Hunting with slugs

[Tom7227]

It is maybe even more important to sight in the gun if you're shooting slugs. They can get pretty sloppy and so testing several different brands will show what works best in your gun. Checking will get you dramatically more accurate in your shooting and provide you with the confidence that you're going to score when you shoot and not make a mess of things. Sitting at a bench with the gun on sandbags is the only way to tell what is really going on.

[hoppe56307]

Agreed. I have my 870 with a rifled barrel and a scope dialed in so the holes are pretty much touching at 50yds and 2in high so i shouldbe be good out to 100 per the balistics chart from Hornaday. I am shooting Hornaday SST 2-3/4 sabot slugs.

[96trigger]

Same thing for me only using a Beretta AL390, 2 inches high at 50, dead on at 150. SST's are great slugs. Was surprised that my sights were off this year compared to last. Glad I put it on the bench last weekend.

[Fever]

Lightfields... Great as far as accuracy and knockdown power. I currently hunt up north and use my 30-06 but hunted southern mn for about 20 years using 870 with rifled barrel and fiber optic sights. I was comfortable at 100 yds no problem. I've used Hornaday's in the past as well as Federal's. Remember to use same slugs you sight in gun with as balistics will be different from one manufacterer to another.

[Hench]

I'm new to sabot slugs and just sighted in my 870 with a fully rifled barrel and was very impressed. I used Hornady SST's and maintained 2 inch groupings at 85 yards (iron sights). I am very confident out to 100 yards but based on Hornady's HSOforum I would be very confident out to 150 yards if I used a scope. Only limited to shooter ability.

If your not interested in spending the cash on a scope, fiber optic sights are the way to go.

[Fever]

I agree with the fiber optic sights. They are reasonably priced, easy to put in (replace iron sites), and will dramatically improve your vision, and ability to line up your shot. Word of advice though, if you do use fiber optic sites be very carefull with your barrel. If you bump something or accidentally drop your gun or it tips over as it's leaning on something like a bumper or a tree, those sites are done for.

[Tom7227]

I just checked the Honaday HSOforum and those SST slugs have 1198 ft-lbs of energy at 200 yards, more than enough to bring down a deer. With a gun zero'd in at 150 they are 6.7 inches low at 200 yards. I guess I would be a bit hesitant to try an open site shot at that range unless it was a standing deer and I had a good rest for the gun. On the other hand I suspect there aren't too many times where reaching out that far in shotgun zone is necessary.

[TrophyEyes]

2 years ago I shot a running deer with the SST's at 150 yards. I only shot because the deer had been hit already and was struggling. These rounds are fast and accurate. I have shot many deer with them and the only thing I would caution you is that these rounds do not leave a good blood trail. I have dropped every deer I have shot with them, but we have had 4 deer in our group run a hundred yards without as much as a blood drop. They were all hit in the vitals. I have not seen a pass through either. I would still use them, but I wanted you to know. Anyone else had similar experiences?

[Finlander]

I use 20 guage SST's and so far 4 out of the 5 deer I shot with them dropped in their tracks. One ran 30 yards and dropped with major blood from where it was shot to where it layed! Most had holes from the slugs you could put your fist thru!

[HNTNBUX]

SST's do not shoot as well out of my gun as the Remington copper solids plus I get less recoil. Those DAY's kick pretty good.