Need help with 12g Slug Gun

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STEELMAN

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Oct 26, 2004
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ARRINGTON, TN
Sunday I tried to punch some holes in paper in antcipation of punching a hole in a deers shoulder at AEDC this upcoming weekend. I sprayed shots everywhere.
The gun is a 12g Browning A-bolt with a Bushnell Trophy 1.5 x 4. I've used it sucessfully for both deer & turkey by screwing in different choke tubes. The rifled slug choke is approx 5" long.
My question is what ammo should I have been using?
Many of the slugs are for "fully rifle barrels only" and I think the Foster style slugs are for smooth barrels.
The Hornady SST 300 gr. that I've killed deer with before were just not grouping even @ 50 yds.
Suggestions please?
 
Unfortunately, its kind of late in the game so hopefully its not your scope. Shotguns are notoriously rough on scopes and bushnell isn't exactly top of the line. You did mention that you have killed with the hornady slugs before and now they are all over the place which leads me to believe it has something to do with the scope or the rings. I have to point the most obvious first. Make sure the screws on your scope rings are tight. Shotguns can loosen them pretty quickly if you are not careful. 2nd, if the rings are tight, swap scopes if you have one laying around. 3rd, which may not be as obvious is that when you shoot, make sure you are using a tight hold. You have to have a good grip on the forend almost pulling it down when you pull the trigger. Slug guns will start to recoil before the slug has left the barrel and will cause it to jump and throw off the shot.

If none of the above helps, you may find that the slower heavier slugs work better than the faster lighter slugs which may be why the hornady was all over the place. Don't know why it worked before if this is the case. The probelem with the heavy slow slugs is that your max range is 100 yds or less but they leave a really big hole which is good. I would consider lightfield hybrids, hastings 2 3/4 magmuns, brenneke ko or black magnum, or perhaps a fiochi aero slugs. Fiochi's are great for the money. 10 rds for around $8. Unfortunately, you will probably have to order them online. You may be able to get brenneke and the lightfields at a gun store like Franklin Gun Shop but you will end up paying way too much for them. I have heard that a bri type slug like the Winchester Super-X BRI Sabot Slugs have worked well out of your setup but again it is a fairly slow moving slug.

If it turns out to be the scope, you should consider either a luepold or nikon scope. Both manufacturers make a good quality lower power shotgun scope for around $200. Leupold makes a 2-7 shotgun scope and nikon I think has a new 1.5-5 shotgun scope which is basically a buckmaster. You have a shotgun that is worth over $1000. I have seen them go as high as $1400. Don't be afraid to spend a couple hundred on a scope.
 
I had a slug gun that would only shoot good through a clean barrel.
After 3 shots the group went to pieces if I didn't run some patches through.

It wouldn't hurt to try cleaning after every shot for three shots just to see if it works.

Hope you get it figured out.
 
JimFromTN said:
Unfortunately, its kind of late in the game so hopefully its not your scope. Shotguns are notoriously rough on scopes and bushnell isn't exactly top of the line. You did mention that you have killed with the hornady slugs before and now they are all over the place which leads me to believe it has something to do with the scope or the rings. I have to point the most obvious first. Make sure the screws on your scope rings are tight. Shotguns can loosen them pretty quickly if you are not careful. 2nd, if the rings are tight, swap scopes if you have one laying around. 3rd, which may not be as obvious is that when you shoot, make sure you are using a tight hold. You have to have a good grip on the forend almost pulling it down when you pull the trigger. Slug guns will start to recoil before the slug has left the barrel and will cause it to jump and throw off the shot.

If none of the above helps, you may find that the slower heavier slugs work better than the faster lighter slugs which may be why the hornady was all over the place. Don't know why it worked before if this is the case. The probelem with the heavy slow slugs is that your max range is 100 yds or less but they leave a really big hole which is good. I would consider lightfield hybrids, hastings 2 3/4 magmuns, brenneke ko or black magnum, or perhaps a fiochi aero slugs. Fiochi's are great for the money. 10 rds for around $8. Unfortunately, you will probably have to order them online. You may be able to get brenneke and the lightfields at a gun store like Franklin Gun Shop but you will end up paying way too much for them. I have heard that a bri type slug like the Winchester Super-X BRI Sabot Slugs have worked well out of your setup but again it is a fairly slow moving slug.

If it turns out to be the scope, you should consider either a luepold or nikon scope. Both manufacturers make a good quality lower power shotgun scope for around $200. Leupold makes a 2-7 shotgun scope and nikon I think has a new 1.5-5 shotgun scope which is basically a buckmaster. You have a shotgun that is worth over $1000. I have seen them go as high as $1400. Don't be afraid to spend a couple hundred on a scope.
Click to expand...

Leupold VX III 2.5 x 8 x 36... $400.00 Gathers all availible light VERY, VERY well... Ought to be illegal... Mine sits on top my 11-87 sportsman.
As a kid I shotan 870 smoothbore with iron sights and remington sluggers, 1 & 1/4 oz foster style slugs. Very SLOW, but what a hole... 75 yrds was my max and that was pushin' it for consitentcy. Good luck.
 
Smooth bore is likely the problem.

I could elaborate, but get you a bolt action, rifled barrel.
 
STEELMAN said:
Sunday I tried to punch some holes in paper in antcipation of punching a hole in a deers shoulder at AEDC this upcoming weekend. I sprayed shots everywhere.
The gun is a 12g Browning A-bolt with a Bushnell Trophy 1.5 x 4. I've used it sucessfully for both deer & turkey by screwing in different choke tubes. The rifled slug choke is approx 5" long.
My question is what ammo should I have been using?
Many of the slugs are for "fully rifle barrels only" and I think the Foster style slugs are for smooth barrels.
The Hornady SST 300 gr. that I've killed deer with before were just not grouping even @ 50 yds.
Suggestions please?
Click to expand...

Might be the rifled tube is fouled clean it,or as another mentioned your scope/rings.

Might try some of the standard sabots intead of those with pistol/ml bullets

Foater Slugs can be shot in it
 
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JimfromTn was on the money; scope mount was loose. Tightened it up and life was god. Killed a doe at 70 yards Saturday afternoon at AEDC with Remington Copper solid.
 

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