buy a slug barrel or a new gun all together??

[ozzie]

I have a remington 870 express and have a long barrell. I don't even bird hunt right now and only use it for deer hunting..I have had no trouble hitting my targets but is a slug barrell more accurate at long distances? it is lighter and easier to carry but i have seen them run as much as i paid for the gun brand new!!! problem is i am left handed and they always seem harder to find a new gun and they seem to cost more $$$$$!!! Does anyone know what a barrel would run and is there a place that might sell them cheaper like a used gun dealer/pawn shop???? I guess i want to keep the long barrel in case i do bird hunt..

[Stratosman]

I have a slug barrel for my 11-87 as well as the bird barrel. I think I paid like $125 for a remington barrel, some of the Hastings barrels get a bit spendy, the Remington does the job for me, using the right slug I can get 4" at 100 yards.

[Mr Special]

Were ya thinking smooth bore slug barrel or fully rifled slug barrel?

You could probably find them for around $150 range on up.

You can choose from rifle sights, Cantilever mounts, Muzzle brakes, 20"-24" barrels.

Just like a car the more options more spendy it gets.

If your cash impaired like me, I just got a smooth bore w/ rifled sights. It's is lighter and handle the heat better.

[Hotspotter]

One place to check would be the Cabela's bargain cave. I saw a bunch of 870 rifled barrels there, even a few with cantilever scope mounts. Of all options, I would go the cantilever route. I believe they were around $110 or so. Just check for major dings, and give the rifling a look. With most of the sabot slugs having a plastic sleeve/wad, you don't get much in the way of fouling or problems with the rifling.

Joel

[ozzie]

i was just at the cabelas bargain bin and didn't think of it!! Thanks for the replies i think i will tyr to look for something as close to $100 as possible.. smooth barrel or rifled which is the better of the two.. i would guess rifled...wold both of these barrels shoot sabot slugs??? i am not very gun smart....I can shoot one and have a lot of common sense on how to act with one but not big on the terminology!!!

[Mr Special]

Smooth bores can't shoot sabot rounds. A sabot round is a bullet in cased in a plastic holder(the sabot). The groves of a rifled barrel, will catch hold of the sabot and spin the slug down the barrel. After it leaves the barrel, the bullet and sabot seperate.

Smooth vs. Rifled

Rifled will give you more accuracy and extended range out to about 125yds on most loads. But the shells on average are about $3 each.

I use a smooth bore with rifled sights. At 50yds I average 2" groups. Where I hunt you usually don't see past 75yds anyhow.

Another thing is different guns will prefer different slugs. Buy an assortment of brands till you find one that your gun likes. Just because it's more expensive doesn't always mean it will group well in your gun. For years I shot 3" Federal Hydra Shoks. This summer a bud told me about the Brenneke KO's. I love them, they shoot flatter, group better and kick less. Now I just hope they bring me the same luck as the Fed's.

Good luck with your new setup

[fishin58]

Fleet Farm has been running a special on their rifled 870 barrels. I think i would check out that option if they are still running their deal.

[ozzie]

yeah i went to fleet farm and they had smooth and rifled..the smooth ran $109 and the rifled $149.....do i go cheap since i have to buy my climber stand or will i regret it and want a rifled barrel next year.....I hunt north of grand rapids in the thicker stuff but every now and then a shot presents itself of 75+ yads so i might as well get the rifled.....Thanks alot for your input......

[CrappieJohn]

Ozzie....

Here's another consideration to add to your dilemna. If you remover the scope each year, you will have to go through a sight-in process each fall. If you are fully rifled, this can be expensive. By purchasing a cantilevered barrel(one with integral scope bases), or a separate firearm altogether, the scope can stay put and all need be done is a couple of checking shots before season.

[ozzie]

i was thinking of just using the open sights since i have never had a problem shooting with them but are you suggesting that these sights need to be adjusted eveytime i switch barrels..it wouldn't be the end of the world since it has been two years since i have put bird shot in that gun so maybe it won't be switched for a few years after i replace the barrel....

[icehousebob]

Crappie Tom is right about the cantilevered scope base holding its point of aim. A friend shot a 5 shot,2&1/2 inch group with his. And he removed and replaced the barrel between each shot. No matter how well you shoot iron sights, a scope will give you a great advantage, especially in low light conditions. As for sabots fired in a smooth bore, one of my four slug guns groups them quite well, but their point of impact is about five inches to the right of Brennekes. I have no clue why that is, so I just keep the scope zeroed for Brennekes. Most of the time I can't find that gun anyway, unless I go and search my sons' gun cabinets

[CrappieJohn]

Ozz....

Iron sights tend to stay put fairly well but you have to be a darned good marksman to maintain any kind of group at 50 yds. And the iron sights on a rifled barrel will give better results than the same on a smoothbore.

I just assumed that the querie on a rifled barrel would be assisted with a scope.

No matter what sighting system you prefer or end up using, it is still of utmost importance that you shoot the gun a few times prior to hunting with it. Little bumps can equate to many inches some times.

Sorry for the assumption. Good hunting regardless!

[Kodiak]

go get a stoeger m-2000 combo with fully rifled slug barrel for 500bones from cabelas.

[ozzie]

CrappieTom- Yeah i have considered a scope but that will have to be later down the line right now i have to much equipment to buy!!!!! With ice fishing coming and the fact that i have to reinvest in a climber stand for hunting the scope is on the list just a year or two away!! It is amazing how every year i have to spend $200-300 just to go hunting or fishing it is really expensive when you take intrest in these activities and you have to start from scratch with no equipment....I bought a bow last year thinking i would piiece it together this year and there it sits with the tag on it and a broken string awe looks like that gets taken care of next year also. In a few years I will have everything I need to be a successful and comfortable outdoorsman but at that point I will probably be outdated and have to start over!!! Well thanks for the input and thought and i will let ya know which route i choose.........Oz

[Big Dave2]

Ozzie, if you are looking for a good deal on a climber stand I have one that I bought last year still new in the box I would probably sell you pretty cheap. If you are interested e-mail me at [email protected]

[USPENAMC]

I think i saw a an ad dont member if it was Cabelas or Gander but i think it was cabelas fully rifled barrel with scope for 199 dollars and they fit 870 i remember cause i was looking into getting a rifled barrel myself and still getting my tree stand