Considering a combo field/rifled barrel shotgun

joe m

joe m

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Similar thread tohttp://http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=650616&page=2 but didn't want to highjack.

I'm thinking about picking up a combo field/rifled barrel shotgun. I have an old mossberg 500 that works fine for grouse but would like to pick up another shotgun for migratory. I also spend alot of time hunting in tight bush and small fields for big game so wondering if buying a rifled barrel at the same time is a good idea. Intended big game prey is deer, moose, bear and elk. I have no practical experience with shooting slugs so still wondering if going this route for elk/moose is realistic. For what it's worth I have taken elk, deer bear and moose from under 50 yds with center fire. I don't mind limiting shooting range and like carrying a shotgun in the bush so looking for info from guys in the know. The below questions are assuming a pump shotgun, probably another 500 mossy or similar.

What realistic ranges can I expect from factory slugs when all the above tags are in my pocket?

What range advantage will a rifled barrel give me over smooth bore for field use?
 
I have 2 535ats mossbergs and a 500 model. The one 535ats is the field deer combo. Blued with wood furniture 28" dual bead vent ribbed barrel with 3 chokes and a 24" rifled barrel. The vr smooth bore is typical smooth bore but the rifled barrel is amazing. I swapped the brass front bead with a red fibre optic and its accurate to 150 yards open sights. Just need to arch them in. I use rio star rifled slugs and they make one hole at 50 yards all day and are stellar on deer. I also use 3" gold mag brenneke slugs. Absolutely amazing slug but very hard to find. With most slugs for big game I'd stay inside 50 yards for max punch but they are usable to 75 yards. Saboted slugs offer more speed and basically match a muzzleloader in performance so shots to 150 are excepted. Hornadys SST and winchester partitions work well and group well just they group 8" higher then the non soboted slugs I use. A 58 cal bullet going 1900fps will kill any north american big game with a well placed shot inside 100 yards. I'd suggest the 500 series deer/feild combo. There are many more barrels you can buy for that platform as well. A rifled barrel gives you more accuracy over a longer distance and allows the use of modern bullets in saboted form. Its a trade off of frontal area for construction and speed and alil more distance. Good luck and happy hunting
 
Thanks for the reply brybenn. So far I haven't decided on what make/model to go with but the 500 and the 535 are on the list. Will spend the next few months doing more research, and then look for a deal.
 
If you have the option to use a rifle for big game I wouldn't even consider the slug barrel.

I am in a WMU with controlled shotgun only deer hunts, and I have both a rifled slug barrel and a 26 inch smoothbore, and I choose to use the smoothbore.

Spending $20 for 5 sabot slugs for the rifled barrel is just ridiculous.

I'd rather buy a #### ton of plain rifled slugs and practice, practice, practice. Just have to test several brands and see what shoots well.

Mind you I am using a red dot, as my reciever is drilled and tapped, so I don't have to worry about sights. The benefit of the rifled barrel is it comes with rifled sights. Although some of the combo's with a turkey barrel have fibre optic sights on them that work real well.
 
mlehtovaara said:
If you have the option to use a rifle for big game I wouldn't even consider the slug barrel.

I am in a WMU with controlled shotgun only deer hunts, and I have both a rifled slug barrel and a 26 inch smoothbore, and I choose to use the smoothbore.

Spending $20 for 5 sabot slugs for the rifled barrel is just ridiculous.

I'd rather buy a s**t ton of plain rifled slugs and practice, practice, practice. Just have to test several brands and see what shoots well.

Mind you I am using a red dot, as my reciever is drilled and tapped, so I don't have to worry about sights. The benefit of the rifled barrel is it comes with rifled sights. Although some of the combo's with a turkey barrel have fibre optic sights on them that work real well.
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Just to add to that, I find the challenger slugs to work very well out of my smooth bore 18 inch 870 barrel with a simple bead sight. Almost as accuracte as Remington Accutip sabots out of my rifled 20 inch 870 barrel topped with a red dot ! BTW, I limit my shots to under 50 meters.
 
I have the Mossberg 500 field/deer combo. The rifled barrel shoots Winchester SuperX rifled slugs into a 3' circle pretty consistent at 50 yards. I keep reading that you should use sabots in a rifled slug barrel, but I have a real issue spending 12 plus dollars for 5 rounds when I can pick up a box of 15 rifled slugs for the same price.
 
A buddy of mine just got a remington 870 combo in 20 gauge, wood finish. He is getting the receiver tapped as it will be a dedicated slug gun for the controlled hunt, as he already has 3 other shotguns. I put a remington saddle mount on my 12 gauge slug gun so I could put a scope on it. If you were ever planning on putting a scope on it, I would look for one with a cantilever to make swapping barrels that much easier. As for accuracy, if your shots are around 75yds or less a smoothbore is all you need and can save you some money but if that big buck came out at 150yds your gonna wish you had the rifled barrel.
 
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