Hastings Paradox shotgun barrels?

[Matt-man]

Can anyone tell me about the Hastings Paradox shotgun barrels? Their web page doesn't have much info except that they're rifled. In particular, I'm wondering about the Paradox name. Elsewhere on the web I've read that the Paradox rifling was used for firing both solid projectiles and shot:

From http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/gallery7.html

This SAA model utilizes the English “ball and shot” rifling system devised by Colonel Vincent Fosbery and popularized by Holland &Holland under their “Paradox” trade name. The barrel has a rifled choke that shoots bullets exceedingly well but still produces useful shot patterns perfect for aerial trick shooting. It is also BATF legal.

So what I'm wondering is, are the Hastings barrels useful with both slugs and shot? I've got an 870 that will be used for defense, and will be loaded with buckshot at home and slugs when in the woods.

I suppose for less money I can get a Rem-choke rifle-sighted barrel and a rifled choke tube, and change choke tubes when needed...

Thanks,
Matt

PS - check out the link, that SAA is a thing of beauty.

[Matt-man]

Oh, a couple things I forgot: I intend to use Brenneke slugs, not sabot-type. I don't expect to see any grizzly bears out in the woods, but possibly black bears or mountain lions. And there's always the possibility of two-legged varmints.

I also found out that the Rem Choke rifle-sighted barrels come with the rifled and IC choke tubes, so that sounds like a good choice. Will Brenneke slugs get any benefit from the rifled choke tube?

[1911Badger]

I use the Hastings cantilevered barrels in 3 shotguns for deer hunting.

Excellent (cloverleafs at 100 yards) accuracy with SABOT slugs (mine like Lightfields).

Very good (6" at 100) with Foster's, until the lead starts gumming up the works.

Just for grins, I tried patterning some 00 buck. Bad move. I think the rifling "spun" the pellets. At 7 yards, it was OK. At 15 they were all over the place.


I'd stick with the Remmy barrel, unless your gonna put a scope on it. If you want some "oomph" with accuracy, Winchester makes those high velocity (1900 fps?) sabots that will take down a deer at 200 yards. Or so they say.

[Sundance]

I have a Hastings rifled cantilever barrel on my 1187 with a Leupold 2-7x shotgun scope. Mine is very accurate...I call it my 12 gauge sniper rifle. All shots touching at 100 yards. I too had much better accuracy with the sabots than the fosters. If I wasn't going to shoot sabots, I probably wouldn't spend the money for a Hastings and a scope though. By the way...the only thing I can say negative about Hastings is they are made in France.

[Matt-man]

Great, thanks for the info. It sounds like the Hastings barrels work great with a scope and sabots, but I'm not going to be using those so I'll stick with the cheaper Remington barrel.

Matt