Hunting Deer and other game with a pump action

New2Lead said:
Thanks everyone for the info and stories. Love that wingmaster!! I have gone with an 870 express because they went on sale for 350 plus a 50 dollar rebate. I've ordered a hastings rifled barrel and am slowly changing out the weaker internals. Does anyone have a suggestion for a scope or sight. I'd like to extend my range to around 150
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Shotgun hunting is pretty much all short range in thick cover. I doubt there's any shotgun round that will reach out to 150yds and still be effective. Most are in the dirt at 100yds ,even the 3" sabot slugs I use in mine. No matter how hard we try,it's virtually impossible to match the knock down power and extended range of a rifle with a shotgun. I stick to iron sights for short range.
 
Unless you are sitting on stand and have some clear shooting lanes the scope on a shotgun will be a hindrance. Especially if you are dogging and pushing bush.

I put Williams fire sights on my 1300 and they are the best open sights aside from a peep I have ever used.
 
Trimmer 905 said:
Shotgun hunting is pretty much all short range in thick cover. I doubt there's any shotgun round that will reach out to 150yds and still be effective. Most are in the dirt at 100yds ,even the 3" sabot slugs I use in mine. No matter how hard we try,it's virtually impossible to match the knock down power and extended range of a rifle with a shotgun. I stick to iron sights for short range.
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With a rifled barrel and sabot slugs you can reach out quite far. I used to own a Mossberg 500 which had a fully rifled barrel and cantilever scope mount, using Hornady 300 grain FTX sabot slugs I could hit at 200 yards (about 7"of drop) with about 4" group and ring the gong at 300, and I know the gun was capable of better accuracy than I was. 20 gauge sabot slugs have even better ballistics, the modern slug gun can be compared to a moderately loaded .45-70 with pointed bullets. That said, I now hunt only one property in southern Ontario where it's Shotgun/Muzzleloader/Bow only and it's longest sight line is about 80 yards, so I went to the 870 with a rifled choke and ghost ring sights, or hunt with a muzzleloader or bow. Everywhere else I hunt in Ontario, I can and do use a rifle. I do know guys who choose to use a rig like the one I described or one of H and R's Ultra Slug Hunters, because they are simply effective and accurate. YMMV.
 
skokie said:
With a rifled barrel and sabot slugs you can reach out quite far. I used to own a Mossberg 500 which had a fully rifled barrel and cantilever scope mount, using Hornady 300 grain FTX sabot slugs I could hit at 200 yards (about 7"of drop) with about 4" group and ring the gong at 300, and I know the gun was capable of better accuracy than I was. 20 gauge sabot slugs have even better ballistics, the modern slug gun can be compared to a moderately loaded .45-70 with pointed bullets. That said, I now hunt only one property in southern Ontario where it's Shotgun/Muzzleloader/Bow only and it's longest sight line is about 80 yards, so I went to the 870 with a rifled choke and ghost ring sights, or hunt with a muzzleloader or bow. Everywhere else I hunt in Ontario, I can and do use a rifle. I do know guys who choose to use a rig like the one I described or one of H and R's Ultra Slug Hunters, because they are simply effective and accurate. YMMV.
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Thanks for the info. I've never tried a target at 200M with my shotgun with a scope on it. I have enough trouble staying on target at 100M shooting with open sights free hand.
 
I hunt deer with a rifled 870 20 ga and sabots. No problems bringing them down at 80yds with irons. That is about the longest shot the bush allows where I hunt.
 
skokie said:
With a rifled barrel and sabot slugs you can reach out quite far. I used to own a Mossberg 500 which had a fully rifled barrel and cantilever scope mount, using Hornady 300 grain FTX sabot slugs I could hit at 200 yards (about 7"of drop) with about 4" group and ring the gong at 300, and I know the gun was capable of better accuracy than I was. 20 gauge sabot slugs have even better ballistics, the modern slug gun can be compared to a moderately loaded .45-70 with pointed bullets. That said, I now hunt only one property in southern Ontario where it's Shotgun/Muzzleloader/Bow only and it's longest sight line is about 80 yards, so I went to the 870 with a rifled choke and ghost ring sights, or hunt with a muzzleloader or bow. Everywhere else I hunt in Ontario, I can and do use a rifle. I do know guys who choose to use a rig like the one I described or one of H and R's Ultra Slug Hunters, because they are simply effective and accurate. YMMV.
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First of all. You're obviously a much better shot then I am at the moment haha. But it's nice to hear about your experience with this setup. I had been looking at the hornady 300 grain myself and I think it's what I'll purchase next. Canadian Tire actually carries them here for cheaper than anyone else.

At 7" or drop are you put the crosshairs along the top of his back roughly? Also do you use a rangefinder or do you just have the experience now to gauge it outright?
 
New2Lead said:
First of all. You're obviously a much better shot then I am at the moment haha. But it's nice to hear about your experience with this setup. I had been looking at the hornady 300 grain myself and I think it's what I'll purchase next. Canadian Tire actually carries them here for cheaper than anyone else.

At 7" or drop are you put the crosshairs along the top of his back roughly? Also do you use a rangefinder or do you just have the experience now to gauge it outright?
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I had a scope with one of those circular reticles with essentially three cross hairs (proper name escapes me). I think I had it sighted in at 100 yards, 150 and 200 yards respectively. I use a rangefinder when scouting and find landmarks I can use to judge range, but with that reticle, you can get an idea of range based on the size of the animal. The FTX are a great bullet, the one deer shot with it was a big bodied doe, she never moved a muscle after the shot, just fell over with what i can only describe as a surprised look on her face. Best venison I've ever eaten. As for my marksmanship, both the deer and targets were shot from a rest, if I had to shoot offhand, id limit my shots to 100 yards with a scope. If I were looking for a serious, dedicated slug gun, I'd look at the Savage Bolt actions and the H and R Ultra Slug Hunters. But I'm fortunate enough to have a few places to hunt and am not restricted to only a shotgun or muzzleloader WMU.
 
I took my first deer at 20 meters using a Mossberg 500 28'' barrel IC choke and Federal TruBall Low Recoil Slugs.

DSCN3861.jpg
 
mosinmaster said:
I took my first deer at 20 meters using a Mossberg 500 28'' barrel IC choke and Federal TruBall Low Recoil Slugs.

DSCN3861.jpg
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I wonder how Bambi feels about posing with the weapon that ended it lol. Did it drop it its tracks?? That the other thing that draws me to slugs. My longtime hunter friends have said they love the fact that with slugs they don't often spend all day tracking blood trails.
 
New2Lead said:
I wonder how Bambi feels about posing with the weapon that ended it lol. Did it drop it its tracks?? That the other thing that draws me to slugs. My longtime hunter friends have said they love the fact that with slugs they don't often spend all day tracking blood trails.
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If you can place your shot so you hit one or both lungs and the heart or break a front leg or shoulder bone that animal isn't going far. Especially 3/4"+ hole in it.
 
I use an older 870 Express with a 20" smooth bore deer barrel. It has a williams peep sight and fibre optic front sight. I find it quick as a red dot without the need for batteries and way better to carry
 
Red Iron said:
I use an older 870 Express with a 20" smooth bore deer barrel. It has a williams peep sight and fibre optic front sight. I find it quick as a red dot without the need for batteries and way better to carry
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Have you killed many deer with it. What kind of area do you hunt with?
 
Triva; I just tried a 5 pack of Wild Hog 3inch 12 gauge at 25 and 50 meters out of an IC barrel.
At 25 they shot about 8 or so inches high and about 2 inches apart with a vertical in line strike. And at 50 the two .625 RB struck about one foot high and about a foot apart perfectly bracketing the center aiming point. Aiming device just the normal brass bead.
And at 15 one still had to aim a bit low for a perfect centering on target.
Loads of recoil here.

just info
 
VanIsleCam said:
You mean like this....late 60s 870 made in Canada.



PS - that is buckshot damage and yes it is legal to take a teensie tiny anterless where I live as the last time I put this pic up there was explaining...That little yearling yielded 28 pounds of ground total (with 5 pounds of pork chucked in).
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I don't recognise that breed - size and colour is similar to a German Shepherd but the ears and feet aren't right. So what kind of dog is that?

:)
 
Ha ha ha - fair enough. It was the consolation prize after muffing a crossbow shot on a 3x3 a couple of days before. Island deer, the smallest of the bigguns. Have a doe draw in 3-19 this year (near Kamloops) so although my policy to not shoot the ladies on property, I will not be on property for that hunt.
 
Used to live in a shotgun only area, used a 870 with a rifled barrel and fibre optic iron sights. Shot a bunch of big deer out to about 80yds. Most shots exited out the far side of them. Used Challenger slugs mostly and still use it for Black Bear.
 
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