Hunting Moose with shotgun (slugs)

[Rocket Surgery]

Slugs are funny like that. I went out today and fired about 15 slugs, 6 were needed to adjust the sights properly as they were shooting 5 inches high at 25y. Once I got everything set up properly, here's what I found:

Winchester 2 3/4 1600fps 12g slug:

25y 3shot 3 inch group all surrounding bullseye
50y 3shot 3 inch group 2 inches low of bull
100y 3shot 3 inch group 7 inches low of bull

I think the 25y groups sucked so bad because I was getting better as I progressed through the test. This was all with an 18 inch tube and rifle sights, fixed IC on an 870 express magnum.

 

[RyanBambach]

Up untill last fall I was using my riffled barrel 870/2-7 power leupold shotgun/muzzle loader scope for our controlled hunts here in WMU 80. I shot nothing but the Remington Core-loct sabots and they shot amazing out of it. Nailed a doe with it the first fall at 167 yards (that was with a red-dot scope in 2006). In 2007 the only shot I took was from the hip at a 10pt coming right at me at 6 yards! In 2008 I swapped out to the leupold and nailed 2 deer that season. The first doe was at 180 yards and the 2nd was at 225yards. (All deer were shot stand hunting and were standing still and feeding at the time of the shot). In 2009 (last season I used the 870, I nailed a nice buck at just over 140 yards). That fall I also took it up moose hunting....everything thought I was nuts but being 10 years younger than everyone else in camp (31 at the time) I knew I would be elected to push the thick stuff if need be....sure enough the old guys told me to go walking! was sure glad I took the 870 as I took it thru some of the worst willow thickets I have ever seen. Never saw a thing but in that crap, I wouldn't have trusted anything else but a 12guage sabot!

I am not shooting a TC Pro-hunter muzzle loader with the same leupold scope and have pushed my comfort distance out another 50 or so yards and love it!

If I could make one recomendation...if you are stand hunting, and not driving bushes...think about a muzzle loader! picked up a CVA wolf ($400 for everything you need) for my father last season also and for a cheap gun...its shooting 3" groups at 200 yards!!!

Then just trade that 30-06 for a 270wsm and have fun.... loaded light, they are great for yotes, and load some 160's and you have your self a great moose riffle!

Good luck...Ryan

 

[DLS]

i've hunted moose with both 12g and 300 win... a couple of things come to mind.

firstly... i've seen two moose dropped by 12 g at 40 yds... so i know the slugs can do the job... but the distance is definitely the limiting factor... i passed up a shot at what looked like a mini bus cow at 175 yds because i was holding my 12 g... i swear to god it had two feet on one side of the logging road and two feet on the other... the next day i bought the 300.

secondly... pushing the bush through that dense stuff is a royal pain... i don't care if my shotty gets bruised... but i cringe every time the glass on the rifle gets a little dusty... in the bush i have more opportunity at chickens then anything else... i rarely can see more than 50 yds... i wouldn't hesitate at that distance... and my friends appreciate it when i push the moose out for them...

happy crackin.

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

I have no problem with using a good 12ga. slug gun and load for moose, elk or bear.
My 2 dedicated slug guns shoot point of aim @ 80yds. I use full bore 1 1/4 oz.
projectiles from Slugs-R-Us in the States, and I load them to 1400 fps.
I shoot these from my H&R Ultra Slug Hunter and they dump fat bear fast.
This gun is the one I use for stand hunting. Very accurate with these slugs.

My Belgian Browning A-5 12 bore smoothie shoots crazy accurate using the
Winchester 1 oz. @ 1600 fps. This is the only load I'll use in this gun at
present. It's bore measures .725" compared to the normal .729" bore found
in American guns. I use this gun for stalking game.

We need a dealer for Dixie Slugs up here cause they work so well.
750 gr. full bore Paradox loads that have taken African dangerous game
as well as the biggest critters we have.
Have fun hunting this season and put the pill where it counts!

 

[Jet A-1]

Standard shotgun slugs crater real fast, but the energy stays till it hits the ground. Sabot slugs are many times more accurate and have a better trajectory, however can be lighter with less energy than your average shotgun slug. Both slugs will have more than adequate energy and will do a very good job dropping a moose if you can hit it.

Having that said, If you can hit the moose, it will fall over. If you need to shoot at 200 yards, its cuz you spooked it. I've shot a moose at 75 paces with a standard smooth bore barrel with iron sights using a 1 oz slug, It never took another step.


One more general comment since this is a general question, If you use a rifled barrel shotgun to shoot Sabot slugs, you cannot use birdshot in this barrel to shoot chicken and partridge as well. A rifled barrel is not an all purpose barrel, but it will shoot more accurate to a longer distance.

I agree 100%. My father prefers his 12ga. with a slug to a rifle for moose. In fact the last several moose he's had have been taken with a smooth bore and a slug.