Challenger slugs and full choke

Fox

Fox

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Hello, I will be hunting for a few days this year in a shotgun only zone. In the future I will look into a fully rifled barrel but at the moment I am shooting a Remington 870 super mag. I have 3 1/2" buckshot loads and challenger slugs. The challenger slugs work well with my gun but I will have to get some snap on sights to know exactly where the slug will land. Keeping in mind that my shots will all be under 100 yards mainly under 50 yards, would going to a full choke to tighten up the buckshot hurt the challenger slug accuracy that greatly?

I would not use the buckshot over 30 yards but I want to have that option if I drive through the thick stuff.

If anyone has any experience with these slugs I am all ears, please remember that I am not going to go out and buy a new gun I am a university student and funds are very tight.

Thanka
 
I would guess that you would get better patterns out of something like a mod. choke with buckshot and mod. is I believe what is recommended for slugs in a smooth bore
 
What are you taking the buckshot for... squirrels :?:
At 30 yards you would be able to hit a deer with a slug even without sights... buckshot is for varmints :idea:
I am always amazed at the number of hunters who think that buckshot is acceptable for use on big game. :?
I am not trying to be a jerk but my patience with this has long since expired... please leave the buckshot at home and do yourself and the deer a favor... hunt with slugs 8)
 
Bigredd is right, when I answered I only considered the mechanics of it, I didn't relize you wanted to shoot at a deer with it, I wouldn't attempt more than a quick fleeing shot at a coyote with buckshot, you owe it to the animal to use the best tool posssible as to not cause suffering and I believe buckshot is marginal even under the best circumstances.
 
I agree with the last couple of posts but in our SHOTGUN ONLY AREAS in B.C. , they are with multiple projectiles so slugs are out. Mind you some of our ISLAND DEER look like fat GREAT DANE DOGS. And a 50 yard shot with slugs and the bead sight is not impossible, go to the range and try it,it is surprising.
 
Ok, I guess if I wanted feedback I should look somewhere else.
Don't tell me that within the proper range buckshot will not kill a deer. I have been around a lot of people who hunt deer with buckshot only and fill their tags on the first shot. I will continue to use buckshot in very tight close range areas while driving.

I simply asked if anyone had any suggestions as to the use of Challenger slugs. I know a bead will work but my gun shoots about 6" to the right and down of the beads so I need to put on sights.
 
Ok, I guess if I wanted feedback I should look somewhere else.
Don't tell me that within the proper range buckshot will not kill a deer. I have been around a lot of people who hunt deer with buckshot only and fill their tags on the first shot. I will continue to use buckshot in very tight close range areas while driving.
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Buckshot is proven to be dangerous in close quarters ...deflection... that is why SWAT uses slugs... :roll:
You are inexperienced and the people you are hunting with are foolish if you believe that any big game animal can be killed more effectively with buckshot than with slugs :cry:
If you did not want feedback from people with experience you should have stuck to listening to your brilliant companions and saved us from wasting our time :twisted:

Challenger slugs suck... too, but I will refrain from telling what are better because you are not going to take good advice anyway :(
 
Within 20 yards the deer will be just as dead. I thank you for calling everyone I hunt with foolish, my father who has been hunting since 72, my grandfather who hunted around algonquin at the age of 16, he is 75 now. My cousins and uncle who only had full choke shotguns and killed a deer with one shot every year. I guess they have no experience under their belts. The rest of the hunting gang averages over 20 years experience, again I cannot see why I should not take their accounts into mind. I was simply asking if a tighter choke with the challenger slugs affected their accuracy greatly?
If you want to tell me that everyone I hunt with are idiots then keep it to yourself, I don't appreciate your personal attacks on my family, give your opinion on the topic. If you won't use buckshot then don't use it, it is legal and can do the job in close quarters so why the hell not.
 
I am always amazed at the number of hunters who think that buckshot is acceptable for use on big game.
I am not trying to be a jerk but my patience with this has long since expired... please leave the buckshot at home and do yourself and the deer a favor... hunt with slugs
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As already mentioned, in BC Shotguns only usually means "no single projectiles". So what should a person do? These areas usually have more liberal seasons and bag limits too.
 
Not to hijack, but what's the point of a "shotgun only" zone if you can use slugs? :|

Hey, Fox, don't take BIGREDD's comments as a personal attack on you or your family. You're just another guy like all of us floating around in this here internet thingy. Take it for what it's worth and try to learn something. If your grandpa spent all his life hunting with a pointed stick, I'd be impressed as hell and love to shake his hand, but I wouldn't decide it was the best way to hunt given the choices available to us, nor would I be insulted if someone said so.

Or, how about just responding thusly: "Okay, thanks for the input, BR, but I just mainly want to know if tightening the choke would affect the accuracy of the slug?" (and you could add, "you cranky bastard." :lol: ) Or better yet go to your range and spend many, many hours and many, many rounds testing like BR has.

What is it? Why is everyone so ornery? Buck fever? :p
 
I have a Win. 1200,12g w/Win chokes.At the time, I was curious to see how my slugs would group wuth each choke(full,mod, & I/C).I found the best pattern or group came with the I/C choke @ 50yds.50 yds being my MAX. range as the farther out the bigger spread.Luckily the local gun dealer(Mark Jesse @ Comox Custom Guns/ The Adventure Store) had a used deer barrel in I/C for the said model,I was then able to confidently stretch my range to 100yds. I was using Brenneke slugs as I found they grouped best.The Foster type slugs would be effective as well but they dropped and lost velocity fast IMO,So I would limit them to 75yds MAX.I have'nt tried the Challenger slugs but apparently they are used by some law enforcement agencies :?: ,PMC made the Brenneke slugs at one time but have'nt seen them lately.Good luck on the other hand and use whichever makes you comfortable :)

Huntsman
 
Just looking for someone who is using the same type of equipment to get a baseline. I have gone out and ahot my gun to see what types of patterns and slug groupings. My gut says that it would be a waste to go get a full choke as the deformation in the slug and pellets when using large buckshot would counter the desired effect. I use 3 1/2" OO buckshot as I feel there should be a good number of pellets on target. At 50 yards I was putting 5 pellets into a pie plate, I know this is way too far for deer but was only patterning. The area we hunt in north eastern Ontario is very tight in a lot of places, when using dogs you have deer on the move, the shotgun is only going to be using buckshot within 30 yards and I know that will put down a buck. Thanks for the input but I again do not appreciate the negative comments as I try to gain knowledge. I have spent many many hours shooting since the 22 with my Dad at 10, the bows, pellet guns, shotguns, rifles. I have jumped into reloading and have a keen interest in military rifles of the world wars.

Thank you Terrence for pointing out other options when responding to comments like these and I will take your ideas into account in the future.

I am going home this weekend, as my firearms cannot be with me while attending school. I have limited time but will use it and work towards answering the questions I have. Thank you guys for trying to answer my question, I will update if I can pull myself away from my family to do some serious shooting.
 
Fox,

I have read all of these threads posted here and seem to want to stay clear of this discussion as there are many points made and they seem to not favourable to you. I do have a concern and that is with your equipment.

You mentioned that, "I know a bead will work but my gun shoots about 6" to the right and down of the beads so I need to put on sights."

From your statement I would inspect the straightness of your barrel or you have an obvious issue with the ammo you are using. You should spend some time getting this issue resolved. I have seen bent barrels in the past that have caused the exact same issues that you are having.

Best regards,
Sam
 
Well I was not going to post here... but I will try again.
I am an old guy who hunted with buckshot and paper hulled slugs when you were not born yet Fox.
I own and shoot a couple of 3.5 inch semi shotguns and I use and test all new modern ammunition as it is released... buckshot included :|
I am not disrespecting your family and friends just calling a spade a spade... if anyone is still using buckshot for big game they are foolish....period. :shock:
I feel sorry for the hunters on Van.Isle. that are obliged to use buckshot for deer... slugs are proven to be safer even in these areas... and much more effective at killing. :?
All modern slugs are made to pass safely through a full choke... Challengers are a harder alloy than most slugs and I find them prone to pass-throughs and wounding.
Brennekes and Federal in the 1 1/8th ounce versions are much better than Challengers.
If you can change up your chokes use the cylinder or improved cyl tube... a rifled choke-tube may give you a higher dgree of acuracy with foster style slugs.
If you have a vent rib put a set of adjustable fibre optic sights on your barrel... makes a hell of a difference for accuracy and aquisition time. :wink:

Sorry for biting your head off Fox... but take the buckshot and throw them in the lake :wink:
 
I'm new to owning a shotty so forgive my forwardness, but I cannot see how 00, and 000 Buck cannot kill a deer at 50yards. Today at the range I was ripping through old phone books with them. I wouldn't want to be on the biz end of them. :shock:

Sure Slugs would be much better, but these are tiny deer over here on Van Island...not the big Mule deer on the mainland.

Having said that I'd save the Buckshot for Home defence, and 'nasty' critter control. :wink:
 
BIGREDD said:
Well I was not going to post here... but I will try again.
I am an old guy who hunted with buckshot and paper hulled slugs when you were not born yet Fox.
I own and shoot a couple of 3.5 inch semi shotguns and I use and test all new modern ammunition as it is released... buckshot included :|
I am not disrespecting your family and friends just calling a spade a spade... if anyone is still using buckshot for big game they are foolish....period. :shock:
I feel sorry for the hunters on Van.Isle. that are obliged to use buckshot for deer... slugs are proven to be safer even in these areas... and much more effective at killing. :?
All modern slugs are made to pass safely through a full choke... Challengers are a harder alloy than most slugs and I find them prone to pass-throughs and wounding.
Brennekes and Federal in the 1 1/8th ounce versions are much better than Challengers.
If you can change up your chokes use the cylinder or improved cyl tube... a rifled choke-tube may give you a higher dgree of acuracy with foster style slugs.
If you have a vent rib put a set of adjustable fibre optic sights on your barrel... makes a hell of a difference for accuracy and aquisition time. :wink:

Sorry for biting your head off Fox... but take the buckshot and throw them in the lake :wink:
Click to expand...

Well, I certainly learned something.

Thank you Monsieur BIGREDD :wink:

BT
 
Calum said:
I'm new to owning a shotty so forgive my forwardness, but I cannot see how 00, and 000 Buck cannot kill a deer at 50yards. Today at the range I was ripping through old phone books with them. I wouldn't want to be on the biz end of them. :shock:

Sure Slugs would be much better, but these are tiny deer over here on Van Island...not the big Mule deer on the mainland.

Having said that I'd save the Buckshot for Home defence, and 'nasty' critter control. :wink:
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It spreads quite a bit at 50 yards, how many pellets are actually in the kill zone by then? It may kill the deer, but it could be a slower and more painful death as the hits are not focussed on the heart and lungs. Slugs focus the damage where it will do the most damage, and penetrate far deeper smashing through bone that gets between it and the vitals.

Buckshot kills thin skinned critters at close ranges, but slugs do it more effectively. Buckshot can also bounce back off trees where slugs just penetrate them. I can see using buckshot if that is the only way you are permitted to hunt, but do it at very close range to give the animal the quick death it deserves.

Would it not be an option to hunt outside the "multiple projectile only" area instead?

Outside of the buckshot issue, I was interested in the question of the effect of the chokes on slug accuracy too. Thanks for posting it. :)
 
After reading what I have in this thread I will not use Buckshot on Deer.
Such Stupid regs...one would think the Wildlife authorita would want a safer, and more humaine kill.
 
3 deear taken with OOO bucshot fed my family fine. I have also hunted with several fellas who use nothing but buckshot, with awesome success. As far as I can remember, I nor have anyone I Know have shot a deer with buckshot and hit an old lady carrying groceries by mistake, I find buckshot does have its place, and unfortunatly with buckshot use will lose more useable meat especially if you hit the animal in a bad spot, instead of one hole with a little bit of meat ruined, you end up with several holes with even more unusable meat.

my two cents
 
Calum said:
After reading what I have in this thread I will not use Buckshot on Deer.
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I can't buy Challenger slugs here in SJ for my smoothbore 870 :(

I stopped using buckshot on deer a long time ago. I'd gladly trade some 000 buck here for some Challenger slugs.

SC.....................
 
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