Muzzle Loader Or Rifled Slug Gun?

Joe_Singer

Joe_Singer

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Princeton, Ont
Ok I got my eyes set on a fully rifled slug gun and the one im looking at is the 870 SPS Shurshot Synthetic Super Slug. It has the pinned barrel and 1" fluted diameter barrel so it will be just strictly a slug gun.
Now I never considered a muzzle loader and have never even shot one but I was wondering what would be my best bet with. I have noticed that the muzzle loaders are less then what I would be spending if I were to get the rifle slug gun but would it take just as far as shots and as accurate?
 
toadays slug gunbs are amazing out to 200yards i shoot a mossy 535 with a scope and she does shotwell .i shot an new ithaca slug gun this summer and all i can say is wow same kind of thing you are talking about think fluted barrel pinned soild to recever .great gun .if you live down here in southern ont that is your choice slug gun or muzzel loader .i did by a blackpowder gun for one season and did not like messing with it well hunting as we only get 6 days to hunt deer my slug gun works so why change .sopmthing els to consider is what els can you is the gun for .my slug gun can talk mooses as well as bears and so can a muzzy .if you do not get a lo of shooting each year i wuld stick to a slug gun if you do like to shot a lot all sommer then mayby a blak powder is fo0r you .DUTCH
 
dutchhunter said:
toadays slug gunbs are amazing out to 200yards i shoot a mossy 535 with a scope and she does shotwell .i shot an new ithaca slug gun this summer and all i can say is wow same kind of thing you are talking about think fluted barrel pinned soild to recever .great gun .if you live down here in southern ont that is your choice slug gun or muzzel loader .i did by a blackpowder gun for one season and did not like messing with it well hunting as we only get 6 days to hunt deer my slug gun works so why change .sopmthing els to consider is what els can you is the gun for .my slug gun can talk mooses as well as bears and so can a muzzy .if you do not get a lo of shooting each year i wuld stick to a slug gun if you do like to shot a lot all sommer then mayby a blak powder is fo0r you .DUTCH
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I do live in SW ont and this is where i do most of all my huning. I live out in the country and I do alot of shooting as i have the property to do so. When I was thinking on what other use I could use the slug gun for other then deer first thing came to mind was coyotes and if I ever get a chance I would like to do a moose and bear hunt and im sure it will do the job.
Just wondering tho why would you think a muzzy would be better for shooting all the time?

Anyone got input on a good rifle slug gun or muzzle loader?
So far I have been just looking at the 870 SPS Shurshot Synthetic Super Slug or the Savage 210F Slug Gun in a bolt action.
 
Mossberg offers their 500 with a package of a 28" (I think, maybe 26") shot barrel and a 24" fully rifled slug barrel with sights. And they also offer an accessory barrel for the 500 that turns it into a muzzleloader.

I have an 870 Express Super Magnum that was a similar package, (the rifled barrel barrel is only 20") and I'm confident with it to 100m or so, and with enough practice would probably be able to take shots at 150. I also have a Traditions Tracker muzzleloader and I think my effective and potential range with that is about the same as with the slug gun.
 
Joe_Singer said:
I do live in SW ont and this is where i do most of all my huning. I live out in the country and I do alot of shooting as i have the property to do so. When I was thinking on what other use I could use the slug gun for other then deer first thing came to mind was coyotes and if I ever get a chance I would like to do a moose and bear hunt and im sure it will do the job.
Just wondering tho why would you think a muzzy would be better for shooting all the time?

Anyone got input on a good rifle slug gun or muzzle loader?
So far I have been just looking at the 870 SPS Shurshot Synthetic Super Slug or the Savage 210F Slug Gun in a bolt action.
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I hated the hunting in SW Ontario. Been living in Northern Aberta for 5 years now and I love the hunting here.
 
TheTooner said:
Mossberg offers their 500 with a package of a 28" (I think, maybe 26") shot barrel and a 24" fully rifled slug barrel with sights. And they also offer an accessory barrel for the 500 that turns it into a muzzleloader.

I have an 870 Express Super Magnum that was a similar package, (the rifled barrel barrel is only 20") and I'm confident with it to 100m or so, and with enough practice would probably be able to take shots at 150. I also have a Traditions Tracker muzzleloader and I think my effective and potential range with that is about the same as with the slug gun.
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Yeah i did pick up a Mossy 500 bantom for the girlfriend in a 20 and i think that will be the last one i buy just because i think they are not that smooth of a gun and i find they are a noisy.

But for myself im looking for something with a pinned barrel so nothing with exchangeable barrels because they dont tend to be a accurate then ones with a pinned barrel
 
"...repeating slug guns suck on accuracy...they dont tend to be a accurate..." Nonsense. Two to 3" groups at 100 with a smooth bore Rem 870, for example, isn't unusual.
 
IMHO, much of the selection process would be dependent on personal preference + the hunting/shooting conditions prevalent in your area.

In terms of overall performance, rifled bbl slug guns have made very long strides upto this point in time. The firearm offers ease of operation (read loading/unloading) and maintenance. However, the sabots are expensive though minimum aprox $15/box of five.

In parallel comparison, I would say that modern in-line MLs are capable of better long range accuracy. Cost of bullets/powder are much more affordable specially when it comes to practise at the range. Maintenance becomes reasonably second nature once one becomes accustomed to that. Having said all that, one is somewhat time constrained when reloading under pressure (in field conditions) but then one shot is all that is usually needed in the majority of cases :).

Should you decide to go for the ML - I would strongly recommend a model with a hand removeable breechplug as that highly facilitates handling/operation in the field.

Joe_Singer said:
But for myself im looking for something with a pinned barrel so nothing with exchangeable barrels because they dont tend to be a accurate then ones with a pinned barrel
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I handled (but never shot) the 20ga Savage bolt slug gun. I think its a nice handling firearm with "rifle like" balance compared to its elder brother. The 20ga deer guns also get great reviews in the US forums.
 
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I have been deer hunting with a ML for 15+ years...so I'm slightly biased. ;)

If you prefer a little added challenge, are fairly selective about your shots, and realize you have a single shot rifle, get a ML.

A ML can shoot a wide variety of bullets, from light-weight sabot ballistic tips, to heavy solid conicals. (or PRB's). Almost all ML's will shot <2MOA

Powder charges can also be adjusted, for the more recoil-sensitive types.

I only know a handful of people that use a ML during the regular gun week(s), so you will differentiate yourself from the average Joe.
 
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I bought a rifled slug barrel for my 870 wingmaster with the intention of hunting deer with it. However, I found that I had a hard time getting 3 inch groups at 50yds. This may be entirely my fault (as a matter of fact I'm sure its mostly my fault), because I find the 3" slugs kick like a mule on steroids and I flinch when shooting it. I have since bought a savage ML II smokeless powder muzzle loader. I'm getting roughly 1.5-2 inch groups at 100 yds. The recoil is more managable, and I'm more confident shooting it. Apparently the former owner, (I bought it used), made a 260-ish yard deer kill with it. As mentioned some slug guns can get decent accuracy out to 200 yds, and so can some muzzle loaders, so it really comes down to your preference. As for me, I'll leave my slug gun at home and take the m/l any day. YMMV.
 
I've had excellent accuracy with an H&R Ultra Slug and a Savage 210 bolt gun. Both would easily take deer out at 175 yards if you take the time to find the sabot slug load that they like. I've gotten decent results with a smoothbore 870 when using Tru-ball slugs, but I'd have to say that 2 to 3 inch groups at 100 yards, with a smoothbore gun, is unusual, despite what another poster said here.

Just about all of my muzzleloaders will beat any of these slug guns for accuracy, but let's be honest...cleaning a muzzleloader is a PITA, no matter which method or solution you use. A shotgun is much less hassle to use.
 
The H&R USH is a great firearm, I use one in 20ga....very accurate and I find that the heavy bbl facilitates better offhand shooting.

For my break barrel ML (TC in-line), I now use the bore foam to clean the bbl....initially felt the chore as somewhat of a hassle as I used boiling water down the bbl...either way it doesn't take very long to complete the job.

I agree the traditonal MLs may require more time for diligent maintenence.
 
Ahsan Ahmed said:
The H&R USH is a great firearm, I use one in 20ga....very accurate and I find that the heavy bbl facilitates better offhand shooting.

For my break barrel ML (TC in-line), I now use the bore foam to clean the bbl....initially felt the chore as somewhat of a hassle as I used boiling water down the bbl...either way it doesn't take very long to complete the job.

I agree the traditonal MLs may require more time for diligent maintenence.
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+1...I went the cheap rout and bought a CVA Wolf from CT...2.5" groups at 100yds, 5" at 200....all for $184....gotta love it.
 
I took a friend to Range last week for checking accuracy of my ML and his slug gun.
Honestly, dont even spend money on Slug gun, they are good for nothing even after shooting with scope on em and hitting at radius of 3" to 3 feet at only 50 yards. I zeroed my ML after 3 shots at 2" radius hitting 100 yards. GO for ML.
 
And yes I use Traditions elite with American Pioneer powder without cleaning shot after shot without a problem of Accuracy. Good Luck if you want to spend $400 or $900 and buy a Good Looking Ml to show friends and Impress.
 
Its your choice either way. Go with what you like best.
I myself am getting into the muzzleloader thing, but find the cleaning process a pain in the a$$.


niftyfifty said:
For the most part repeating slug guns suck on accuracy
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Nonsense.

I have a Beretta Urika with a 24'' cantilever barrel and a Rem 870 20g with a 24'' Hastings that both shoot very well.
The Beretta shoots very well with Federal 3'' tipped Barnes Expanders out to 200yds. I've gotten just under 4'' groups @ 200yds, but most of my shooting is 100yds, and under.
The Rem 870 20g likes Hornady SST ammo, and the accuracy is very close to that of the Beretta. Both of these shotguns have pretty darn good accuracy IMO.

Perhaps your accuracy issues you had with repeating slug guns sucking had more to do with the shooter than the slug gun.
 
most accurate slug guns are likely the Savage ones, as the barrels are torqued on. the savage 220 from reviews get 3/4" groups at 150 yards using Remington accutips.

the rem slug guns aren't to bad they are still gonna be a little wiggly, that screw holding them together is mighty small.

its all a matter of preference, muzzle loaders are about as accurate as a well built slug gun, but nowhere near as fast to reload. if you can reload one in under 20 seconds your going well. slug guns are gonna be ether break open, pump, or the best Bolt. much faster than a muzzle loader.
 
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