Deer with slugs?

ElTigreDelNorte

ElTigreDelNorte

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Hey everyone, I have next to no experience with shotguns especially shooting slugs. I was wordering how far out a guy can reach with a over under and a 18 1/2" or even a 28", smoothbore with slugs, any feed back would be appreciated. please no "opinions" only hands on experience.

Thanks
El tigre del norte
 
I got my 870 set up so it will shot about 6 inch group at 1oo meters with smooth bore barrel ad rifled slugs .I find that is pretty good for what it is .most deer I have shot with the shotgun slugs have been 40 meters or less Dutch
 
The best idea is to buy a variety of slugs and set up a target. Start at 25 yards and work back. When you can't consistently put 3 shots into 6" you're past max. My sxs guns are good to 50/70 yards. My smooth bore pump is good to 75 yards my rifled barreled pump is good to 125 yards. A lil more some days. I use Rio star and challenger slugs
 
My 870 12 gauge has a 20" smooth bore bbl, with RemChoke and fiber optic sights. I shoot Score 1 oz slugs through the improved cylinder choke. It's topped with a Bushnell Elite 2-7x32, on see thru mounts. I shoot from a blind and use a tripod and am confident out to 75 yards. The Score slugs (from AmmoSupply) shoot very consistently.
 
My personal experience with 2-3/4" rifled slugs with a 28" smooth barrel, open sights - no problems hitting a 2liter pop bottle at 125 yards. This translates to a "dead deer" heart/lung shot without any issues up to 85 yards. Anything over 75-85 yards with a shotgun in my opinion is not an ethical shot to take. Especially in the bush. There you have both a hands on plus an opinion all in one reply!! CHEERS
 
I have shot deer with my baikal over and under with slugs with just the front and middle bead sights. Remember the 2 barrels may shoot slugs differently, you need to spend range time with both barrels if you plan to hunt that way. I personally use buckshot in the bottom barrel and a winchester rifled slug in the top. I can get a decent group at 100 yards but realistically my max range is 70-80 yards with the slug. The one deer I did shoot with the slug was 20 yards away so not much of a test.
 
I tried a variety of slugs in an over/under and a combo gun. Both are smoothbore. I found the rifled slugs shot to Point of Aim to about 50 yards, using just the bead. The limitation is probably my old eyes, not the gun/ammo.

When I tried sabot slugs, groups were terrible. They probably work best in a rifled barrel.

I hunted with the O/U, slug in the bottom barrel, buckshot in the top. Shot a deer at 15 yards with the buckshot.
 
dutchhunter said:
I got my 870 set up so it will shot about 6 inch group at 1oo meters with smooth bore barrel ad rifled slugs .I find that is pretty good for what it is .most deer I have shot with the shotgun slugs have been 40 meters or less Dutch
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Same here with my Mossberg 500, except I get an occasional "tumbler" at 100 meters. It hits within a 6" group every time, but every now and then one hole is ragged because the slug is passing through sideways. I suppose this slug would still be a deer killer but it tells me that I am at the very end of my reasonable shooting distance. Field & Stream did an article on this topic not too long ago, and their shotgun guru, Phil Bourjaily, determined through his experience and testing that 75 yards is the maximum range for dependable shots with smoothbore barrels and rifled slugs. Your mileage may vary.

EDIT: I just read an article which pointed out that the slugs I have been using are not true foster type slugs, but instead are classed as "hybrids".

http://www.winchester.com/PRODUCTS/SHOTSHELL-AMMUNITION/Advanced/RackMaster/Pages/default.aspx
 
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EltigreDelNorte, what I can do with my guns has no bearing on what you can do with yours. Rifled barrel, 3" mag 220 yards. Not a clue if you can even come close to that. That was not over night, that was years of practice, many hundreds of rounds. Can you hit a Pie Plate at 50yds? 75yds? 100yds? only you know what you can or cannot do.
 
Shot lots of deer with 20" smooth bore 870 with Challenger slugs. They cloverleafed at 50yds with open sights. Killed deer out around 80yds with exit holes on every deer we shot.
 
Winchester 1300, 24in rifled barrel, 3 inch winchester super x slugs.

I can shoot fist sized groups at 50 yards from a standing position (no rest). Taken two of my deer with it, both at about 40 yards, both heart shots. Recoil is uncomfortable to spend too much time with it at the range. Thinking of trying out sabots.
 
kodiakjack said:
Winchester 1300, 24in rifled barrel, 3 inch winchester super x slugs.

I can shoot fist sized groups at 50 yards from a standing position (no rest). Taken two of my deer with it, both at about 40 yards, both heart shots. Recoil is uncomfortable to spend too much time with it at the range. Thinking of trying out sabots.
Click to expand...

The secret is practise and ice the shoulder afterwards.
 
Read the post he's asking O/U.....basically 50 yds with mine don't use it to hunt.

Bought a 220f way better in every respect
 
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