Remington 11-87 for Deer ?

FatCatsDad

FatCatsDad

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Im shopping for a suitable gun for a "Shotguns Only" hunt.

I've come across a nice looking moderately priced Remington 11-87 premier with a 20" smooth bore rifle sighted barrel threaded for chokes.

My questions are, #1 do these cycle slugs properly and #2 would I be better off to use Rifled slugs through a IC choke or sabots through a IC Rifled choke or extended Rifled choke.

I'd like to stick with a smooth bore so it can be used for other things, though I do understand that a Cantilever Rifled barrel with an optic would be a more ideal choice
I've never hunted Deer with a shotgun before.
 
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I never owned an Remington 11-87 premier but it should shoot slugs just fine. My Remington 1100 shoots slugs .... no issues.

You can get pretty good accuracy with a smoothbore and the right ammo. The most accurate slug I ever tested is the Federal Truball slug. They come in different velocities .... the high velocity one (1600 FPS) is the more accurate one. I was able to consistently shoot 4" groups at 100 meters with that slug and out of an Improved Cylinder choke.

The advantage with sticking to a non rifled choke .... you can also shoot buckshot.

And if you want to get better accuracy with another rifled slug .... I would try shooting it through a rifled choke. Lots of people report good results with that combo.

With respect to shooting sabots through a rifled choke .... I have never heard of anybody achieving any accuracy with that combination. My guess is ..... those sabots don't get enough spin for stabilization out of a rifled choke. And sabots are expensive ....

However, there are some sabots that were designed for smoothbore barrels .... like the Winchester BRI ... and which are by design self stabilizing without any rotation .... and those might benefit from a rifled choke tube. Or ... a rifled choke tube will not hurt their accuracy ..... :)
 
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I had an 1187 as you described. It will work fine for deer . Try Challenger slugs through a mod or improved cylinder choke.
The Tru ball slugs would likely be good choice as well. I have never had much success with a rifled choke tube and sabot slugs . Best of luck with your deer hunt. Cheers Bac4
 
Thanks for the replies, I just hope it doesn't end up with other Non Restricted guns that are now prohibited guns.

Sabots through a 20" Rifled barrel would likely give good results but my daughters farm also has turkeys to hunt, along with rabbits so a smooth bore is the way I'd like to go for versatility
 
Check the regs, is it 'shotgun only' or 'shot only' which precludes slugs?

11-87 is a good reliable gun though there are lighter options
 
It should have absolutely no problem cycling slugs unless the gas piston and ports are very gummed up.

Personally, I dont think rifled chokes are worth it.
 
Does anyone know someone e looking for a 12ga 1187 semi? my dad has one he would like to sell he has shoulder problems and I just got him hooked up with a benelli m2 with a rifled barrel 20 ga. He has boxes of challenger slugs to go with the 1187 The gun is beauties the engraving is really nice. The gun has pretty good range he has harvested deer at 150 yards with a challenger slug.
 
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