NEW TO THREAD....SLUG GUN

bargerfeist135 · 02-29-2008, 06:22 PM

I was wondering what would be the best gauge to get a new slug gun in range,accuracy,etc(for deer hunting) and if i would get a diff in accuracy if i put a rifled barrel on the old 870 or bought a rossi or H&R single shot(heard pump is less accurate)

samuel · 02-29-2008, 10:38 PM

A 12ga is best for slugs as they have done more research and offer more options..20ga is acceptable but must be considered smaller and less power. Naturally a rifled barrel is going to allow you to use all options offered where a smoothbore limits you to foster type slugs but does allow buckshot which cannot be used in rifled barrels.Whoever told you pumps (or auto,s for that matter) werent as accurate is full of BS. sam.

GlockMeister · 02-29-2008, 10:41 PM

I'm just gonna chime in to welcome you to the site.

SwedeSteve · 03-01-2008, 12:24 AM

Welcome to G&G Barger! Samuel is tops for reliability! And does it again here. 12ga rifled barrel on your 870 is good to go, if you are looking for slug accuracy.
Buy a couple of brands of ammo and she what she does best with!

sandcritter · 03-01-2008, 09:13 AM

There's no doubt a 12ga rifled slugbarrel is "superior", but i think it's worth looking at the big picture, too. Presumably you're in a shotgun only zone.

Realistically, what range are your shot options where u hunt? I used a mossberg 500 20ga (pump) with smooth slug barrel for half-dozen years and, honestly, i never really wanted for anything more even though i "wanted" a rifled 12ga cause every magazine said it was better. I practiced at 50yds and made up my mind that i wouldn't try beyond 70yds. In the area i hunted, there were few shots realistically longer than that. Could never justify getting that 12ga, no matter how much i tried. In either guage, the wounds are devastating.

The other thing is, IMO you need to be at least as good a marksman when the weapon is less precise than a rifle. And shotgun slugs recoil much harder than shooting lead shot, with encourages flinching and reduces enjoyable practice time. No kidding, at a bench, 3" magnum brenneke's or activ's or whatever i was using, i'd tire of shooting that sucker. The 12ga is just that much more recoil. Maybe ur a bigger guy than me, but something to consider. An autoloader would take some sting out of it.

Then the other thought is, what about a muzzleloader? Depends on the state regs, but there's another thought. And probably more accurate. Part of me wants a shotgun for the nostalgia, but realistically will probably get a muzzleloader.

just my $0.02

SwedeSteve · 03-01-2008, 09:19 AM

Sand makes a few good points worth considering. I was looking at expense, an using what you already hae at hand.

sandcritter · 03-01-2008, 09:28 AM

Forgot about your accuracy question. I could get 2" at 50yds, i could get 1 YARD at 50yrds, lol. I'd have to really go slow because a hot barrel threw them in funny stings, and the thin wall shotgun barrels get hot very fast.

bargerfeist135 · 03-01-2008, 09:35 PM

thanks for the help guys i think ill try a slug barrel for the 870 with buckhammers and sst first

HAWKEYE50 · 03-18-2008, 06:24 PM

I have an 870 with the rifled, cantilever scope mount. A 2x7x32 Leupold shotgun scope. I now shoot a T/C ENCORE MUZZELOADER. Rebarrel your 870 but you might want to look at the newer inlines, man can they be accurate. good luck.

02-29-2008, 06:22 PM	#1
bargerfeist135 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 17	NEW TO THREAD....SLUG GUN I was wondering what would be the best gauge to get a new slug gun in range,accuracy,etc(for deer hunting) and if i would get a diff in accuracy if i put a rifled barrel on the old 870 or bought a rossi or H&R single shot(heard pump is less accurate)

02-29-2008, 10:41 PM	#3
GlockMeister Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 5,513	I'm just gonna chime in to welcome you to the site. __________________ I'd rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6!

03-01-2008, 12:24 AM	#4
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 10,400 Images: 1	Welcome to G&G Barger! Samuel is tops for reliability! And does it again here. 12ga rifled barrel on your 870 is good to go, if you are looking for slug accuracy. Buy a couple of brands of ammo and she what she does best with! __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

03-01-2008, 09:13 AM	#5
sandcritter Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NC & Germany (military) Posts: 3	few more thoughts There's no doubt a 12ga rifled slugbarrel is "superior", but i think it's worth looking at the big picture, too. Presumably you're in a shotgun only zone. Realistically, what range are your shot options where u hunt? I used a mossberg 500 20ga (pump) with smooth slug barrel for half-dozen years and, honestly, i never really wanted for anything more even though i "wanted" a rifled 12ga cause every magazine said it was better. I practiced at 50yds and made up my mind that i wouldn't try beyond 70yds. In the area i hunted, there were few shots realistically longer than that. Could never justify getting that 12ga, no matter how much i tried. In either guage, the wounds are devastating. The other thing is, IMO you need to be at least as good a marksman when the weapon is less precise than a rifle. And shotgun slugs recoil much harder than shooting lead shot, with encourages flinching and reduces enjoyable practice time. No kidding, at a bench, 3" magnum brenneke's or activ's or whatever i was using, i'd tire of shooting that sucker. The 12ga is just that much more recoil. Maybe ur a bigger guy than me, but something to consider. An autoloader would take some sting out of it. Then the other thought is, what about a muzzleloader? Depends on the state regs, but there's another thought. And probably more accurate. Part of me wants a shotgun for the nostalgia, but realistically will probably get a muzzleloader. just my $0.02

03-01-2008, 09:19 AM	#6
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 10,400 Images: 1	Sand makes a few good points worth considering. I was looking at expense, an using what you already hae at hand. __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

02-29-2008, 10:38 PM	#2
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,087	A 12ga is best for slugs as they have done more research and offer more options..20ga is acceptable but must be considered smaller and less power. Naturally a rifled barrel is going to allow you to use all options offered where a smoothbore limits you to foster type slugs but does allow buckshot which cannot be used in rifled barrels.Whoever told you pumps (or auto,s for that matter) werent as accurate is full of BS. sam.

03-01-2008, 09:28 AM	#7
sandcritter Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NC & Germany (military) Posts: 3	Forgot about your accuracy question. I could get 2" at 50yds, i could get 1 YARD at 50yrds, lol. I'd have to really go slow because a hot barrel threw them in funny stings, and the thin wall shotgun barrels get hot very fast.

03-01-2008, 09:35 PM	#8
bargerfeist135 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 17	thanks for the help guys i think ill try a slug barrel for the 870 with buckhammers and sst first

03-18-2008, 06:24 PM	#9
HAWKEYE50 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: HOLLY MI Posts: 166 Blog Entries: 20	I have an 870 with the rifled, cantilever scope mount. A 2x7x32 Leupold shotgun scope. I now shoot a T/C ENCORE MUZZELOADER. Rebarrel your 870 but you might want to look at the newer inlines, man can they be accurate. good luck. __________________ "KEEPIN MY POWDER DRY"