12 ga 2¾ slug for moose.. do or don't?

A neighbour uses his 12 ga on moose damaging his tree farm.One shot per customer.Old Imperial foster style................................Harold
 
I've been invited to moose hunt this season...

I'm not sure I'll have to shoot as I'm new to the group but still I'll take cartridges with me

I have a dozen of 12ga 2¾ slugs and I'd like to take that with me, only I'm thinking 3 and 3½ doesn't exist for nothin, I know the 2¾ is suitable for deer, but what about mooses[/QUOTE



I'm not sure what province you're in, but check the regs for legalities.
In BC, it's not legal to hunt moose with a scattergun,with so many rifles out there why would you want to hunt moose with a shotgun anyways...........:confused:
 
I have a nice comination gun with a 12 ga smoothbore. Testing it off sandbags (and a big scope) I found it was erratic with sabots and grouped Foster slugs about 3" at 50 yards. I was impressed with the accuracy. I had no idea the old rifled slug would shoot so well.

If a shotgun had real sights, I am comfortable with the idea of rifled slugs to 75 yards. I think the crude front bead only sight would be stretched at 50 yards.
 
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I have a nice comination gun with a 12 ga smoothbore. Testing it off sandbags (and a big scope) I found it was erratic with sabots and grouped about 3" at 50 yards. I was impressed with the accuracy. I had no idea the old rifled slug would shoot so well.

If a shotgun had real sights, I am comfortable with the idea of rifled slugs to75 yards. I think the crude front bead only sight would be stretched at 50 yards.

Sabots are designed for rifled barrels only so not much surprise that the smoothbore was erratic.
 
i like that fact you all want to put me down on this, but thats the only hunting firearm I own, not planning to spend K's just for one trip
 
i like that fact you all want to put me down on this, but thats the only hunting firearm I own, not planning to spend K's just for one trip


I definitely wasn't putting you down and if you are willing to take a little time at the range and find out your effective range, there's no reason not to head afield with your shotgun. By your post it seemed as though you weren't and just wanted the quickest answer with no work involved. Go to the range and see how you group at 25 yards, 50 yards, 100 yards and you'll have your answer pretty quick as to how far you should be shooting. If you aren't willing to do that then you likely shouldn't be hunting!
 
I definitely wasn't putting you down and if you are willing to take a little time at the range and find out your effective range, there's no reason not to head afield with your shotgun. By your post it seemed as though you weren't and just wanted the quickest answer with no work involved. Go to the range and see how you group at 25 yards, 50 yards, 100 yards and you'll have your answer pretty quick as to how far you should be shooting. If you aren't willing to do that then you likely shouldn't be hunting!

Good advice here. Best case scenario you have a scope mounted, next best, iron rifle type sights and a choke in your smoothbore that is compatable with your slug choice.
If you only have a bead, at the very least, do the above. And most important, practice at the range, to find out your maximum effective range and keep to it.
Ensure you purchase enough slugs for practice, and get the same brand/type for the hunt.
good luck to you!
 
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Sheephunter put it the best, if your not sure your effective range take the time to go to the range and put some lead down the pipe. Also I didn't really see any put downs, only people giving you there answers from experience. If you don't want to listen and take the answers and build on it than, that is really to bad.
 
Still unknown what province you want to shoot moose with 12 guage slugs.
I hope it is not BC, because, as has been pointed out, it is illegal. It is on page 16 in this years synopsis.
And whether it is a foolish rule or not is beside the point, it is the law. I don't think a defence based on, "It's a silly law," would work very well.

Also, while we hear no end of stories about using shotgun slugs for grizzly defence, it is also illegal to shoot grizzly bear with a shotgun!
Wouldn't that be ironic, save your life by shooting a charging grizzly with a slug, then get charged for using a shotgun!
 
Still unknown what province you want to shoot moose with 12 guage slugs.
I hope it is not BC, because, as has been pointed out, it is illegal. It is on page 16 in this years synopsis.
And whether it is a foolish rule or not is beside the point, it is the law. I don't think a defence based on, "It's a silly law," would work very well.

Also, while we hear no end of stories about using shotgun slugs for grizzly defence, it is also illegal to shoot grizzly bear with a shotgun!
Wouldn't that be ironic, save your life by shooting a charging grizzly with a slug, then get charged for using a shotgun!

Pretty sure no one was encouraging him to break the law. I just took it for granted that it was legal where he lived........there is life beyond Hope! :D

Not illegal to shoot a grizzly with a shotgun in BC....it's illegal to hunt one!
 
dont use crappy foster slugs.
as long as you shoot at reasonable distances with an appropriate shotgun 2 3/4" Brenneke Rottweils should do the trick.

still, you really should think it over. what if your moose is 150 yards away? are you still going to take the shot? i should hope not.
why not buy or borrow an appropriate gun. not to mention id hate to be the new guy showing up for a moose hunt with a shotgun, youre not going to be received too well and you might not be invited back.

Stevens 200 in .30-06, .270, .308, whatever $290
Bushnell Elite 3200 3-9x40mm $195
Burris Zee rings $23
Burris XTB steel bases $17
_______________________
$525
 
What do I know but if a new guy should up with a 12 gauge to go hunt moose with me and my partners I would straight out think its weird. Borrow a gun, shoot it make sure you put some good holes on paper and have at er.
Cheers
 
Who knows, maybe with a purchase of some Brennekes & some range practice, the guy is up for it?

If an opportunity presents itself, and he is close enough, and cool enough...this is very do-able.

In the arctic town of Inuvik, in one of the many pizza resterants, stands a stuffed, 8.5 foot polar bear.
Killed by the wife of a local hunter, she used a single shot 12 gauge and a foster slug to do the deed, sometime in the mid-1970's.
 
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Believe it or not, I would go with the 2 3/4 over the 3" when loaded with pure lead foster style slugs of the same weight. The extra velocity can REALY hurt the amount of penetration if it is enough to cause the slug to flatten out.
 
What do I know but if a new guy should up with a 12 gauge to go hunt moose with me and my partners I would straight out think its weird. Borrow a gun, shoot it make sure you put some good holes on paper and have at er.
Cheers

If a fellow showed up to moose hunt with me, carrying a 12 ga smoothbore, I'd put him on a watch where he'd be shooting 75yds or less.:)
 
with fosters, try a tighter choke. sounds crazy but it actually helps in some guns and doesnt hurt to try.
out of my SPR 453 i actually get much better foster slug (winchester super x bulk packs) groups with a full choke than i do with the Improved Skeet and Improved Modified chokes that came with it (their choke constrictions are a bit off, hence the weird chokes).
personally, i wouldnt shoot hard-cast brennekes through anything tighter than modified.
 
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