I'm thinking about getting a slug gun for hunting corp property instead of using my muzzleloader so I have more than one shot. What would you recommend? 20 or 12? What brands and models?
Slug Gun
- Thread starter Gravey
- Start date
B&C chaser
Well-Known Member
I've heard alot of good things on the Savage 210 or 220. I don't know if the gauge matters alot as long as you put it where it needs to be. Remington 870 or Browning BPS would also be good choices.
Grizzly Johnson
Well-Known Member
Mr.Bro
Well-Known Member
Remingtons Super Slug will be my next on also.Right now i shoot a 1187 and an H&R.
What ever you choose get one with either a cantilever scope mount on the barrel or one with barrel thats screwed into receiver.Much better accuracy than a gun where the scope mounts to receiver and has a barrel that is removable.
20ga has been proven to be just as good as 12ga with less recoil.Makes a difference when shooting alot try to find the right load.
Oh yeah rifled barrel is a must.
What ever you choose get one with either a cantilever scope mount on the barrel or one with barrel thats screwed into receiver.Much better accuracy than a gun where the scope mounts to receiver and has a barrel that is removable.
20ga has been proven to be just as good as 12ga with less recoil.Makes a difference when shooting alot try to find the right load.
Oh yeah rifled barrel is a must.
FULLDRAWXX75
Well-Known Member
Mr.Bro said:
I have a Browning A-5, Remington 11-87 premiere, H&R Slugster & an Ithaca 37 Deerslayer, all rigged and set up strictly as slug guns for hunting deer.
As mentioned above, cantilievered scope mount is nice but not important as the rifled barrel will be for improved accuracy.
Personally, I prefer the 12ga. over the 20ga. for pure knock down power and the size of the slug being sent down range. I tend to shoot full sized slugs (better results, entry and exit holes, they do their job) I have tried several sabot style slugs and have horrible results with the solid (hour glass shaped) ones (Federal) The only saboted slug I use is the Remington Solid Copper in the H&R, it likes them best.
I have literally spent thousands of dollars on slugs and uncountless hrs. at the range finding the exact match of ammo to gun performance.
If you are not into the autoloader/semi-auto guns, then my two recommendations would be the Rem. 870 pump or the new Ithaca slug gun, the Remington will be less expensive.
For optics, I suggest a lower power say 1.5-5x or a 2-7x max. there is now need for a large bulky scope. A great all around scope is the Leupold M8 in 4x, hard to beat.
If you have any questions that I might be able to help with, PM me.
FDXX75
JimFromTN
Well-Known Member
20ga are better for long range shooting because they are more accurate but I think the 12ga has much better knock down.
If you want a slug gun only, your most accurate guns will either be a bolt action like the savage 220, 210, and 212 or single shot like the H&R or TC Encore. Stay away from the rossi. If you got the money, Browning is comming out with a new a-bolt 12 ga. Marlin bolt action slug guns are suppose to be pretty good as well and you can get them fairly cheap. If you want a multipurpose shotgun then get something like an 870 with a slug barrel. Multi-purpose shotguns will not be nearly as accurate as a dedicated slug gun.
If you want a slug gun only, your most accurate guns will either be a bolt action like the savage 220, 210, and 212 or single shot like the H&R or TC Encore. Stay away from the rossi. If you got the money, Browning is comming out with a new a-bolt 12 ga. Marlin bolt action slug guns are suppose to be pretty good as well and you can get them fairly cheap. If you want a multipurpose shotgun then get something like an 870 with a slug barrel. Multi-purpose shotguns will not be nearly as accurate as a dedicated slug gun.
FULLDRAWXX75
Well-Known Member
JimFromTN said:
I don't agree that the 20ga is a more accurate "long range" shooter...........With all the different sabot combo's available for the 12ga, you can combine the power of the 12ga behind a .45 or .50 cal bullet, much lighter and faster than the old conventional lead slugs. The 12ga. will still out power a 20ga. down range and still be just as accurate.
People under estimate the accuracy of a shotgun.............just like a rifle, if the time is invested, you can have a tack driver.
FDXX75
Thanks for the feedback. This is something that will probably only get used a few times each year so I don't want to break the bank. Didn't hunt corp land at all last year and have been once this year. I will set it up as a slug gun only and not swap barrels out on my encore or anything else. Don't have a preference between pump and semi-automatic. One of the guys I hunted with had a Mossberg 500 .20 gauge slug barrel that was ported. Said he's accurate out to 150. Any input on them?
JimFromTN
Well-Known Member
I would not take a 150yd shot with a swap barrel gun of any kind unless its been pinned. I personally don't feel its ethical but thats just me because losing deer makes me physically ill. If you want that kind of distance and you don't want to break the bank, get a 20ga H&R.
20ga are lighter, faster, have a flatter trajectory, and are less affected by the wind. I have never seen anyone with a 12ga get any kind of groups that can even compare with the groups I have seen with 20ga's. That being said, I hunt with a 12 ga because it makes a bigger hole and they fall over faster. I think the perfect slug is the 16 ga but no one except maybe Tarhunt makes them and you probably could not touch one for under $2500 used. Also, Lightfield is probably the only one making sabotted slugs for them. You might be able to get ER Shaw to make a 16 ga rifled barrel for an 870. I saw on another forum where a guy took a deer at 196 yds with a 16ga Tarhunt but he shot hundreds of rounds out of it to gain the confidence to take that kind of shot.
20ga are lighter, faster, have a flatter trajectory, and are less affected by the wind. I have never seen anyone with a 12ga get any kind of groups that can even compare with the groups I have seen with 20ga's. That being said, I hunt with a 12 ga because it makes a bigger hole and they fall over faster. I think the perfect slug is the 16 ga but no one except maybe Tarhunt makes them and you probably could not touch one for under $2500 used. Also, Lightfield is probably the only one making sabotted slugs for them. You might be able to get ER Shaw to make a 16 ga rifled barrel for an 870. I saw on another forum where a guy took a deer at 196 yds with a 16ga Tarhunt but he shot hundreds of rounds out of it to gain the confidence to take that kind of shot.
FULLDRAWXX75
Well-Known Member
I received a 1948 Browning A-5 from my great uncle as a gift, it had the factory adjustable choke on the end of the barrel and a cheap 4x scope mounted on top.
The first thing I did was upgrade the glass and get rid of the choke so I could make a slug shooter out of it.
Enclosed are the three targets from the day I took it out to the bench to sight it in................
It is sighted in dead on at 100yds and can shoot groups like that all day long.
Gun: Browning A-5 auto (smooth bore)12ga.
Ammo: Remington Slugger, 2 3/4" 1oz lead rifled slugs
Yardage: initial shots - 25yds; final shots - 75 yds. zeroed for 100 yds.
Additional equip: shooting bench and sand bags
This is not even my most accurate shooting shotgun, but it shows the potential you can gain if you take the time and effort to achieve it.
FDXX75
The first thing I did was upgrade the glass and get rid of the choke so I could make a slug shooter out of it.
Enclosed are the three targets from the day I took it out to the bench to sight it in................
It is sighted in dead on at 100yds and can shoot groups like that all day long.
Gun: Browning A-5 auto (smooth bore)12ga.
Ammo: Remington Slugger, 2 3/4" 1oz lead rifled slugs
Yardage: initial shots - 25yds; final shots - 75 yds. zeroed for 100 yds.
Additional equip: shooting bench and sand bags
This is not even my most accurate shooting shotgun, but it shows the potential you can gain if you take the time and effort to achieve it.
FDXX75
had mossberg 835 with a rifled slug barrel that was great with the winchester supreme slugs. wouldn't have hesitated to take a 200yd shot with a clean barrel. accuracy would drop after 20 shots, i guess it was sabot build up.
the cheap remington slugster slugs would do great out to 100yds but quickly went to crap after about 100-125. Lots of fun throwing those at 2x4s stuck in the ground at 100yds.
there were alot of slug loads it didn't like much.
got to where i never used it so i sold it.
the cheap remington slugster slugs would do great out to 100yds but quickly went to crap after about 100-125. Lots of fun throwing those at 2x4s stuck in the ground at 100yds.
there were alot of slug loads it didn't like much.
got to where i never used it so i sold it.
FULLDRAWXX75
Well-Known Member
I harvested this buck the Tues. before Thanksgiving in '95, I spotted movement in a cut tree top @ 130 yds down hill from my watch. I checked it out with my bino's first and confirmed horns.
I was using my H&R slugster (heavy bull barrel) with Remington Solid Copper sabots. I could only see the deers frt. shoulder and the base of his neck through a 16" hole in the brush.........I sent a round down range knowing I could make the shot, He went about 30 yds and piled up, the shot was 132 yds.
The elderly gentleman in the photo is my late great uncle, he was the best deer hunter I have ever known. He hunted up until his untimely death from a stroke at age 81. His failing eye sight hindered his shooting abilities some, but never his spirit for the hunt.
FDXX75
I was using my H&R slugster (heavy bull barrel) with Remington Solid Copper sabots. I could only see the deers frt. shoulder and the base of his neck through a 16" hole in the brush.........I sent a round down range knowing I could make the shot, He went about 30 yds and piled up, the shot was 132 yds.
The elderly gentleman in the photo is my late great uncle, he was the best deer hunter I have ever known. He hunted up until his untimely death from a stroke at age 81. His failing eye sight hindered his shooting abilities some, but never his spirit for the hunt.
FDXX75
FULLDRAWXX75
Well-Known Member
Here is where it all started for me, my first two deer......taken on opening day of the NY southern tier season in '84. I bought the Ithaca Deerslayer (pictured) the previous yr. and topped it with a Leupold M8 2x.
I took the spike at 30 yds and the doe at 90 yds. @ 2 hrs apart on the same day.
I remember every detail of that day like it was this morning.
FDXX75
I took the spike at 30 yds and the doe at 90 yds. @ 2 hrs apart on the same day.
I remember every detail of that day like it was this morning.
FDXX75
I had on of the Savage bolt action slug guns. Mine was in 12 gauge. I didn't know you could shoot other size shells in it and was shooting the 3" shells which will kill your shoulder. But I killed two deer with it when I had it at 150 and 200 yds. It was a tack driver.
I will own another one; they started making them in 20 gauge a year or two ago and I am just waiting for the time to snatch one up.
I will own another one; they started making them in 20 gauge a year or two ago and I am just waiting for the time to snatch one up.
Keep 'em coming. I'm open. Thanks!
the biggest thing I have found with slug guns is to try differnt types of ammo.... a friend of mine bought a 1187 with a fully rifled slug barrel and scope.... came with three boxes of older "pumpkin ball" type slugs.... could not even keep it on a piece of paper at 100 yards... switched to Federal priemum slugs shooting the Barnes bullets and will touch all three shots at 100 yards....
FULLDRAWXX75
Well-Known Member
Sako said:
Reasoning for that was the older style "rifled slugs" were not designed to be shot out of a rifled barrel..............they were for smooth bore guns. The Federal premiums are a sabot slug made for a rifled barreled gun.
FDXX75
FULLDRAWXX75 said:I harvested this buck the Tues. before Thanksgiving in '95, I spotted movement in a cut tree top @ 130 yds down hill from my watch. I checked it out with my bino's first and confirmed horns.
I was using my H&R slugster (heavy bull barrel) with Remington Solid Copper sabots. I could only see the deers frt. shoulder and the base of his neck through a 16" hole in the brush.........I sent a round down range knowing I could make the shot, He went about 30 yds and piled up, the shot was 132 yds.
The elderly gentleman in the photo is my late great uncle, he was the best deer hunter I have ever known. He hunted up until his untimely death from a stroke at age 81. His failing eye sight hindered his shooting abilities some, but never his spirit for the hunt.
FDXX75
:cool: Love the old hunting outfit,But wish he was still around to still wear it.
FULLDRAWXX75
Well-Known Member
Tiny said:
Yeah, me too. I miss that man terribly. To be honest, that is all I ever remember him wearing when ever he hunted. I have seen pics for the late 40's,50's & 60's from their deer hunting trips into the Big Range area's of the mtns. and he is wearing his Woolrich plaid and Northern rubber boots.
Actually, when I first started hunting I wore the red/blk plaid jacket and sweater, used wool navy surplus pants. I think I am wearing them in one to the pics posted above.
FDXX75
JimFromTN
Well-Known Member
FULLDRAWXX75
Well-Known Member
JimFromTN said:
$$$$ = heart attack!!!!!!!!!!!!! Holy Moelly Batman.
FDXX75
JimFromTN
Well-Known Member
They are proud of their shotguns. You can probably knock a couple of hundred off that price depending on who you go thru to get one. I will be curious to see if anyone says they are worth the extra $400 to $500 more than a Savage 212 with the accutrigger.
Nhill
Well-Known Member
I have always thought (for Tennessee), why would someone want to buy a shotgun when you can use a Muzzleloader for all the same hunts.
After reading all this crap; now I want one!
After reading all this crap; now I want one!
stik
Well-Known Member
Nhill said:
i have no use for a shotgun for deer.
ShamrockIV
Well-Known Member
i would use a muzzeloader over my ithica 37 deerslayer all day
FULLDRAWXX75
Well-Known Member
ShamrockIV said:
Now that's funny right there.................
FDXX75
I've hunted corp property off and on for about 8 years now and have always used my Encore muzzleloader and felt just like you. Went the other day for the first time with some other guys doing some deer drives and after one guy shot 3 times in a row I got to thinking how it sure would be nice to have a quick follow-up shot if needed and the opportunity presented itself. Plus who don't need a reason to buy another gun. :grin:Nhill said:
JimFromTN
Well-Known Member
I don't see any need for anything other than a shotgun for deer but my average shots are under 50 yds. My bolt action rifles typically collect dust in the gun cabinet except when I take them to the range. I can get 2 to 3 inch groups with my 870 and hastings slugs at 100 yds all day long. I'd take a shot out to 125 yds with it. I had the barrel pinned, scope mounted to the receiver, and replaced the sear spring to lighten the trigger to 2.5 lbs. There is just something about shooting a deer with a projectile that leaves a 1 inch diameter entrance wound. They don't go far, 9 times out of 10 straight down.
In the below article, Randy Wakeman is getting 3 inch groups at 200 yds with the savage 220.
http://randywakeman.com/MoreWithTheSavage220F.htm
In the below article, Randy Wakeman is getting 3 inch groups at 200 yds with the savage 220.
http://randywakeman.com/MoreWithTheSavage220F.htm
