So if I were to cut a 20 gauge barrel off...?

[hunt-m-up]

Have no fear, no sawed off shotguns here. Picked up a Mossberg 20 gauge pump recently that was pretty rusted up.
28" fixed full choke barrel, what would my choke/constriction be like if I cut it back to 24" due to muzzle pitting? or maybe 26"?
Vent rib is loose so I can slide it off to cut and reattach, just wondered what pattern would be like if I cut it back.
Thanks,

[trotterlg]

You will probably loose all of the choke and the pitting will probably will not hurt anything to begin with.  Larry

[zoner]

larrys right.....when yer done you'll have basically no choke....but it still might pattern ok depending on what you want to do with it. You could have it threaded for choke tubes, too

[hunt-m-up]

Thanks guys, kinda what I figured but I have not cut a barrel before, I'm not trying to turn it into a home defense piece. It's stripped down to bare metal now, I'll probably just do a duracoat which should help fill in the pitting that is there.

[STUMPJMPR]

There is Durafil.  It's a filler sold by Lauer.  You could also use JB weld to fill the pits.  Solder also works well.  Of course these are all options if you plan on Duracoating the gun. 

[mannyrock]

 
   I saw a 20 gauge lawfully shortened to 22 inches before, leaving no choke.  I was surprised at how good the pattern was, so long as high base, expensive shells were used.  These types of shells have a good shot cup and wad in them, which serves to hold the shot together for a pretty good distance.
 
  It looked like a good 30 yard pattern to me, akin to a skeet choke.
 
Mannyrock

[BW56]

Years ago as a kid i let my pump 20 be shortened to 18 1/4". A year ago had screw in choke tubes installed. I love this gun. I can't imagine swinging a long barrel around now. I can dust as many sporting clays as my son can with his virgin 20 sxs

[chefjeff]

Velllllllllly interesting......I know some goose guys (!) who do this with about 22"bbls.

[kevinsmith5]

No choke does have applications. My dad has a '97 that's been in the family since new that at some point in the '40's had 6" taken off the barrel. It's pure murder in heavy brush in short busted quail, ok for spring squirrels on a river bottom, and useless for everything else.

[T.R.]

My brother had his 12 gauge Mossberg cut down to 19 inches.  Patterns are poor with #6 beyond 15 yards but high base #7.5 shoots nice even patterns at 25 yards.
 
Paper plate targets:  it shoots plain slugs OK at 50 yards.  Buckshot at 20 yards is OK but at 30 yards is weak and not suggested.
 
In my opinion, it was a much better shotgun when it had modified choke.  Anyone is allowed to disagree.
 
TR 

[Antietamgw]

If you decide you want some choke, have it threaded for choke tubes. Mike Orlen has done a couple for me, was quick and cheap. You might check him out, good guy to deal with.
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=36237