My shotgun is not shooting slugs accurate at all, smoothbore, help!!!

[fish4cats]

Just purchased 2 used shotguns, one is a stoeger and the other a mossberg, both auto's. Shot slugs thru them and at 15 yrds, yes 15 yrds, they both shot 6-9" low and 2-4" to the left. I was using federal 2 3/4" rifled slugs, I am a right handed shooter and both guns are smooth bore. Is it the slugs? I bought some 3" and havent tried them yet.

Any suggestions would be great, I only have 1 day to figure this out, wasnt expecting them to be that far off.

[vister]

i got nothing. smoothbore barrel so it probably doesn't have adjustable sights. do they have interchangeable chokes. i've heard choke tubes make a difference. wouldn't know, never hunted deer or even shot with slugs.

ps, hopefully your shooting at a legite range, cause its too late to be shooting off of the 4-wheeler as a bench, if you plan on hunting this weekend.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

check what choke you have in each gun. cylinder or improved cylinder TYPICALLY gives the best accuracy. and yeah you might want to read the regs regarding shooting slugs this close to deer season....

[JDM]

Make sure you have your improved cylinder in. Also - make sure you are using rifled slugs, not sabots. Next - try a different brand / type of slugs as they all shoot a little different. At this late hour, that is about all you can do except to buy a rifled barrel. If you can find a shooting range, you should be able to sight your gun in. Forest Lake is open tomorrow.

[fish4cats]

This was over a week ago, so I think I am safe. I am shooting improved cylinder in the Stoeger and modified in the Mossberg. With no adjustable sights.

[analyzer]

My son was having trouble hitting the paper at 50 yards, i switched slugs, and got about a 6 inch grouping, not great... but an improvement. There are plenty who get 3 or 4 inch groupings at 50 yards with a smooth bore. I've heard sabots will tumble.

Oakdale gun club will be open tomorrow, but you won't get to shoot if you're not there before 4.

If you want to go cheap, maybe try the winchester X's the rifled ones.... they worked fine for me. But the info I'm hearing is every gun is different.

No sabots though, I hear they tumble (think knuckle ball) when shot out of a smooth bore.

[big drift]

First of is your smoothbore a bird barrel or does it have iron sights?

If a bird barrel you will have to remember your point of impact from the range and adjust accordingly. If you have iron sights just work your sights into the pattern. If no sight and want improved acuracy track down a b square scope mount and shotgun scope and adjust your shot placement acordingly.

Switching to 3 inch may work but typicaly due to the velocity you will have a more uncontrolled flight. Also look at your slug weights try going to a 7/8 ounce or 1 ounce anything heavier typically opens up your pattern.

Finally ensure your only shooting a Improved or open cylinder anything tighter does throw off the shot. Also check your trigger squeze it may be a flinch issue but unlikely.

Good luck,

[Mr Special]

Hope you get this in time. But i shot a mossberg 500 smooth bore for many yrs. I found my gun liked Brennekee KO's with IC choke the best. Did you try the Federal TruBalls i've heard good things bout them also.

Good luck and be safe everyone

[Jigging Bob]

I agree with anylizer. Try different brands of slugs. I was surprised how different my gun shot after trying a few different brands of slugs on the target. Mine will only shoot decent using Federal 2-3/4". I can't remember what I was using before but I was getting the same problem you speak of. I think they were winchester X or something. The X's worked excellent in my bros gone but not in mine.

I hear slugs are like women, alot of them out there claiming to be better than the other. But sometimes ya just got take'm home & test them out to see which ones work the best with your pee-shooter.

[DeanoB]

is the gun clean? take a cleaning rod down the barrel, if it was used you never know how the previous owner cared for his guns, i bought a used 870 once, it was all over the paper, went home looked in barrell, NAsty! cleaned it out good, went back next day shot groups within 3 inches - so try that.

[Jimmy from Cottage Grove]

It is extremely difficult to shoot with bead sight. When I was younger I use to use a 20 gauge. I had a deer walk up to me at 50 yards. I couldn't hit it for the life of me. Everytime I shot it got closer. After 5 shots I was out. I switched to a rifled barrel the following year. I don't think I have missed a deer since. The problem with a bead sight is. Evertime you look down the barrel, it could be a different angle. If you have a vented rib on the gun, you can purchase a clip on rear sight. That might help.

[fish4cats]

thanks for all the advice guys. I went to the range today and tried 5 different brands and sizes of slugs and found that winchesters shot the best. Still not good, but I grouped 3 rounds within 2". Still shoots low and left, but now I know where to aim anyhow. Anyone that has a slug barrel for a Stoeger auto let me know.