley, A Legacy of Shooting Innovation

www.briley.com

Need to use thin wall chokes, after cutting the barrel down there's not enough material left to use the previous chokes. End of a shotgun barrel is larger to accommodate chokes, once cut, the material just isn't enough.

 

[Packin_packout]

Briley's. Shotgun barrels are thin, threads are shallow so getting someone who knows how to line it up and get it cut right is critical. I can run a lathe ok and I hate doing those types of thread pitches. They got all the stuff to get it tried up in the chuck properly.

 

[Macintosh]

I have to disagree with Briley for this particular gun. Mossbergs have way less issues with thin barrels than many other shotguns, and you could buy 2 new mossberg shotguns for the price of a set of briley chokes installed (not exxaggerating by much), to me the cost doesnt make sense on a mossberg unless it has some significant sentimental value. My first choice would be to see if I could get a used barrel somewhere. Mike Orlen is 100% who I’d use if I needed the work done. It’s been a few years but Ive had him do other choke work at least a dozen times and he’s always had fast turnaround, good work at a very fair price because choke work is all he does.
If its too thin for Mike to do then its likely briley would be your only option, and they would not be accuchokes. If you want tubes for steel or tungsten Briley will run you 300-400 for installation and 3 tubes depending on flush or extended, plus another hundred bucks to put a new bead on the shortened barrel. At that price new barrels start looking pretty attractive.

 

[BigK421]

I was just going to order a new barrel from mossberg, but everything is backordered with no ETA. I figured it would be $100-$150 to do the machining, but I'm seeing prices all over the place. My son is a machinist but not a gunsmith. He could cut, face and chamfer the barrels but won't be able to thread for choke tubes. He could, but doesn't have the necessary tooling.

 

[yfarm]

I’ve had Carlsons in Atwood Ks cut down and install tubes in multiple barrels over years. No issues. They currently charge $40 to cut a barrel, $150 to install tubes, includes 3 non extended chokes, $190 if you want extended tubes.

 

[Unckebob]

Hey guys, any recommendations for shotgun barrel work? I have a Mossberg 500 that I want to modify. I need a barrel shortened and rethreaded for accu-chokes. I have another cyl bore barrel that I want shortened and a new sight installed. Thanks!

How short do you want to go?

A new barrel might not work because a lot of Mossberg's shorter barrels aren't threaded. My 20" barrel is only threaded because it is on a Turkey Model.

 

[BigK421]

How short do you want to go?

A new barrel might not work because a lot of Mossberg's shorter barrels aren't threaded. My 20" barrel is only threaded because it is on a Turkey Model.

That's good information. I was thinking 22" for the accu-choke barrel. I already have a Carlson's turkey choke for that barrel. Possibly 18.5-20" for the cyl bore barrel for "home defense". That barrel my son can do on the lathe at his work.

 

[Unckebob]

That's good information. I was thinking 22" for the accu-choke barrel. I already have a Carlson's turkey choke for that barrel. Possibly 18.5-20" for the cyl bore barrel for "home defense". That barrel my son can do on the lathe at his work.

During the pandemic, 12 gauge home defense shotguns were gone or insanely overpriced. I finally found a used, reasonably priced Mossberg "Turkey" model with a 20" barrel and went with it as my home defense shotgun. It does the job.