I just got a 23" Remington Rifled barrel w/ Cantilever and 2-7x32 Nikon Pro staff scope. I'll be switching from the rifled barrel to my smooth barrel every once in a while. Willchanging from barrel to barrel change the zero of my scope ornot. I don't wantto worry about spending cash on those expensive sabots if I have to always sight in my barrel w/ the scope after I switch. Thanks in advance.

I don't shoot shotguns slugs and sabots, but I'm 99% sure that if you have one scope, then you're going to have to sight in every time you switch. They are 2 different barrels. Each one is going to have a different "zero."

The solution? Just buy another scope so you can have one scope for each barrel.

Yep, I always have to zero after taking on and off with either a 1187 I had or my 870, or my gold deer hunter. It shouldn't be off by much. You just might have to lower 2MOA or something like that.

Even after cleaning, it changes zero some.

Even rifles, if you unstock them, and put them back together can change zero. Especially without good bedding.

I suspect every time you take the barrel off, the chances of hand-tightening the magazine cap back to exactlythe same pressure would be slim. That alone might change the zero.

I have the exact same set up. Rem 870 with 23" rifled barrel/ cantelever scope mount, and a Nikon 2-7x 32mm scope. Great set up, and I really like it. Very accurate with Hornady SST slugs. Last fall I shot a deer right through the heart at 110 yards while in a tree stand.

I can't help you with your question, I currently have the smooth bore on it, but I have not re-installed the rifled barrel. I always assumed it would go back to where it was. I would be interested to hear from the others.

Boy the "help" a guy gets.

If it is what I suspect, a cantilever scope mounted barrel. (i.e. the scope comes off with the barrel) you don't have to re-zero.

Of course if you go banging it around you might have to.

I have a cantilever barrel and scope for my Browning BPS and it has been rock solid steady since the day I put it on.

Now, your mileage may vary, however on my gun I can switch back and forth between the fully rifled and smooth bore barrels with no appreciable effect on the zero point of the scope.

Just make sure the end cap is tightened the same amount (I use a small paint marker dot on the cap and one on the barrel ring to get it aligned properly). The other part of the equation is to have a good scope and good solid mounts.

It may or may not change. One thing for sure is never assume it didn't change zero. Don't let a few bucks for more slugs stand in your way of finding out. You owe it to the deer.

You get a yes and no answer, normally not needed on a cantilever set-up, unless you have play between the receiver and barrel.An old trick, drill and tap the receiver and the barrel lug and bolt them together, if any slop exsists which could change point of impact once you screw them together it will remain a pair as long as each time you put the slug barrel back on, you put the screw in place, point of impact will stay constant. When useing the smooth bore put a blind screw in to protect the threads and cover up the hole. If it is a newer shotgun with a cantilever mounted scope it will take a while befor it has enough slop to worry about it, most problems Ive encountered are on older alluminum receiver shotguns, the 870 should last a long time befor this fix will be needed. Something to add!, most times receiver to barrel slop occurs is when the mag cap is not tightend enough letting the barrel move in the receiver. Most gunsmiths should be able to preform this fix.

shouldnt move, if it does,it wont be off that much