Shooting shot through a rifled barrel?

My bro-in-law just bought a Remington 870 Youth model 20ga for his son’s 10th (golden) birthday. He bought the gun with a rifled barrel, which I hope was not a mistake. They live right next to a game farm in Ogilvie, and shoot a lot of pheasants on and off the game farm. Can you shoot shot out of a rifled barrel? I would assume lead would do less damage, but the game farm is steel only. Should I recommend to him that he buy a smooth-bore barrel for pheasant/trap shooting? This gun will mean a lot to my nephew, and I can see him shooting some deer with it 2 years from now. Thanks for your input.

Lars

Not a gun “GURU” by any means, but I know they make interchangable barrels for those type guns. So my “GUESS” is yes you will need to buy another barrel (smooth barrel) to shoot lead or steel “birdshot” out of. They can be switched back and forth depending on season and qaurry being chased.

Not a gun “GURU” by any means, but I know they make interchangable barrels for those type guns. So my “GUESS” is yes you will need to buy another barrel (smooth barrel) to shoot lead or steel “birdshot” out of. They can be switched back and forth depending on season and qaurry being chased.

Do not shoot shot through a rifled barrel. Expecailly steel. You would not be able to hit a barn right in front of you and could very easily damage the barrel.

Do not shoot shot through a rifled barrel. Expecailly steel. You would not be able to hit a barn right in front of you and could very easily damage the barrel.

it might damage the barrel
and the twist will throw the shot everywhere

it might damage the barrel
and the twist will throw the shot everywhere

I don’t think I would do it Shoot. It might end up looking like your brother inlaws gun that is hanging at the Lodge.

I’ve seen lots of guys shoot bird shot out of a smooth bore slug barrels. Your brother inlaw owns the machine shop in town, have him rip the twist out. On second thought, that may not be a good idea either.

I don’t think I would do it Shoot. It might end up looking like your brother inlaws gun that is hanging at the Lodge.

I’ve seen lots of guys shoot bird shot out of a smooth bore slug barrels. Your brother inlaw owns the machine shop in town, have him rip the twist out. On second thought, that may not be a good idea either.

The safety issue would be the first consideration and the damage to the rifled barrel would be the second, but I’m going to guess that the rifled barrel is equal to a cylinder choke and is considerably shorter than the appropriate bird barrel. That in itself would make it tough to be consistant shooting. Have him buy a full choke smooth bore barrel especially if the boy is going to shoot trap with it. A seasoned trap shooter would find it very hard to be consistant with that set-up.

The safety issue would be the first consideration and the damage to the rifled barrel would be the second, but I’m going to guess that the rifled barrel is equal to a cylinder choke and is considerably shorter than the appropriate bird barrel. That in itself would make it tough to be consistant shooting. Have him buy a full choke smooth bore barrel especially if the boy is going to shoot trap with it. A seasoned trap shooter would find it very hard to be consistant with that set-up.

Do not shoot steel shot through that barrel. Cabelas has a bunch of barrels in the bargin cave get him a bird barrel with rem chokes they are cheap new and you should save a bunch in the cave.

Do not shoot steel shot through that barrel. Cabelas has a bunch of barrels in the bargin cave get him a bird barrel with rem chokes they are cheap new and you should save a bunch in the cave.