870 20" barrel. Slugs OK with which Choke?

[diginit]

I just got a 20" smoothbore barrel for my 870 with rifle sights. It came with 2 chokes. Improved Cyl, and Full. I used the Full choketube to replace the modified in my stock 28" barrel. So that leaves me with Imp Cyl and Mod choketubes. Both sights were set to the right. I pinged the front sight to center. I want to set the rear sight tomorrow with rifled slugs. Would the Improved Cylinder work or should I wait and get a cylinder choketube? TIA

[aippi]

Never shoot slugs through a full choke. Use the I/C choke it will work better then a cyl bore choke tube as it will stabilize the slug better.

Modified is a fixed choke barrel is best for slugs. threaded choke tubes are great for shot but take a beating with slugs. The modified tube would be be great with buck shot.
Always make sure the tube is in tight, especially when shooting heavy loads like buck shot and slugs.

[randy]

While I do agree quite often with aippi he's not 100% correct here. It depends on the slugs weather or not you should shoot them out of a full choke. It will tell you on the box if you can't. If it doesn't say not to then have at it.

This has been discussed quite a bit and the research has been done to verify it. Feel free to use the search function.

Generic rifled slugs will shoot just fine out of a full choke gun. It's done all the time. POI isn't changed much from siteing in with a IC choke.

98% of my shooting is done with an IC choke. I have no problem going to mod or full chokes and sending slugs down range.

[AIMSMALL]

Good info here, thanks!

[bjl333]

Never shoot slugs through a full choke. Use the I/C choke it will work better then a cyl bore choke tube as it will stabilize the slug better.

Modified is a fixed choke barrel is best for slugs. threaded choke tubes are great for shot but take a beating with slugs. The modified tube would be be great with buck shot.
Always make sure the tube is in tight, especially when shooting heavy loads like buck shot and slugs.

Also use some choke tub Anti-Seize Grease so you can take'em off ...

[randy]

If memory serves me correctly the slugs that said don't shoot in a full choke were european hard lead. Rifled slugs are soft enough to conform.

[diginit]

Thanks for all the info. So, Modified is the best for slugs? And I won't blow out my full choke tube? I'm still not really sure on which is best. IC, Mod, Or Full tubes.
I lined up the sights to center by eye before I took her out. Shooting from the standing position at 25 yds with the improved cylinder choketube, She shoots alittle to the right with Winchester 3" magnum slugs. Got a bit of dialing in to do. She really packs a wollop with the 3". I like it! The shot to the center right was when I tried a bench shot. The forestock flew right out of my hand....3" up and back to my hand. Wow! Never had that happen before. This is obviously a gun best fired while standing up. Right?
Using 3",#4 shot at 40 yrds, The wad hit dead center with a totally peppered 30" target circle. 2 rangemasters were witness to this. They both complemented me on the shot. Next time I'll try some 2 3/4" loads. After running 200 dial in and test loads through my AR with varget and Win 748. 100 through my 8mm Mauser. My shoulder had had it after 11, 3" slugs...I had to move to the pistol range to waste 100 45 ACP. I knew I should have brought more ammo....

[randy]

Shoot your gun with the chokes you have find out which choke groups the best at the distance you want to zero. Then pattern your shot shells with the different chokes. Figure out which is the best for what you want to do.

[diginit]

I'm not much a shotgun guy ... Yet.
But I love shooting trap. My Winchester thrower and clays are ready to go to the desert anytime. But...
What if I used the 28" barrel rather than the 20" for slugs? Although I really like the rifle sights on the 20". What effect would 8" of smoothbore have on a slug? I'm assuming the deer barrel is designed for slugs and the 28 for shot.

[scuds03]

I nailed a Javelina at 400 yards with a 3 inch winchester wally world slug on my thrid shot with an IC choke. I was lobbing big time haha. Remington 870 26 inch barrel.