Slug barrel and scopes: Cantilever vs. Reciever mounted

[samsmix]

I have a mossberg 500c 20 gauge that I want to.buy a fully rifled slug barrel for. What are the pros and cons of a cantilever barrel mounted scope, versus a reciever mounted scope?

Can I take the cantilever barrel off and on and maintain zero?

 

[T. O'Heir]

Cantilever vs. receiver would be more of a personal preference.
"...and maintain zero..." I think the manufacturers say you can, but I highly doubt it. I suspect the cantilever style would be less accurate due to barrel movement. Dunno for sure. Don't have a rifled barrel or scope. Or a Mossberg.
Seems that 20 gauge slug barrels from Mossberg are kind of limited. There isn't a lot of aftermarket stuff for Mossbergs.

 

[FrankenMauser]

Cantilever will retain zero better, so long as you get tension on the cap the same each time the barrel is installed.
Receiver mount will always have a little more 'wandering zero' effect; since the barrel is not affixed to the receiver, but is merely held in place by the magazine tube.

Unless you like using your shotgun as a pry bar, shovel, hammer, or base layer in a pile of tools and garbage behind the seat of your truck, durability of the two types isn't really worth nitpicking.

 

[Nathan]

I think Frankinmauser has it nailed!

We must remember that shotguns have lego like barrel attachments and terrible accuracy in general. I’m not sure my receiver mounted red dot is hurting anything out to 200 yards.

 

[jrothWA]

Try measuring the gap under the mag cap and theend of the mag tube surface.

making a solid contact helps.

 

[Rob228]

I do have a rifled barrel for my 870 (cantilever) but those Savage bolt action slug guns are looking more tempting every day.

 

[NoSecondBest]

FrankenMauser has it correct. I’ve had both on a couple of different shotguns (back in NY before a rifle was legal) and testing both types over time showed the cantilever had an edge in accuracy. However, I did own a few guns where the non-cantilever barrels shot slugs rather well. If in doubt, get the cantilever.

 

[samsmix]

Thank you. This confirms my suspicions, especially Frankenmauser's reply. Going to go cantilever, that way I can go back to a birdshooter with ease.

This is for my wife to use as a "short range rifle" out to maybe 150 yards in shotgun only areas.

I'm her bird dog, and will be using 12ga 3" "00", a tool with which I am very familiar.

 

[samsmix]

What kind of 100 yard accuracy might I expect with this setup, using Sabot style slugs?

 

[FrankenMauser]

Depends on the barrel and ammo.
But most people that I know that use modern rifled shotguns are seeing pretty good groups. Nearly always 5" or less, but often a nice and tight 2" or less (5-shot).

 

[NoSecondBest]

I’ve had a couple that would shoot five slugs in one ragged hole at 50 yds and that group would open up to around 2-2.5” at 100 yds.

 

[samsmix]

Sounds adequate to my purpose. Thank you very much for the information gentleman.