Hunting with slugs in non-rifled shotguns

AdamRoby

AdamRoby

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Kirkland, Quebec
I am looking at hunting wild boar, and the outfitter mentions that only 12-GA shotguns with slugs are permitted.
My 12-GA shotgun does not have rifling, do you need a rifled shotgun for accuracy when hunting @ 25 yards (it is a heavily forested area and they said 25 yards is the average).
I have never tried slugs in this gun, I would probably need to purchase a cylinder choke for this shotgun before testing it at the local range.

Thoughts?
 
I've used challenger 12ga rifled slugs with great success inside 50 yards out of a smooth bore 870 and a fixed mod choke for white-tails in the Ontario controlled deer hunt, I recomend them for a try,
 
870 Police with ghost ring sights ... smootbore ... improved cyliner choke ... 100 meters ... and with Federal TruBall slugs.


870_Police_Ghost_Ring_Sights.jpg


870_Police_Ghost_Rings_100_Meters_TruBalls_4inchGroup.jpg
 
25y, no problem with a smooth bore 12g barrel, I’d try some through each choke you have for it and see which one gives you the best accuracy at different distances. Mod or full give me the best slug accuracy and shot patterns at any range I’d need to use either to hit my intended target, cylinder bore is never my choice.
 
Let's get a breakdown on what kind of shotgun you plan on using, its barrel length and what chokes do you currently have ?

Is it a bead sight, red dot, or GRS??

I have used rifled slugs in many shotguns, all brands across the board. If you can afford it buy brenekke... Otherwise the typical "foster / rifled" slug will do you just fine . Challenger makes a simple 2 3/4" magnum round that I have used before and can recommend. https://www.munitionschallenger.com/biggame.html

If hunting something larger than a boar or deer I'd run

https://www.brennekeusa.com/hunting-ammunition/black-magicr-magnum/

It's all about knock down power obviously a boar isn't a deer or bear so the plain Jane foster will do you just fine. I wouldn't focus on switching chokes I'd run a IC and buy 2 or 3 types of ammo and pattern it to see what your gun shoots best.
My .02
 
CoverFire said:
Let's get a breakdown on what kind of shotgun you plan on using, its barrel length and what chokes do you currently have ?

Is it a bead sight, red dot, or GRS??
Click to expand...

Hah, I love your Avatar picture.

Some specs:
Hunt Group XP2
12 GA, 4+1 capacity pump action
28" barrel, 3" chamber
Fiberoptic sight (I think I need to add a rear sight for better precision)
Came with a choke kit with (CL, IC, M, IM, F) chokes.

The full choke was destroyed using 2 3/4" turkey load lead shot after a few rounds at the range.
Choke would not come out, I thought I destroyed the barrel, but after having it checked it was just the choke that got damaged.

A recent trip to the range using 2 3/4" magnum rounds caused the gun the jam up, needing to be disassembled on the spot to open the action. The shotgun shell needed to be pulled from the chamber. I have not shot it since... but was meaning to go back and test it out after a thorough cleaning and inspection (looks fine, not sure why it jammed up). I went through 2 boxes of target load and ran out, on my second magnum round it jammed up. It could have been dirt, or this gun does not like hot rounds.

My trust level with this gun is quite low. I am a bit intimidated shooting slugs from this gun, hence my idea to purchase a quality cylinder bore choke for fear of the manufacturer supplied CL damaging the gun.
I am a bit surprised to see people recommending to shoot with even a full choke. Should I pull a shell apart to see if the slug fits the choke by hand first? I know it's lead, but can it possibly cause the barrel to explode or crack?

I am seeing more of these kinds of outfitters only allowing shotguns. I assume it is because their distance is not like a rifle and so less likely to shoot a neighboring hunter.
 
Shotgun slugs are lead so they will swage down going through a full choke, but a more open choke is better. Many boxes of slugs say you can use any choke but IC is best. If you have a IC choke tube I would install that. 25 yards you should have no problem with accuracy of a slug.

Use 2 3/4" slugs as they have plenty of power. I would for sure test out the ammo you choose beforehand.
 
There would be no problem killing a wild boar at 25 yards with a regular smoothbore barrel and traditional style slug whatsoever. The combination thereof is plenty accurate. Shoot your gun and see what it performs best with and know your range. There have been a lot of moose, deer and bears killed out to 100 yards with just a rifled slug and smoothbore barrel. I know of at least 6 moose killed by friends of mine that came wading through their decoys while duck hunting that got dropped in the decoy spread....
 
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I'd be wanting to do a bit of practice with slugs on paper at 25 yards before tackling wild boar. For two reasons - your ability to hit something, and the guns ability to serve you.
 
AdamRoby said:
Hah, I love your Avatar picture.

Some specs:
Hunt Group XP2
12 GA, 4+1 capacity pump action
28" barrel, 3" chamber
Fiberoptic sight (I think I need to add a rear sight for better precision)
Came with a choke kit with (CL, IC, M, IM, F) chokes.

The full choke was destroyed using 2 3/4" turkey load lead shot after a few rounds at the range.
Choke would not come out, I thought I destroyed the barrel, but after having it checked it was just the choke that got damaged.

A recent trip to the range using 2 3/4" magnum rounds caused the gun the jam up, needing to be disassembled on the spot to open the action. The shotgun shell needed to be pulled from the chamber. I have not shot it since... but was meaning to go back and test it out after a thorough cleaning and inspection (looks fine, not sure why it jammed up). I went through 2 boxes of target load and ran out, on my second magnum round it jammed up. It could have been dirt, or this gun does not like hot rounds.

My trust level with this gun is quite low. I am a bit intimidated shooting slugs from this gun, hence my idea to purchase a quality cylinder bore choke for fear of the manufacturer supplied CL damaging the gun.
I am a bit surprised to see people recommending to shoot with even a full choke. Should I pull a shell apart to see if the slug fits the choke by hand first? I know it's lead, but can it possibly cause the barrel to explode or crack?

I am seeing more of these kinds of outfitters only allowing shotguns. I assume it is because their distance is not like a rifle and so less likely to shoot a neighboring hunter.
Click to expand...

AdamRoby, most slugs are designed to squeeze through a choke without a problem. And I say most, because there are exceptions. From my experience an Improved Cylinder choke or a Modified choke will likely give you the best accuracy. I would stay away from a Cylinder choke if you are trying get the max accuracy out of that gun.

And for 25 meters ... I don't think you need a rear sight .... however, every type of slug will shoot to a slightly different point of impact. Maybe test a couple different brands and see which one gives you the best accuracy and learn where they impact and learn to compensate. At 25 meters this should not be much ...

There is one slug that was designed for boar hunting and that is the Challenger Magnum Big Game slug.
For more infos on different slugs .... have a look here:

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1635960-Unofficial-12ga-Slug-Penetration-Comparison

One warning .... if you haven't shot slugs yet .... full power slugs kick like a mule .... I like to have an extra slip on recoil pad handy for full power slug range sessions .... have fun!
 
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0faustus0 said:
One warning .... if you haven't shot slugs yet .... full power slugs kick like a mule .... I like to have an extra slip on recoil pad handy for full power slug range sessions .... have fun!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up. I need to call this outfitter, I just realized their site only mentions shotguns with slugs, nothing specific about 12 GA.
I also have a 20 GA O/U with the full spectrum of chokes. Maybe that would be a better option, if they provide enough kick for wild boar without breaking my collar bone.
 
AdamRoby said:
I am looking at hunting wild boar, and the outfitter mentions that only 12-GA shotguns with slugs are permitted.
My 12-GA shotgun does not have rifling, do you need a rifled shotgun for accuracy when hunting @ 25 yards (it is a heavily forested area and they said 25 yards is the average).
I have never tried slugs in this gun, I would probably need to purchase a cylinder choke for this shotgun before testing it at the local range.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Depending on what gun you have you could try getting an extended rifled choke tube. I know they are available for Remingtons. A friend got amazing accuracy out of his Remington 870 with an extended rifled tube using handloaded Lyman 525 grain sabot slugs with 8 point crimp hulls.
I found this video of guys testing this exact combination. They got some pretty impressive accuracy, even with open (non-magnified) sights.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...91C907A3B47B8620DA9391C907A3B47B&&FORM=VDRVRV
 
I have a 14 inch 870 and a Benelli M4 . Both shoot 3 inch Brenneke Exact slugs into 4 to 5 inch 5 shot groups at 100 yards and i've taken all kinds of big game with them including 1 moose , 4 deer and 5 bear from 60 to 125 yards . At 25 yards you could do it with a coach gun with a bead .
 
I can put 8 slugs into the same hole at 25yds with my ghost ringed 590a1. Think the rifling plays more of a factor when you're reaching out to 100yds.
 
AdamRoby said:
Thanks for the heads up. I need to call this outfitter, I just realized their site only mentions shotguns with slugs, nothing specific about 12 GA.
I also have a 20 GA O/U with the full spectrum of chokes. Maybe that would be a better option, if they provide enough kick for wild boar without breaking my collar bone.
Click to expand...

Don't underestimate their will to live. Going down to 20 gauge is only viable in your circumstance if it's three inch magnum sabots and your fully rifled barrel. And the chances your two over under barrels register a decent slug at even 50 yards extraordinarily slim.
You are better off going into this trip believing you are going to meet a 300 pound monster with a bad temper.
That's 12 gauge even 10 gauge territory.
My two bits.
 
If most shots are at 25yards in heavy forested area id rather have a smoothbore. Must be a driven hunt so the pigs will be moving targets.

20in or 18in smoothbore, Iron sights and rifled slugs would be what I'd use.

Sabots are also $5+ a shot plus most rifled barrels are cantilever (made for scope) so it would be unpracticle to use one IMO.
 
I have shot a Rem 870 police and wingmaster both out to 100 meters with slugs, both low recoil and regular 1 oz slugs with absolutely no problem. Practice with your shotgun and find a load it likes and Bob's your uncle.
 
AdamRoby said:
Hah, I love your Avatar picture.

Some specs:
Hunt Group XP2
12 GA, 4+1 capacity pump action
28" barrel, 3" chamber
Fiberoptic sight (I think I need to add a rear sight for better precision)
Came with a choke kit with (CL, IC, M, IM, F) chokes.

The full choke was destroyed using 2 3/4" turkey load lead shot after a few rounds at the range.
Choke would not come out, I thought I destroyed the barrel, but after having it checked it was just the choke that got damaged.

A recent trip to the range using 2 3/4" magnum rounds caused the gun the jam up, needing to be disassembled on the spot to open the action. The shotgun shell needed to be pulled from the chamber. I have not shot it since... but was meaning to go back and test it out after a thorough cleaning and inspection (looks fine, not sure why it jammed up). I went through 2 boxes of target load and ran out, on my second magnum round it jammed up. It could have been dirt, or this gun does not like hot rounds.

My trust level with this gun is quite low. I am a bit intimidated shooting slugs from this gun, hence my idea to purchase a quality cylinder bore choke for fear of the manufacturer supplied CL damaging the gun.
I am a bit surprised to see people recommending to shoot with even a full choke. Should I pull a shell apart to see if the slug fits the choke by hand first? I know it's lead, but can it possibly cause the barrel to explode or crack?

I am seeing more of these kinds of outfitters only allowing shotguns. I assume it is because their distance is not like a rifle and so less likely to shoot a neighboring hunter.
Click to expand...



So you stated that your trust level with your shotgun is very low . if I was you I'd get another barrel for that shotgun or buy another one . I have shot an 870 Remington smooth bore barrel with sights at 50 yards . all shots within 4 inches or so . maybe even touching . don't go hunting with something you can't trust or bet your life on . the slugs were Winchester slugs . go with a 12 gauge .
 
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