Slug barrels

[icollectfrogs]

I have a Remington 870 with a 26" smoothbore barrel, Which would be more accurate? Shooting rifled slugs thru the regular barrel or get the choke tube that's rifled and shooting sabot slugs? I plan on getting a red dot scope with it. Any suggestions on a good red dot scope. Thank you any info would be appreciated

[CodyDawg]

Very hard to say. I would start out with regular slugs through the smoothbore as it will be far cheaper. If you are not happy with the results, proceed from there. I ended up with a fully rifled barrel before I was happy. Good luck.

[Mr Special]

In theory Rifled chokes and sabots slugs SHOULD be more accurate. The biggest thing about shooting slugs is to try multiple brands and types. I personally shoot a smooth cyc. bore slug barrel with rifle slugs. I average 2" groups at 50yrds and 5" at 100yrds "which I've never attempted while hunting".

But if you want super accuracy and distance then a fully rifle barrel is the way to go.

Good luck

[Norsky]

I am very pleased with the rifled barrel on my 870. I shoot the Federal Sabots with the barnes bullet(very deadly-excellent expansion). Those barrels really aren't that expensive. Also, I would go with a Bushnell Banner .5-4X scope rather than the "red dot". The reticles on scopes seem to be much more accurate, and you won't have to worry about the battery going dead when Mr. Big shows up. Once you get it sighted in, you'll probably spend less on ammo since it will only take one shot to kill a deer, rather than blasting through a whole box or two of the cheap rifled slugs. I personally wait for a good shot, rather than just letting the lead fly and hoping to kill the deer. I have taken 5 deer with my 870 since I bought it 3 years ago, 5 shots total.

[96trigger]

A rifled slug barrel tends to be more accurate at greater distances. Others may disagree and say that they can shoot just as good with a smooth bore, and they might. I personally shoot a fully rifled barrel with sabot slugs and will never go back.

[The_Duckslayer]

When I bought my 835 Ulti-Mag I ordered the combo package. I have a rifled slug barrel, cantelever scope mount, and a Deerfield scope on it. I figure that a one and a half inch pattern at 50 yards is about as good as I can get when lobbing that big old chunk of lead and copper out there. Have never had a smooth bore but I sure do like the rifled one that I have. Take care and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo

[bigbucks]

Like Mr. Special I shoot an old smooth bore slug barrel on my 870. I'd say his groupings sound similar to mine. I've shot maybe 4-5 deer in the 90-100 yard range with it.

If I was buying a new shotgun & had some money to spend I'd probably still buy a fully rifled barrell & shoot sabots, but mine shoots plenty good for the 4-6 days a year I use it. I've made some bad shots before of course, but I'd put that on the hunter not the weapon.

[zent]

ICF, I have shot an 870 smooth bore for years and found brenneke rifled slugs to work the best for me. I have aged to the point that I can no longer pick up the front bead on the end of the barrel, so I bought an 870 fully rifled canteleverd barrel. I picked up 5 different boxes of sabot slugs to shoot through it and found that all but one type were all over the target. The Winchester Supreme Partition Gold worked the best with the tightest groups. Also there is a special cleaner needed to clean the plastic out of the rifling when using sabot slugs. If the barrel becomes fouled with this residu your accuracy will diminish. Also the sabot slugs I shoot are 12$ a box vs. 4$ for rifled slugs. Overall, If I could see the sight at the end of my barrel I would continue using my smooth bore and Brenneke sugs. Just my opinion. Good Luck, Z

[lawdog]

Quote:

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Also there is a special cleaner needed to clean the plastic out of the rifling when using sabot slugs. If the barrel becomes fouled with this residu your accuracy will diminish.

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I've been shooting sabots for years and have never heard of such a cleaner. Anybody else? Also, Zent, do you have any more information on it???

[zent]

lawdog, The solvent is called Advanced Sabot Shooters Solvent. I bought it at Capra's On Hwy 65. When I clean my barrel the patches come out red like the plastic that goes around the slug. the bottle says it's made by CVA. It seems to work well. The guys at the gun shop put me on to it. Hope this helps you. Zent