rifled slug vs smooth 870 barrels ?

modernworrior

modernworrior

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been working on a new 870 sug gun build over the winter , now i need a barrel found a rifled , and a smoothe bore , good sights nice shape used, but what is the difference ? this will be for plinking and hunting deer, bear , and as a back up to a rifle if needed. So can you guys explain what should i go with , and why ? will accuracy suffer with a smooth bore ? and what is the expected range on a smoothe vs a rifled ? thanks

Mw
 
dannymat said:
rifled barrel with sabot slugs
thats what my friends and I use for deer
we sight our in at 100yards
dont explect to get the same accuracy out of a smooth bore
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I have to beg to differ. I use a multi purpose 12g barrel with cantilever with inter changeable chokes. At 100yrds using a improved Cylinder Choke I find next to no difference in accuracy using rifled slugs and they are one heck of a difference in price. I cheat though I use a shotgun scope.

Just saying.
 
so if i use a smoothbore with rifled slugs i'd be fine , or rifled slugs with a rifled barrel is always better ? and yes i do want to add a shotgun scope to the reciever. i just like the rifle sights for a backup.
 
I just have a choke for the different occasions. I scoped my 870 because I have serious right eye problems so I found the interchangeable multi purpose barrel with cantilever. I can screw in a rifled choke if I feel I need to and use sabots but I don't see the need.

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If you take the time to set it up properly, find what slugs the gun likes to shoot, it can definately be more accurate. The ballistics of a sabboted slug are for the most part superior. If you want to extend your range go with a rifled barrel. (that's why rifles have a rifled barrel.) You can also shoot challenger rifled slugs out of a rifled barrel.
But if you want a multi purpose gun smoth is obviously the way to go.
 
With Foster slugs, my 870 gets about the same size groups with either the modified or rifled choke tubes; either of which is an improvement over groups with improved cylinder. I prefer the modified choke because it isn't limited to slugs and is easier to clean.
 
winchester, love the rig want mine to look almost like that with the mossy oak stock set and a matching mossy oak shotgun scope. can i shoot lead game loads out of a smoothbore slug barrel ? i might go wit the smoothbore like you guys are saying have to see if it has removable chokes . awsome thanks for the feedback so far !
 
modernworrior said:
so if i use a smoothbore with rifled slugs i'd be fine , or rifled slugs with a rifled barrel is always better ? and yes i do want to add a shotgun scope to the reciever. i just like the rifle sights for a backup.
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Rifled slugs for smooth bore. Sabot slugs for fully rifled barrel. The exception to this is sabots through a smooth bore with a rifled choke tube but common sense and testing should tell you this is not the best way to go.
To remain accurate and have sufficient slug energy, a long shot with a smooth bore is 100 yds. For comparison, a long range shot with a rifled bbl and sabot is 200 yds.
The rifled bbl is no good for buck or bird shot, making the smooth bore more versatile but limited in slug range.
Ideally, having both rifled and smooth bores, you can choose the one that suites your hunting situation for the particular day. Its likely better to start with a smooth bore and see how you like the recoil rifled slugs generate at $1 each. Except for the lighter hornady s, most sabots kick like a mule from pump guns and cost approx $4 a round.
 
no bird or buck through the smoothbore but what about hi brass game loads ? how much would a brand new remington smoothbore with rifle sights go for ? and can i order this ? and where would be the best place ? the one i was going to buy is sold.
 
Not to be a jerk or a grammar Nazi, but please use sentences. It makes it easier for us to understand you. When you say "no bird or buck..." are you saying that you will only use solid projectiles like slugs or sabots?

If you are using a slug, go with a smooth bore. If you are using sabots, use a rifled barrel.

As far as how much, that depends on:

  • which Remington shotgun: the 870 Express, 870 Express slug, the 870 Express Super Magnum, the 870 Express Synthetic Deer, the 870 wingmaster, the 870P, the Marine Magnum, etc...
  • New or used
    [*]If used, condition
    ​

A new Remington 870 Express is about $400. A new Remington 870 Wingmaster is about $750.

Can you order it? If you have a valid PAL, a credit card or some other form of payment, more than likely you'll find someone will sell it to you.

The best place is again, highly subjective. Your local gun shop might be the best place. The equipment exchange might be. Ellwood Epps might be. TheAmmoSource/SFRC might be.

As for wrecking the barrel, lead doesn't hurt smoothbore barrels. It does however make cleaning rifled barrels a little more difficult but certainly not challenging.

P

modernworrior said:
no bird or buck through the smoothbore but what about hi brass game loads ? how much would a brand new remington smoothbore with rifle sights go for ? and can i order this ? and where would be the best place ? the one i was going to buy is sold.
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sorry about that, so used to texting and facebook lingo, i meant i wanted to order the barrel, the barrel is the only thing i need to complete this build , is it expensive to order just a brand new smoothbore barrel with rifle sights this will be going on a grizzly reciever. Yes i will only use slugs and sabots , also lead hi brass game loads for rabits, pheasants , partridge now that i know i can through a smoothbore. sorry for the confusion.
 
I have a Browning BPS smoothbore, and an 870 rifled slug barrel. Using challenger slugs, and the Hi-Viz rib-mounted sights, I can shoot 1 large ragged hole at 50 yds. MY 870 doesn't do any better. However, at 100 yds., with sabot slugs, the Remmy had a bit of an edge. However, the longest shot I have taken at deer was 68 paces, and the smootbore allows me to change chokes and use it for turkey, small game. even geese. If you're going only 1 barrel, I'd go smooth.
 
MW Look on the Equipment Exchange on this site for a used barrel. FWIW I've gone through the smoothbore barrel with rifle sights to the rifled barrel with scope and am now back to the smoothbore barrel with rifle rights on my wingmaster.Like Papaclaude I also use Challengers with an IC choke screwed in and it gives me great groups and also with the smoothbore I can use buckshot if I so desire. Heck,why not buy both barrels and then you've got it all covered and have twice the fun. Cheers Bac4
 
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