Shotgun Slugs

s.gun

I would like to hear opinions of shotgun slug comparisons.20 Ga. versus 12 Ga. for accuracy and their ability to knock a deer down.Primarily the Sabot Slugs.And your opinion as to what brand of slugs you like.Any bad experience with with any type of slug you have used on deer.

s.gun

I own a Remington 870 Express which has a 24in improved cylinder slug barrel. I have been using Remington slugger rifled slugs out of it for years, but I have been told by some that it is ok to shoot the Copper Solid hollow point Sabot slugs out of it also. Is this true?

s.gun

Never too old to learn....can one use slugs in a FULL choke gun?
Garryowen

s.gun

I am the new owner of an 11-87 12ga with screw-in chokes. Is it possible to shoot slugs with this gun? If so, which choke? While I am familiar with many other arms, shotguns are not my forte, so any help is appreciated.

From what I understand, there are rifled slugs, does this matter at all in the above?

s.gun

hey i just got a rilfe slug barrel for my remington 870 (Best shotgun ever made) and i was wonder ing if you can shoot rifled slugs in a rifled barrel
i haven't done this yet

just wonderin what you experts thought

-THNAKS

s.gun

Do you have to use sabots while shooting out of a rifled barrel? If not, what are some good(cheap) slugs that wont fill in my rifeling after 1 shot.

Thanks,

Larry

SCOUT5

I've live in IN where we have used slugs forever it seems. I've shot deer with most style slugs on the market. I've shot many that went down on the spot and many more that ran, with all types of slugs. For shear knock down power it is hard to beat an 1 1/8 to 1 1/4 oz lead slug, lots of frontal area and they are a hammer. However I've had just as many run when hit with these as most any other slug I have used. It's really all about shot placement. I have used both 12 and 20 ga with pretty much equal results.

Personaly I like the remington copper solid slugs, they are not as fast as others made, but accuracy and lethality have been excellent. I've used them in both 12 and 20 ga. I have tracked my use of the 20 gauge using the copper solid sabot and here are the results. I have fired 31 rounds at deer resulting in 28 dead and recovered deer. One I shot twice (hit her a little to far back the first round) another I tried to shoot in the back of the head (bad idea really) she dropped her head or I just missed. Once I hit a limb about 30 yards in front of a deer and missed. The largest dressed @ 224 lbs. I've had them run and I've had then fall, most fell within my site, but all recovered, and that is with a 20 ga. The longest shot was 138 yards measured later with a range finder. I mount regular 3x9x40 rifle scopes on the 20 ga as recoil isn't that bad.

I have used the faster slugs and they do provide more range. I think if your gun shoots them well enough to use the extra range (beyond 125 yards) they are wrorth it, if not I would use the copper solids, federal makes a comparible load that also works well. There are a few out there I haven't tried yet, it's expensive business at 3-4 dollars a shot. I have had good accuracy with the hornady sst load and have shot them the last 2 years. When I run out of them I think I will go back to the copper solids as the sst's do not exit as often and leave less blood trail if you do have to trail one. My son made a good hit on a large buck and it took us a day to find him, no exit wound and a large weed field made it difficult.

Shoot what your gun and your shoulder like as accuracy is the most important element to your question. Learn your load and it's drop rate if you want to get the most range from your set up.

Any of the current made sabot slugs should be good performers and yeilds good results if shot placement is good. If given my choice between a 12 or a 20ga, most often I pick up the 20 as I have found them to be just as effective on deer.

My 2 cents, I'm sure there is more to come,

Scout

quickmajik

I have always liked the 12 ga. in autos and 20 ga. in pumps when I am picking a slug gun to buy or build. I like the remington 1100 when I am building an auto and the older mossberg 500.

I am a big fan of Brenneke slugs for accuracy, and that trumps pure knock down power in my book. But then again you will most likely be shooting a 1+oz chunk of lead at 1400+FPS no matter wich load you choose, How much more knock down do you need? As long as the round you choose will put 3 slugs into 4" circle at 100 yards I dont think it will matter alot. I like to put 3 into a 2" circle and that takes a decent barrel, not sabots. I almost never use sabots, just regular rifled slugs.

As for a scope I like a fixed power 2x or 4x. And with the amount of recoil, I look for long eye relief.

golferboy426

remember sabots only usually don't work well unless you have a rifled barrel. I hunt with a smooth barrel and only use brenneke, Vwery accurate and much more power than the standard Big 3 foster type slugs

cce1302

Between myself and my family we have hunted with several different 12 gauge sabot rounds, Winchester, Remington, Hornady, Federal. Honestly, a chunk of metal of 400gr or more moving 15-1900fps is going to put down the deer as long as you have a reasonable vital shot. This year, my first deer was a 15 yd shot looking down out of a stand. The 400gr Win Supreme Platinum Tip blew up the heart and dropped her in about 30 yds. My second one was at about 70 yds, broke a shoulder going in, hit lung, and dropped the deer in 20 yds.

Rifled barrel with a scope is a good idea. Mine's a Mossberg 835 with a 1.5-5x scope.