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Slugs?

3676 Views 22 Replies 1 Participant Last post by  ShotgunPro
Hey all, since I plan to use my friends Remington 870 Express to hunt deer this year...I decided I want to shoot a few different kinds of slugs through the gun before I go out hunting. I just want to see which work best with the gun before I attempt to shoot an animal.

My main question is this; the gun is one of the combination packages, it came with a long shot barrel and then a shorter slug barrel...which slugs do I need to shoot from the slug barrel? Clearly I can use any 12ga 2 3/4" or 3" slug, right? Or do I need special slugs?

Ive been shooting trap since I was about 8...but Ive never once shot a slug before and just want to educate myself a little before I go buy some potentially incorrect ammo.
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Is the slug barrel rifled? If so, you'll want to use sabot slugs. The Remington accu-tip slugs are pretty impressive.

Oh, and if you've never shot a slug before, its much harsher on the recoil than any bird/target load.
The slug barrel is smooth. No rifling. So does that correlate to a specific slug...or just the same kind I could shoot through the shot barrel?

I was anticipating more recoil. That is another reason to shoot a few slugs before I climb up a try and try it for the first time!
If the slug bbl is smooth shoot a rifled lead slug. Here is a pretty good article; Shotgun Slugs
For a smooth bore I hear great things about Breneke, (think thats how it's spelled). For me it's fun to try different brands and see what kind works in a certain gun.

good luck.
Sounds good. I will steer clear of sabot slugs. Although I can still tell you that the first time I go to pull the trigger I will be a little leery...
I get the best accuracy out of the cheap Winchester Super-X rifled slugs. I have a 20" barrel Mossberg.
Sounds good. I will steer clear of sabot slugs. Although I can still tell you that the first time I go to pull the trigger I will be a little leery...
. Trust me, if a deer if crossing your path 2,3,4 shots won't feel like a thing and you won't likely hear the shot either. Targer practice will hurt if yoiu aren't holding the shotgun proper, I learned this the hard way.

Practice for the one shot, only way to go.
Any rifled slug will do. Take some practice shots at 50 yards and 100 yards. 100 yards is pushing the limit of a humane kill with a smooth bore fired slug.
+1 for Breneke slugs...used the hybrids on my first doe, shot them out of an remington 1100 smooth barrel. Took a 60 yard snap shot and we had a down deer about 23 yards from where she was hit. Slug shattered the front shoulder and ended up taking out a lung and knicked the heart. Ended up finding the slug when we gutted her and kept it...if i can find it i'll throw up a pic just so you can see how it kept together.
jake - Like I said, Ive been shooting shotguns for 15 years...I know what to expect regarding recoil and accuracy. I just wont want to trust the slugs until I shoot one. The image that keeps replaying in my mind is the barrel just blowing open like in the cartoons. Just a mental thing.

laserss - I have been doing a lot of reading on slugs. I had read that 100 yards was pretty much the limit. But I will definitely by practicing before I head out into the field. Im an excellent shot with a rifle...just need to make sure its the same for a shotgun.
I've shot hundreds of slugs though my smooth bore no problem. The Winchester slugs I shot made it though 2.5 really thick wet phone books at around 30 yards. It was still one solid piece, granted it was also a hollow point round. I have a lot of confidence in slugs.
I've shot hundreds of slugs though my smooth bore no problem. The Winchester slugs I shot made it though 2.5 really thick wet phone books at around 30 yards. It was still one solid piece, granted it was also a hollow point round. I have a lot of confidence in slugs.
I don't think anyone was saying you can't shoot them through a smooth bore, simply that accuracy from a smooth bore leaves something to be desired at range.
Oh i forgot critters are a lot smaller in the lower 48. LOL I keep thinking Alaska size. :smile:
Brenneke Rottwiels/Blitz are good stuff...so are the el-cheapo Winchester, Federal, and Remington sluggers.

Believe it or not, however...the odds are that your shotgun will like one a little better than the others.

So, I'd recommend buying 5 or 6 different brands/types (I really recommend buying ones that you can easily find, so you'll be able to get them again without a hassle), go to the range, and do a little shooting....then, just lay in a stock of which ones seem to work best in your shotgun.

Now--in my experience, you really don't get much--besides a metric buttload more recoil--for moving up to a 3" over a 2.75" slug; they don't shoot all that much flatter, they don't hit all that much harder (against deer--with proper placement, I've never noticed a 3" knock a deer down faster than a 2.75...), or are more accurate...in fact, I tend to get better accuracy out of 2.75" slugs in my shotguns...about the only way I've found a 3" consistently shoots better is with sabots. YMMV.
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Brenneke Rottwiels/Blitz are good stuff...so are the el-cheapo Winchester, Federal, and Remington sluggers.

Believe it or not, however...the odds are that your shotgun will like one a little better than the others.

So, I'd recommend buying 5 or 6 different brands/types (I really recommend buying ones that you can easily find, so you'll be able to get them again without a hassle), go to the range, and do a little shooting....then, just lay in a stock of which ones seem to work best in your shotgun.

Now--in my experience, you really don't get much--besides a metric buttload more recoil--for moving up to a 3" over a 2.75" slug; they don't shoot all that much flatter, they don't hit all that much harder (against deer--with proper placement, I've never noticed a 3" knock a deer down faster than a 2.75...), or are more accurate...in fact, I tend to get better accuracy out of 2.75" slugs in my shotguns...about the only way I've found a 3" consistently shoots better is with sabots. YMMV.
+1 i've heard all over that 2.75" shells seem to shoot straighter than 3". Something about too much power. I think it even said that in the 2009 Mossberg gun annual. I know 2.75 has no trouble going through 2 2x4 woodplanks and an old truck hood and then dissappearing into a dirt bank 10ft away(took a few shots to sight in the red dot):smile:
I like the Winchester Super X slugs.

Hunted with a smooth barrel for years before I got my 870, and most people I know still hunt with them. The Super X slugs fly straight, and penetrate good, as well as expand a bit. The brennekes I've seen blow right through without any expansion, and had to track a deer all over hell's half acre. It went through the lungs, dunno how the deer went that far. The sluggers are underpowered, saw one go into the neck of a deer, and stop about 3/4" under the skin. Nicked one of the main lines, otherwise that deer would never have dropped. She still went a couple hundred yards, but she was leaking enough, and it was pretty open, so she was easy to track. It was a pretty close shot too, probably 30 yards. Federals seem to be OK too, but haven't shot any of their modern slugs.
Hastings makes decent slugs. Used them last year hunting. Got my first deer (8 point buck) with them.
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