Mark
I know bolt guns are definitely the way to go. However I have a Mossberg with a rifled barrel already and was hoping it would be ok. If not I will trade it for a bolt gun, probably another Mossberg. In particular I was interested in how the various slugs perform on game. I have had unsatisfactory results with Foster type slugs.

I've seen rifled chokes that replace the screw-in chokes that are standard now in many brands. You buy a screw in choke, a "no drill" scope mount, and (presto!) your shotgun is a slug gun. Seems too good to be true. Anybody have any experiance with these? Kind of slug used?

I use a rifled choke tube on my 870 Turkey gun. With a Leupold 1x4 shotgun scope on an Aimpoint sadlle mount, and 2 3/4" Lightfield slugs I get 3" groups at 100 yards. Effectiveness on game is like any other gun. Hit them in the vitals and they die. A big hole in the muzzle and heavy recoil won't kill a deer. Shot placement will.

Jeff

Mike,

Then try copper solids would be my suggestion. One thing really bad for accuracy is to shoot out of a hot barrel, as that softens up the sabot and you'll get flyers. So when you are grouping only shoot twice then let the gun cool.

Mark

I have a Rem. 870 sp 12Ga. that is about 13-14 years old. It has a screw in rifled choke tube, This particular gun came out before their fully rifled barrels. Initially, I tried 8-10 brands of slugs thru it[this was about 1990, before a lot of the new slugs were out on the market]. The load that was the most accurate was the old winchester 1 oz. foster slug. When I do my part, it will do 3 shots touching at 50 yds., off the bench. I have killed over 35 whitetails with this gun[it has a 1.5-5x simmons on board]. Last summer, just for giggles, I tried a 5 pack of the winchester nosler part. gold rounds, thru it. The accuracy was as good, but no better than the foster slug. If I was going to hunt black bear, or big hogs with it, I'd use the partitions, but for whitetails, I'll just stick with the fosters. $2.99 vs. $12.99 per 5 pak, is a big difference. The partitions, have a flatter trajectory, and better down range performance, but my longest deer kill, has been 130 yds. Oh yeah, which slug to use? The one that is the most accurate in YOUR gun

Mad Dog

Mikelravy

May I suggest checking out a combo that I have been extremely happy with when hunting with slugs, although you will have to search the used market if you want one, or perhaps have a custom builder make one up for you.

What I use is a Browning A-Bolt that was specifically made for Sabot Slugs. It has a rather nice wood stock, a 20 inch rifled barrel, and a magazine that will hold 3 inch shells.

I put a 2 3/4 power scope on it (although it came with regular sights as well) and use Winchester Supreme 3 inch sabots in it. I have made shots at deer out to 80 measured yards with that gun with absolutely no problems whatsoever. Usually it seems as though the deer just loses its legs because they usually go straight down with one shot.

Blue

Thanks for the info guys. I hope to start trying to get a load for my existing gun this weekend. If not satisfied will be shopping for new one. My old smoothbore just doesn't cut it.

"Diehards that still use smmothbores?" Let me tell you mugwhumpus that more smoothbores are used every year with foster type slugs to take more deer than all the rest in the last five years. Those same Winchester foster type slugs easily print 3 inch groups from my cylinder bored shotgun at 75 yards as long as I keep the barrel clean. In fact I never saw the need for any more accuracy or knockdown and where I will use a shotgun 100 yards is beanfield shooting. I don't think you got any bad slugs I think you just had a bad day at the range or you need to clean that rusty gun of yours.

Lightfields seem to fly well out of many different rifled slugguns, I would try those, and Federals with the Barnes. One of the big hurdles is that shotgun trigger. The best factory bolt gun I have used has been the Savage, they shoot well, Like 2" at 100. feeding can be iffy. I dont think the Browning is available, except in the used market.

HBH

See the expansion you get from the 'copper solids' on the post below. Accuracy with my TCR/87 slug barrel w/4x Leupold in 3" 12-ga. with the copper solids is 1"/100 yds. consistently.:

http://www.accuratereloading.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB2&Number=522699&Forum=

I shoot a cheap NEF Tracker Pardner II. Which is a 10 gauge single-barrel blank drilled and rifled for 12 gauge 3" magnums.

The result is an 11 lb monstrosity that prints cloverleafs at 50 yards, 1.5 inches at 100 yards.

Topped with a cheap (but so far surprisingly serviceable) Simmons fixed 4 power shotgun scope, it has killed every deer I've shot at.

I think the shotgun was $100 at Wal-Mart, and the scope was in the $30 range. Both were on sale after season closed one year.

I use Rem Copper Solids, as they were the first shell I tried and worked well. They are expensive but I usually shoot this gun less than 5 times a year. Three shots at 100 yards - "yep, still zeroed". Then two does on the ground.

Another vote for Federal Premiums with the Barnes Expander.
I get under 3" groups at 100 yards in my 870sp with the fully rifled cantilever barrel and 3-9 power simons scope.
Performance on deer size game is quite impressive, with most shots resulting in quick kills and heavy blood trails.

Fordfreak

From memory a 'mugwhump' is like 'bigfoot', at least that's what I was told in Vancouver.
Maybe mugwhumpus is the genus?

Cheers, Dave.

I have not had too much luck with the Rem Premier copper solids. Using an 870 turkey gun with the rifled choke. I guess I really have to experiment with different ammo. it was shooting 6in @ 50yd.

Mikelravy:

If Mossberg autos or pumps come with interchangeable barrels (like Rem) I would urge you to try a Hastings rifled barrel using 2 3/4" sabots. (The 3" have a rather bad recoil and the difference isn't worth it if it's deer you're after) I used that combo (with a Leopold 4x scope) in both a Rem. 11-87 and a Rem 1100. (12 ga) Both guns grouped within 3 or 3 1/2" at 75 yards. Over a lifetime, it is my definite impression that a shot with a slug in the haunches (south end of a deer going north) usually doesn't drive through to the boiler room. Any other hit with a slug would knock a deer down right there -or such has been my experience in NY deer hunting. Just my thoughts.

The federal with 3/4 oz. Barnes expanders shoot best out of my marlin bolt gun with rifled barrel.