TomP5

dhom, you might have already been over to Chuck Hawk's website, but in case you haven't seen his article on shotgun slugs yet, I've included the link here.

I don't agree with everything he writes (e.g. a .22 varmint bullet turning to a puff of smoke on a grass blade ), but the article does have some good info on shotgun slugs.

dhom

I live in Pa. Allegheny Co. [2-B] and for deer you have to use shotgun or inline muzzleloaders. I have a T/C Encore Pro 50 caliber with a 3 x 9 Zeiss and have shot many deer with this combo. I also have a 500 Mossberg and a Rem 870 with smoothbore barrels and would like to use them more. When I take them to the shooting range the accuracy doesn't build up my confidence. People have told me to get the barrel "pinned" but, I don't believe that is the answer. So, I am calling on other smoothbore shooters to find the answer to my dilema. To this point the slug design of the shuttlecock seems to be the way to go. I do appreciate everyone's input. THANKS!

FIST 75

Just want to say that as a smoothbore shotgun owner, this was a very informative thread and thanks for posting the links also.

Much appreciated!

Hmebuildr

I use a Rem 870 20Ga with a pinned rifled barrel and get 2" 100 yards groups all day with Rem Accutips now it took a lot of shooting to find the slugs that worked well in my gun and your mileage may vary.

Before I went with the rifled barrel I was shooting Federal Truball slugs and could get very good groups with it out of a IC choked barrel. The Truball slug is a foster style slug with a plastic ball in the base when you pull the trigger the ball moves into the hollow base and seals the slug to the barrel wall.

gray1402

Ok.... what gun are you using? If you have a 12 ga. that is a 3 inch magnum there is only one way to go. Also, do you have a scope on your gun? As for the slug there is only one if you truly want great accuracy. Buy some of these and start over. BTW, if you have a gun that has choke tubes, you will want the FULL, yes the FULL, Choke. Here is the secret to the BEST 100 yard shotgun groups.
http://www.brennekeusa.com/cms/blackmagic.html
Ballistic Data
http://www.brennekeusa.com/cms/241.html
Depending on the make and model of your gun, you can check, there are some rifled choke tubes out there that work well too.

I am not saying "this is the only way to have FANTASTIC shot groups at 100 yards" but it truly is one of the easiest!

Be well,
G

antlerfan

dhom,

I too have done the smoothbore deer slug hunting thing and after a bad experience using rifled slugs i am now using a .12ga Mossberg 500 with rifled slug barrel, winchester rackmaster slugs and open sight i get 3-4" groups at 35-50 yards. I also have a T/C prohunter and i got a prohunter rifled slug barrel for it, topped it with a traditions 3.5 x 10 x 44 scope using remington accu-tips its about 4-6" group at 100 yards

Hope this helps
Antlerfan

Tater

What kind of accuracy did you get out of the Federal Truball and a smooth bore barrel?

Hmebuildr

I could keep 5 shots of the bench in a 3 inch circle at 75 yards that was plenty good enough for deer

Tater

Thanks, hmebuildr. Good information.

Mayor Al

I use both Rifle and Slug-Shotgun and like them both. Focus on my Saiga 12 gauge and you'll see me able to knock a 100 lb hog off his running feet at 80 yards or so, using Remington 1oz slugs in the smoothbore barrel. And I can put 5 or even 10 rounds downrange as quick as I can line up on that Damn Pig, if he slips out of the first one !!!

Take a look at my Saiga Hog Smoothbore w/ 5 round mag and 1.5x6x32 mm scope.



AND HERE IS THE RESULT OF THAT ONE OZ SLUG MEETING Mr HOG !!

Tracer

I believe that when you speak of using Slugs for hunting, one must first find out what really is accurate in their shotgun. Now what works in mine may not work in yours. So the tale of the tape is nothing more than "trial and error" you must put your time in at the shooting range.

Yes, you may have to purchase several boxes of slugs to see what works for you but that is the only real way you will be able to come up with a promising solution to accuracy with a slug in a shotgun.

Sbh87

Add muzzleloaders to that list. Bow can be used throughout all three seasons and muzzleloaders can be used during shotgun season.

jlh820

Slugs and sabots? I've always heard it was one or the other. Maybe I'm misunderstanding you.

I used to practice occasionally whie in LE with slugs. 30 years later (used to live in CA), I bought my first shotgun, a tactical Mossy 500 12ga. Took it to the indoor range first with a 25 yard limit. Brought 00 and slugs. Fired 3 of each and shot all the slugs in the head of a silhouette. The slugs were sabot and my shoulder was SORE. Next purchase was a shooting vest. A thin cotton shirt didn't seem to provide anywhere near enough padding. Plus the Mossberg factory pads on their tactical stocks are pretty much worthless.

kiwihunter

I have an Ithaca model 37 Deer Slayer with the factory iron sights i can with Rifled slugs consistently hit an A4 piece of paper folded in half at around 75 yards i figure that's at least minute of Deer...although here in NZ in our National parks one cannot use a .22 or a shotgun because of the amount of protected native bird species.But that does not apply to private blocks or farmland.The Ithaca is pictured below in the middle.

dhom

I live in Allegheny County so, a slug gun is very useful. I ended up putiing my smoothbores aside and bought a savage bolt gun. Although all my rifles are bolt guns I was not happy with this particular one. It was used and shells in the clip [not removable] seemed to pop up and this slug gun was to finicky for my liking. It only wanted to shoot Rem Copper Solids 3". These rounds averaged about 1 1/2" at 100 yds. I traded this gun in on a rifled/cantileverd Rem 870 barrel. My results were fantastic. I no longer had a finicky slug gun. Most of the rounds I tried were in the 2-3" range at 100 yds. [Rem Accutip,Win Platinum,Horn SST etc....] Then, I got to Federal Torphy Tipped and it ripped a 1 3/4" hole for 5 shots at 100yds. These rounds being 2" right and 3" low I readjusted the scope and shot 2 more rounds. They were 1" high of center and only had 1/8" of paper between them. How could this story have ended any better. [A very happy ending]