Questions on slug shotguns

[Hammer Handle]

Just wondering how many people use interchanable barrels on a shotgun versus having one for slugs only. Just curious is all. Is there advantages with having just the slug shotgun barrel?

With dedicated slug barrels, I know sabot slugs are the best. Should sabot slugs be used with the interchangable barrels too?

I have always used the cheapest gun out there. This year, I am considering getting a nice Itachi Deerslayer II Shotgun. I am hoping someone will convince me to spend the extra money. Ha ha!

[mntatonka]

If you've got a good bird gun (assuming you hunt birds), then you might as well have a dedicated slug gun too. I recently bought a FNH SLP with a rifled barrel, and I've got plenty of other smooth bore guns if I want to bird hunt. You could easily use interchangeable barrels as well, but a lot of the time the rifled barrel almost costs as much as the new shotgun itself, including the barrel.

Sabots aren't totally necessary, as some slug guns just don't shoot them well compared to other types. Personally, I use Brenneke green lightning slugs. They're generally a little less expensive than sabots, and probably won't hit that 150-200 yard mark as accurate as a sabot, but it's pretty darn rare for me to have a shot at that distance.

Your best bet if you do get a rifled shotgun, is to buy a bunch of different brands and styles of slugs, and shoot them to see which ones shoot the best for you and your gun.

[MJ1657]

I have a dedicated slug gun. Benelli Nova with a rifled barrel and Nikon shotgun scope. Its nice to have it sighted in and leave it alone. I have a friend that has a combo gun that's used for bird and deer hunting. Its a pain to mount the scope and get it zeroed in for deer hunting

[TruthWalleyes]

I've always used my 870 wingmaster with smooth barrel. Taken a lot of deer with it. Haven't used it deer hunting the last 3 or so years because i much more enjoy using my muzzleloader. I'd suggest go the blackpowder route. MOre accurate, bigger boom, just more fun. Plus, you gotta make your first shot count. I do often carry my shotgun while deer hunting for yotes though.

[picksbigwagon]

My 870 (avatar pic) is now a designated slug gun. I have the bird barrel, but I have other shotguns for bird hunting. I have debated going with a scope or heads up sight on it, have the saddle mount and everything, but I just haven't had the $$$ to move to better optics yet. When I go back to stand hunting again, I will put a scope or red dot on it for sure

[harvey lee]

I have 2 dedicated slug guns with Hasting's rifled slug barrels. I can and have shot foster slugs through each and for short range with these 2 slugs guns, they are pretty good out to 60-75 yards. If I want to shoot even farther, then the sabots will shine. These 2 guns are used mayybe once every 7-10 years as I rarely slug hunt much anymore.

I purchased a browning BPS slug gun, scoped for my Grandaughter this summer. We shot approx 5 different brands of slugs. In this slug gun, the foster shot well enough that I used them instead of the sabot's. Now, If we were going to shoot farther than 75 yards and maybe up to 125 or so, then I would guess the sabot's may perform better than the foster type slugs.

Then there is the questions of, do the foster type slugs damage a rifled barrel. I have been told by 2 different gun dealers and repair shops that as long as you keep your barrel clean, there should be no damage to a rifled barrel from the foster type slugs.

With any slug gun, you will have to check and see what foster or sabot slug will perform the best out of your gun as it could easily be different from barrel to barrel.

Year's ago it seemed that everyone used a smoothbore barrel with foster slugs as that is all that was on the market. Today, slug technology has come along ways. Can you shoot a smoothbore shotgun with a foster style slug and kill deer, yes, but your accuracy at the longer range will increase with a rifled barrel.

Would I have a dedicated slug gun for slug hunting in Mn if I hunted alot, yes.

If you have the funds, I would go with a dedicated slug gun, with a rifled barrel if you are going to do alot of deer slug gun hunting. In the end, I have to believe you will be better off.

[JosMN]

I have a cantilever rifled slug barrel for my 1187 with a red dot scope on it. Its and easy switch out with the bird barrel. I sighted it in once and its been dead on since day one. Just be careful with it switching it out, or cleaning it. I rarely bird hunt though, so it doesnt get changed out much. Like Harvey said, if you have the funds, you would be better off having a dedicated slug gun.

If you get a smooth bore barrel, don't use sabots through it. They will most likely hit your target sideways. They are meant for rifled barrels.

[Finlander]

I have a Mossberg 500 20 guage combo bird barrel/rifled barrel with cantalevered scope on it! Takes only minutes to switch barrels and the raised monte carlo cheek insert. Accurate out to 200 yards shooting Hornady SST sabots with 1800 fps. Every deer I shot with this gun dropped in it's tracks! They retail now for around $350 at most stores!

Good Luck!

[muskiemanAD]

I have a 870 that I use for both. Barrel for bird shot and a slug barrel. It came with a smooth bore slug barrel but I upgraded to the rifled barrel with a scope....

[Wanderer]

I have always used the cheapest gun out there. This year, I am considering getting a nice Itachi Deerslayer II Shotgun. I am hoping someone will convince me to spend the extra money. Ha ha!

What's your answer to this question?

If you were hunting a rifle zone, would you buy a rifle for your deer hunting?

I too have wanted a better shooting slug gun but haven't coughed up the dough. I still think about it but while I'm thinking about it, I'm shooting deer in the shotgun zone with my muzzle loader like Truth is.

I know a guy who bought a single shot H&R 20 ga, slug gun and really likes it. That might be the route I go. Still a single shot, but accurate, scoped and faster to reload than the MZ.

[PurpleFloyd]

I kinda went the other direction. I bought a smooth bore slug barrel for my Winchester Ranger pump back in the late 80's when they first came out, then upgraded to the rifled barrel when they came out and then in the mid 90's I bought a Marlin 512 Slugmaster bolt action when they hit the market and I hunted with both guns until the last few years. Last year I sold the Marlin and now I just use my Beretta ExtremaII. It may not be quite as sccurate but the follow up shot happens as fast as you can squeeze if needed and it does such a great job of soaking up the recoil that I am really liking it. And since they ding you for 6 hondo for a slug barrel if you can find one this is going to be the way I roll.

[Hammer Handle]

Thanks for the great info everyone!

I guess I never considered getting a scope on my shotgun. I guess I am pretty old fashioned, and think using a scope is a little too easy. I don't even have a scope on my rifle. But, I have shot many of my deer on the run, so a scope will probably hurt my hunting more than help it.

I have "lobbed" shots at deer over 100 yards away and gotten them, but will get a better shotgun more dedicated for deer and not have as many issues at 100 yards or so.

Thanks again, everyone!

[PurpleFloyd]

I just bought an illuminated sight to try out on my shotgun. It was under 30 dollars so it is worth a shot if it works but I need to find a mount that attaches to the rib or a saddle mount to use it.