OK to remove barrel after sighting in?
 

Anyone ever removed a rifled barrel from their shotgun after sighting in at the range and then replace it and recheck the gun's accuracy?

I have a scoped 870 express combo. sighted in for deer season next Monday. However, I may do some hunting a day ot two prior which would require removing the rifled barrel and using the smoothbore barrel.

I don't have the time this week to recheck accuracy at the range after removing and replacing the rifled barrel.

RE: OK to remove barrel after sighting in?
 

If you have a cantilever mount and the scope comes off with the barrel, you would probably be ok.

If you're using a saddle mount over the receiver, then you might have a problem.

Mine has a saddle mount and I try not to disassemble it unless absolutely necessary.

I do lay 2 or 3 layers of duct tape on the back end of the Hastings barrel and then cram it into the 1100's receiver so as to eliminate any slop.

It usually goes back close enough that I can still hunt with it if I don't have a chance to check it.

It will lay 3 regular Brennekes touching at 100 yds. and Hornady's H2K Sabot will have 5 shots inside a 3 inch circle at two hundred yards.

RE: OK to remove barrel after sighting in?
 

The scope is mounted using a saddle mount (b-square) over the receiver.

Although the gun may not shoot exactly the same way after removing and replacing the barrel, would an inch or so difference at 100 yards be that big of a deal since a deer's vital zone is roughly the size of a pie plate?

By the way, an inch or so difference at 100 yards is just an estimate, and not based on experience. Is this realistic? The last thing I want to do is take a shot at a deer with a gun so far off zero that I wound it or even miss.

RE: OK to remove barrel after sighting in?
 

A saddle mount introduces more variables with removal and reinstallation. Should you decide to switch back and forth, mike your front and back distances for height from the mount to the receiver and the width of the receiver next to the mounting bolts before removing the mount.

Any one have an extra gun you can borrow?

RE: OK to remove barrel after sighting in?
 

My 870 express did the same thing moving off zero sometimes 3" usually horz. change only, so I finally got a cantilever. I know, $240 seems like alot extra for for that cantilever.

RE: OK to remove barrel after sighting in?
 

if it can be avoided by using someone elses gun i would reccomend against it. it may drop back to zero and it may not, its hard to tell.

propmahn
save the world, reload your brass

RE: OK to remove barrel after sighting in?
 

Two or three layers of duck tape? Not a very tight fitting barrel, wow! I do the same type of thing, it's called pinning the barrel. I use a piece of aluminum can with rounded corners and wedge between receiver and barrel. There is no question it helps accuracy, with saddle mounts, for obvious reasons. I have a saddle mount and I don't think they are the answer. I would prefer a cantilever mount, but that is what came with the gun. So I pin my barrel.