First time shooting shottie..

[markymark]

Been shooting a while but never had a chance to shoot shotguns. I recently acquired a shotgun a few months ago and finally took it out today for some range time. All I can say is WOW! I definitely enjoyed the kick and the loud blast!

[slick_711]

Thats a good looking shotgun! Congratulations on the addition to your collection and your good day @ the range. You should try trap/skeet when you get a chance. I enjoy shooting my shotguns @ the range and it is good practice, but trap & skeet are a blast, entirely different game and they'll put a new twist on shotgun shooting for you.

Now the next lesson is for you to remove the term "shottie" from your vocabulary. Just kidding.

[wildcard]

Did you shoot slugs? THAT's when you truly get a kick and blast

[markymark]

Did you shoot slugs? THAT's when you truly get a kick and blast

No. The indoor range I went to does not allow it. Went with birdshot for 75 rounds and 15 rounds of buckshot.

[mcubed4130]

I took my BOOOOOOM stick down to the outdoor range today, breakin paper at 50 and 100 yards... with these monsters:





I attracted the attention of several people, it took them a while to realize what I was shooting...

-M3

[markymark]

How accurate are slugs out of a smooth bore? I'd like to try taking shots at 50 yards at an outdoor range but I'm afraid that I'd demolish the PVC frame.

[Creampuff]

Been shooting a while but never had a chance to shoot shotguns. I recently acquired a shotgun a few months ago and finally took it out today for some range time. All I can say is WOW! I definitely enjoyed the kick and the loud blast!

Nice shotgun. Who did the porting on the barrel?

[markymark]

The CG member I got it from said that it was a Vang Comp barrel.

[Creampuff]

The CG member I got it from said that it was a Vang Comp barrel.

I thought it looked familar. I had my 12 gauge "Vang Comp"d. The before and after was noticeable in the reduction in the muzzle lift. I spoke to Mr. Vang a couple of times on the phone, seemed like a genuine nice guy. Good choice on getting the Vang comp, I prefer my Vang Comp 12 gauge over my friend's Benelli M3. In case you are wondering, even with the porting, according to Vang Comp, you shouldn't have any problems shooting slugs out of their barrel. I haven't gotten around to testing slugs with it yet though, so I can't attest for 50 yard accuracy yet.

[mcubed4130]

How accurate are slugs out of a smooth bore? I'd like to try taking shots at 50 yards at an outdoor range but I'm afraid that I'd demolish the PVC frame.

Well... Smooth bore / bead sights - for me, means hold aim and shoot - typically standing (simulated home-stead defense)... (suppose I could try bench rest one of these days).

At 50 yards, I can get about 7" groups (any slugs).

At 100 yards, I can hit the "metal reactive" target (10" x 10" hunk of metal) about 3 of 5 times - (haven't tried paper with bead sights / smooth bore).


Whereas Fully Rifled / Scoped - for me, means bipod...

At 50 yards, I've almost mastered the 2 eyes, and smiling happy face, in the black... problem is, the entire center section of the black tends to fall out.

At 100 yards, - issues start happening with standard 1oz 2 3/4" slugs... Wind and bullet drop, are NOT your friend. And I've been trying to goof off with cheapo ammo - The Brenneke KOs (2 3/4" 1oz) - I get between 6"-8" groups. Today I tried Fiocchi (1oz 2 3/4") for the 1st time, ended up at 8" groups - although it was toward the end of the day - (windy), so I'll try them again before passing judgment.

But all of this is just an excuse to try and use cheaper ammo, with the Brenneke Black Magics (3" magnums - 1 3/8oz) - my best is 4.7" groups at 100 yards scoped. With longest 1 shot, 1 drop hit at 190 yards. (I've only shot the Brenneke Black Magic slugs in my Rifled Barrel though).

And one of these days, after I win the lottery - I still need to play around with the Hornady SST sabots... they look like serious fun for 200yard+ shots. (yes from a shotgun) http://www.hornady.com/media_center/...ategory_id=201

-M3

[racko]

New to this so bare with me. Can you shoot a slug out of a standard barrel or does a slug require a different barrel. I have a Mossberg 500A. 12 gauge

[wildcard]

New to this so bare with me. Can you shoot a slug out of a standard barrel or does a slug require a different barrel. I have a Mossberg 500A. 12 gauge

Yes, you can shoot slugs out of a standard smooth bore barrel. Just be sure you get "Rifled Slugs." You can also shoot "Sabot Slugs" too.. but it won't be accurate at all since those should be shot out of rifled barrels.

[proraptor]

I love shooting slugs! Im going to take my shotgun out next time and shoot slugs at paper....

The first time I took my shotty to angeles I almost hit the round metal plate with a slug....It was about 6 inches low....Im going for it next time

[mcubed4130]

New to this so bare with me. Can you shoot a slug out of a standard barrel or does a slug require a different barrel. I have a Mossberg 500A. 12 gauge

I have a Mossberg 500A - 12G as well... Love the versatility of the gun.

Ok starting out - the term "standard barrel" doesn't mean much. In general shotgun barrels are "smooth bore" - but they can have vastly different types of chokes or no choke (cylinder bore).

Here is a nice easy visual on barrel chokes. And again chokes are in general the most useful when NOT using slugs.

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/Articles.asp?a=Hunting/Choke-Tubes-Explained&Meida_id=20

As for "slugs" themselves, generally speaking a "no choke - smooth bore" or an "improved choke - smooth bore". Are both fine for shooting standard or "rifled" slugs - if your "choke" is tighter than improved, you may end up destroying your barrel shooting slugs - depends on how close to the 73 cal max size the slug is, how soft the lead is, etc...

Note the term "Rifled Slugs" is misleading as it has nothing to do with needing "rifling" in your barrel (or a rifled choke). Rifled slugs, are simply designed to aerodynamically (after leaving the barrel) start to spin - due to front end design of the slug and/or the "wad" that is attached to the slug itself.

A sabot (or shoe) - as the name implies, means you are no longer shooting a full size 73 cal slug. Instead a "shoe" surrounds a smaller bullet typically between 50 - 65 cal, and that "shoe" is intended to be spun - by the "rifling" in the barrel. Some folks have said they get better groups with sabots - from their smooth bore barrels, but this is more likely the false positive of the sabot just happens to fit their particular inconsistent smooth bore barrel better.

Here are some reference links:

http://www.brennekeusa.com/web/text/faq.html#wich

( On my end, I have - 3 different barrels for my Mossberg 500, smooth w/no choke - cylinder barrel, smooth w/improved choke barrel, and a fully rifled barrel - so I vary my ammo and barrel preferences as required )

-M3

[wildcard]

Note the term "Rifled Slugs" is misleading as it has nothing to do with needing "rifling" in your barrel (or a rifled choke). Rifled slugs, are simply designed to aerodynamically (after leaving the barrel) start to spin - due to front end design of the slug and/or the "wad" that is attached to the slug itself.
-M3

That is incorrect. The rifling on the sides of the slug are what causes it to spin.. hence the name: "Rifled Slug"

Here's a link to some pictures and info comparing different slugs.. http://www.nrapublications.org/tah/Slugs.asp