Hunting slugs

[acousticmood]

Hi all,

I just ordered a rifled choke for my 870 pump. Is it bad to use rifled slugs through this setup? Its just that they are so much cheaper.

Thanks,

George

[Rumpled]

I know the typical rule is rifled slugs thru a smooth barrel and saboted slugs thru a rifled barrel.
Not sure about just the choke rifled, but I'd probably not go with a rifled slug.

[mooster]

I'm not too sure about a rifled choke. I have read a few articles and been told by several folks that rifled slugs can go thru a rifled barrel. According to them dispersion will be poor and the barrel will lead up quickly.

Of interest, I picked up 2 boxes of Winchester Supreme "Rackmaster". They claim that it is supposed to work well with both smoothbore and rifled choke barrels. Looking at the front of the round, one can see that the projectile is rifled.

At the moment both Winchester and Remington have great rebates on sabot slugs. Both are $10 back per 2 boxes - which is close to 50% off. My family and friends are helping me stock up on Buckhammers.

[acousticmood]

Cool - thanks guys - I guess I'll stock up on sabots.

George

[StukaJr]

Rifled choke tube is for slugs - "rifled" anything will donut pattern your bird/buckshot load and led your rifling pretty bad...

It's my understanding that rifled choke will have marginal improvement in slug stabilization when compared to full rifled barrel - it's mainly used to aid sabot slug separation just outside the barrel. (instead of the sabot shell traveling all the way to the target).

[acousticmood]

So if it's not that great of a benefit - maybe I should stick with rifled slugs without the rifled choke - untill I can affort a new barrel.

The sabot slugs are way more expensive.

[acousticmood]

Anybody find good deals on sabot slugs - the best I saw at Bass Pro was $2.00 per slug. Ouch!

[VeryCoolCat]

I don't know how accurate a rifled shotgun is.... but you'd have to be pretty close to hit something with a slug from a shotgun.

[mooster]

The Winchester and Remington rebates are still active as I recall. That puts the ammo in the $5-$6 range per box (5 rounds). I got my Winchester rebates back after about 2-3 weeks! I noticed that midsouth shooters has the Hornady SST on sale for about $9 (instead of $16).

If I may suggest, head to a local retailer and buy a box or two of every sabot slug brand and model. Each gun is unique and your gun may prefer one brand/model over the others. Once you find a good match, stock up on that specific model (if possible, try to get the same lot number as the ones you tested.)

[acousticmood]

The Winchester and Remington rebates are still active as I recall. That puts the ammo in the $5-$6 range per box (5 rounds). I got my Winchester rebates back after about 2-3 weeks! I noticed that midsouth shooters has the Hornady SST on sale for about $9 (instead of $16).

If I may suggest, head to a local retailer and buy a box or two of every sabot slug brand and model. Each gun is unique and your gun may prefer one brand/model over the others. Once you find a good match, stock up on that specific model (if possible, try to get the same lot number as the ones you tested.)

Yeah - you're right of course - I've even got a rifled barrel to change out on my 870 but I'm reluctant too untill just before a hunt because the cost of ammo. I guess I just need to get over it.

[dw1784]

why not buy a variety of slugs and pattern it before you use a choke? find the velocity/cost/weight combo that patterns accurately for your shotgun and stick to it. Try a box of Wolf rifled slugs for example and see if it'll hold a grp at 50yds. Right now it's on sale for $2.50 at midway.

Also try different wads and see how it fouls(or not). For example, I love Brenneke's felt wad. Unlike plastic or cork wads the felt actually cleans the barrel each shot. I'll shoot 20+ rounds and the barrel remains clean and shiny.

[Forestboy]

You can shoot regular foster style slugs through your rifled barrel/choke tube. Just be sure you clean it good so the lead doesn't build up. If you have an Improve Cylinder choke tube that is what I use on my 870, with Foster style slugs, that I lend out to buddies who don't own a slug gun. They have shot alot of deer with it.

Check gunbroker.com for sabot slugs.

I have 4 rifled slug guns and they all prefer a different sabot slug. One likes Rem Copper Solids, one likes Winchester Supreme Platinum Tips, one likes the Win Sup Partition Golds and the other likes the Lightfield Commanders. All 12 Gauges. I haven't tried the SST's yet but I just bought a bunch, hoping I can get two of the guns to agree on a slug....

[anotherone]

Try Federal Tru Ball it's the best foster-type slug I've found. Even at 70 yards Tru Ball will get you good enough groups to take a pig or deer. I use my beretta Extrema 2 with Federal Tru Ball to hunt pigs and deer with a Basspro shops 4x25 shotgun scope. Semi-auto slugfest!

[acousticmood]

You can shoot regular foster style slugs through your rifled barrel/choke tube. Just be sure you clean it good so the lead doesn't build up. Check gunbroker.com for sabot slugs. ...

Cool - so I'll but my rifled barrel on and practice with the foster slugs when I don't feel like spending $2.00/round for sabots as long as I clean the barrel.

I'll re-zero with sabots just before a hunt.

So is a Foster slug rifled or not?

Thanks again!