Any reason not to chop Maverick 88 barrel?

[Rural Ruger]

Looks like I've got a Maverick 88 headed my way, but it's in "field" guise which isnt really what was after. Couldn't pass it up though. I'm no hunter and it'll never see trap use, just a range toy with possible SD use (or at least that's what I'm telling myself).

Any reason not to take the 28" barrel down to a shorter but still legal length? Seeing used barrels go for $150+, which is not worth adding on such a cheap shotgun IMO. I could sell this barrel and use the funds for a shorter one, but that seems like a hassle that I'll probably come out on the losing end of.

[knight0334]

Do it to it.. ...Its not like you would be destroying an LC Smith, Holland & Holland, or a Merkel.

[Ecclectic Collector]

Any barrel designed for the Mossberg 500 will also fit a Maverick. I bought a cylinder bored 18.5" one new from Brownells for less than $100 a few years ago and found a dealer who sold me a take off 24" slug barrel for $50.

I'd say you could find a barrel for your gun for a reasonable price unless you are determined to go the DIY route. Not certain about the law here, but don't you technically need a FFL licensed gunsmith to cut a shotgun barrrel?

[jthrelf]

Any barrel designed for the Mossberg 500 will also fit a Maverick. I bought a cylinder bored 18.5" one new from Brownells for less than $100 a few years ago and found a dealer who sold me a take off 24" slug barrel for $50.

I'd say you could find a barrel for your gun for a reasonable price unless you are determined to go the DIY route. Not certain about the law here, but don't you technically need a FFL licensed gunsmith to cut a shotgun barrrel?

Not if it's at least 18". Most go 18.5" for margin of error.

I'd say put up a trade post for a shorter barrel and if after two weeks you come up cold or can't find a good priced new one, chop it.

[USMC3531]

Any barrel designed for the Mossberg 500 will also fit a Maverick. I bought a cylinder bored 18.5" one new from Brownells for less than $100 a few years ago and found a dealer who sold me a take off 24" slug barrel for $50.

I'd say you could find a barrel for your gun for a reasonable price unless you are determined to go the DIY route. Not certain about the law here, but don't you technically need a FFL licensed gunsmith to cut a shotgun barrrel?

No you don't need to pay anyone to cut the barrel. As long as you keep it over 18" you are fine.

[bigandy1966]

and check on the right way to determine barrel length.

[MARINE DIVISION TWO]

Sure you have a New Blade in your hacksaw ?

[PASE717]

If the barrel is in good shape, why chop it? Just hold on to it, as a spare, and buy a smaller Mossberg 500 barrel to meet your current needs. Swapping barrels is easy. You may want that longer barrel later on.

[Rural Ruger]

Thanks all, appreciate the feedback. Good call on trying to trade here, as a first step. Probably call a few shops, but most of the ones I frequent no longer keep a lot of used accessories the way they used to. Both options worth a shot though.

If I chop it, I'll keep it longer than minimum...probably 20" to be safe.

As far as having a second barrel on hand, I already have the long barrel "box" checked via other guns, and given that a replacement barrel costs almost as much as i paid for the gun I dont want to tie up extra cash in this one.

[bortle]

Measure twice, cut once.