Shortest 12ga Cantilever barrel???

[Msc6623]

Hey all first post!

I’ve owned multiple 870s my whole life. Ive shot things with 4 legs, wings and most recently gills with them.

I’m building a new deer slug gun with a relatively new 12ga 870 express that was handed down to me. I do a lot of deer drives and shoot from damn near point blank to out to 50 yards for the most part. It’s somewhat rare for me to get a 75-100 yard opportunity where we shotgun hunt but it can happen. I spend a lot of the time as a bird dog pushing drives. So a shorter barrel is better but I like the overall accuracy of a sabot slug. I’m not a big fan of buck shot and rifled slugs are nice but I like having the option to shoot past 50 yards if the opportunity were to present itself. I’m planning on running a 1-4 power scope to accommodate the short range but reach out if need be.

I see they make an 18.5” cantilever barrel for the 20ga. The shortest I’m able to find for the 12ga is 24”. I’m sure this is due to accuracy. Does anyone know if they make a shorter cantilever barrel for the 12ga? Can I have a 24” barrel cut down a few inches or will it be a paperweight afterward? Anyone have experience with this?

At the end of the day I will run the 24” rifled barrel if need be but just wondering what people have seen from experience. It would be nice to shorten the gun up without completely losing accuracy. Not trying to shoot 200 yards, just trying to find the Goldilocks of size vs accuracy.

Thanks!

[Scorpion8]

The shortest I’m able to find for the 12ga is 24”.

My question is, if all of your shot opportunities are less than 50 yards, why do you want a cantilevered mount barrel for a scope? Why not just with rifle sights, or at that range, set yourself up with ghost-ring sights? Remington makes a 20" rifled slug barrel (p/n #F242544) and 18" police barrels, but in order to stabilize slugs, I'd stay with the 20-24" barrels.

[Msc6623]

Thanks for the response. I get what you’re saying. I would like the option to shoot out past 50 if the opportunity presents itself. Which I can do with rifle sites. I do run a Vortex 1-4 x24 on one of my ARs. The scope is lightweight, holds zero no matter what and gives me the option of 1:1 or 4x for when the time calls for it. I just picked one up for this build.

I reached out to a gunsmith who also suggested to not go much shorter then 20”. This is what I will most likely do. I have a barrel on its way which I’m going to get cut and ported.

I’ll post pics of the project once compete!

[Scorpion8]

I’ll post pics of the project once compete!

Somewhere here it says project pics are mandatory. We love gun porn pics!!!

Since I also have an 870 slug gun for carrying in the bear woods when hiking, and also for possible deer use, I'm surely interested.

[Msc6623]

Haha no problem! Will do sir...

Hoping to have it all together in the next month. Then a trip to the bench is in order. I almost would like to shoot it at 24” then get the gunsmith to cut it down and see what happens. Just out of curiosity and to have the comparison for future 870’ers.

Stay tuned...

[Scorpion8]

I almost would like to shoot it at 24” then get the gunsmith to cut it down and see what happens. Just out of curiosity and to have the comparison for future 870’ers.

Statistically you might not see much difference, especially depending on the yardage of your target. Slug guns can be accurate, rifled slugs usually considered the more-accurate, but a 4" barrel difference isn't much. Now if you were comparing a 24" rifle barrel to a 16" rifle barrel, there should be significant differences, although you can get accurate short rifles like a Remington Model 7 I used to own in .243, was very accurate.

[Msc6623]

I have helped a few buddies sight in 870s and Mossberg 500 rifled barrels. All shoot awesome at 100yrds once you find out what flavor they want to eat.

I have a Savage 220 20ga bolt action slug gun that shoots 3 shot groups under an 1” @ 100yrds. I’ve taken quite a few deer with it out to 100. That has a 20” barrel on it. Always surprises me how accurate it is. I’m sure the bolt action plays a role in that as well.

I’m looking at this as more of a special purpose gun and a fun project piece to crawl around on the ground with. Anyone from southeastern PA knows how thick the sticker patches can be. And that’s we’re the deer like to hide out.

[Scorpion8]

Anyone from southeastern PA knows how thick the sticker patches can be. And that’s we’re the deer like to hide out.

Wherabouts in SE PA? I grew up in Philly and northern VA, and then settled in HS on a farm in Gettysburg/NewOxford. Went to PennState back when they allowed deer rifles in your dorm closet. Those were the days...

[Msc6623]

Finished (for now) South East PA Deer Machine.... built for up close action 80% of the time with the option to reach out when needed.

Remington 870 Express receiver
Mossberg made Rem 870 24in Cantilever Barrel (May get cut down and ported in the future)
215 Gear Ambi QD Single Point Sling Mount
Phase 5 Single Point Sling
Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8 x 24 Scope
Vortex Pro Rings

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[Scorpion8]

Very nice! Hogue stock?