Whats wrong with this gun?

[CaptainMusky]

OK, so I am excited to take my 11 year old hunting this year since he can get the free license. Since he has only fired a few guns so far I hadnt actually bought him a rifle to use, he is/was going to use my dad's 20 gauge single shot. I bought slugs suitable for smoothbores and we set out to shoot it a couple times.

Since I will be sitting with him, I will not allow him to shoot at anything over 50 yards and at that we wouldnt even see the deer since the area is so thick.

I find a target to shoot, we step back about 30 yards and after thorough instructions prior to even loading the gun he set his sights on the target and blammo.

Drilled the target, but about 18 inches low! I figured he must have done something wrong so I shot it. Again 18 inches low. I fired two more times all of them within 4 inches of each other (nice group lol) but 18 inches low!!!

I wouldnt consider letting him shoot this at an animal knowing he could be wounding one or bummed for blowing a good chance due to inferior equipment so I went out and bought him a new .243 youth setup.

Ideas on what is up with that 20 gauge? Obviously there are no screw in chokes in this thing. I was thinking that possibly it had a full choke or something and that might be too constrictive and caused the bullet to tumble or something. I have shot birdshot from this before and it was spot on so something is weird when it came to the slugs.

[fishattacker]

There is probably nothing wrong with it. Some shotguns do not shoot slugs worth a darn. I have a 12 gauge browning BPS that shoots 12 inches high at 50 yards. Really does not matter what brand of slugs I used.

It shoots birdshot just fine.

[bobbymalone]

is it a bead on a vent rib sort of sight or does it have regular rifle sights?

[96trigger]

Get a bunch of different slugs and see if you can get one to come out on target. Obviously the gun's barrel is straight and it can shoot slugs. What choke is in the gun?

[hockeybc69]

I say use it for birds and thats it.

That gun isnt meant to shoot big game if its a smooth bore with no choke tubes.

Bird gun and thats it. I wouldnt trust it to shoot slugs consistently.

[Mr.Seaguar]

The reason we have available slug guns, sabot slugs, and shotgun scopes is because pretty much everyone trying out their smoothbore shotguns had results like yours. Not everyone, but most everyone.

[CaptainMusky]

Yeah, I have no intentions of EVER attempting to use this gun for slugs again.

It does have a fixed bead at the end of the barrel. There is no ventilated rib down the barrel.

I have never shot slugs before so I was really surprised at the results, maybe its completely "normal". LOL

Thanks for replies guys, my son commented late yesterday "this has been the best day ever. I got to shoot a gun, dad bought me a gun and none of my brothers are mad at me". I love it!

[CaptainMusky]

What choke is in the gun?

I dont know. Its an older stevens I think. I couldnt find anything on it that said what "choke" it was made with.

[fr0sty]

Are you sure the slugs were ok for smooth bore? I have had great luck at remmington truball at 50 yards.

[96trigger]

It would more than likely have a IC, M, or F stamped on the barrel. You could try some more slugs through it, but I guarantee that single shot 20 gauge will buck just as much as a 12 gauge. Its light, with probably no padding on the buttstock. It has to kick slugs like a mule.

[CaptainMusky]

Are you sure the slugs were ok for smooth bore? I have had great luck at remmington truball at 50 yards.

Yup, they were winchester slugs and the box said "use only in smooth bore barrels". Most of the others I was looking at said "use in rifled barrels only".

[CaptainMusky]

I guarantee that single shot 20 gauge will buck just as much as a 12 gauge. Its light, with probably no padding on the buttstock. It has to kick slugs like a mule.

I had suspected this too. I remember shooting a gun very similar to this when I was his age and it bucked like crazy. So I was leery about it. He didnt flinch or anything, but did say "geez that thing really kicks". Hes a big kid for his age and I made sure he had it properly on his shoulder. I remember the black and blue marks I had back in the day from improper shouldering a gun. Hes excited to get to shoot his new gun though. I found a nice .243 with a scope for him to shoot. Now its off to a range to make sure its dialed in.

[bigbucks]

I don't agree with the earlier poster who said most smoothbores don't shoot slugs well. I will agree that many don't. That's all many guys in our party carried for years & many shot well. My 30" full choke 870, shot them horribly, so I had to buy a slug barrel & get the sights adjusted. Many of the guys have gone to a rifled barreled gun, as much if anything as then they got to a dedicated slug gun they could put a scope on. I definitely have NO idea why I waited so long to put a scope on a shotgun...

[Mr Special]

Sounds like your son has a bird gun and a deer gun. =)

kudos, im sure he'll be very happy with the 243. they are very accurate flat shooting rounds and has a lot less kick than a 20ga . i had one for a while as well. i used it for deer and varmints and nvr had a problems taking down game.

good luck this season and let us know how he does

[CaptainMusky]

Thx everyone! I'm more excited for him than he is. Its great getting others into the sport. I don't care if we get anything as long as he has fun!

[InTheNorthwoods]

You can pound a 40 penny nail with a ball-peen hammer, but it isn't made for that...

Get a BFH, and the job is a lot easier. Seems to me, thats what happened here.

Congrats to the kid on a new rifle!!!