Shot gunning for deer

powdergun

powdergun

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
253   0   0
Looking at the future I am seeing more of my spots going shotgun/archery zones. I'm well aquatinted with archery but I have never even fired a slug out of a shotgun. For those of you with experience I've got a couple of questions.

1) What is the killing range ?
2) How accurate can a slug be ?
3) Could you recommend a good set up.

Thanks
 
1) Some ammunition says 200 yards, but I'd keep it around 125.
2) A sabot slug from a rifled barrel will be nearly as accurate as a rifle.
3) You can buy a Remington 870 Express with a rifled barrel for around $400 or a combo (28" vent rib and 21" rifled) for just over $500.

Muzzleloaders are usually also allowed in shotgun areas but ymmv on that.
 
You don't really need a rifled barrel either..Every deer i've shot has been with a smooth barrel and standard bead sight.
 
Savage 220 or a muzzleloader and you reach out and touch them at 150 yards if you are sitting. Another cheap option is a 20 ga slug gun from H&r. Can be found for under 300.
 
Ammo companies claim 200 yards, really? For several years I've had an ongoing bet with a friend. Post a 6" target at 175 yards (max he can shoot from his stand) and he fires 3 shots from a wood bench, without bags, much like hunting from a stand. For each hit, I give him $5. I've yet to pay out a penny. The thing is, I really want him to do it, I hope to see it done. I've watched other guys shooting only to 100 yards but no bench. Any hunting position and take your time. Hits are made but only after 5 or 10 rounds, NEVER on first or second shot. Rifled tubes are great with sabots and I think Cintax has it right, about 125 yards max. But you have to try it out yourself to see if you can hit at that distance.
Power Pill, how far were the deer you shot, I'm very impressed. I've tried 3 smoothbore barrels and none of them can consistently hit a 6" target at 50 yards. I can hit 2 out of 3 on the outer edge (good enough) but the 3rd is off target by at least 6", that's 12" from the target centre. Personally, I'd go for the rifled tube but if you have a smoothbore, give it a try just to find out for yourself.
I'd like to see some guys post their targets. Slug, buckshot, smooth bore and rifled tube. It would be nice to see what can be done, not just what a manufacturer says.
 


A 12 gauge Ithaca Deerslayer Police Special using winchester foster slugs at 100 yards from a bench. Iron sights.

When this shotgun started flinging them to the left in this circled and last grouping, I then immediately stopped to check it out and found that the stock bolt was starting to loosen due to recoil forces.

The highest strike was the very first shot. I adjusted the ramp and was pretty satisfied with this next grouping of four shots.

And I tried an experiment at 200 yards on a 12x12 inch metal gong once. So many near misses, but none right onto the target. All hits just off the edges and all around it in a random manner.
 
Last edited:
That's pretty good Brutus, thanks for the post. I hope other guys will follow so everyone can see what can be done.
 
I will be dogging for my sons and grandsons ( been my job for years, keep the old man in relative shape)... This year i've got a speciality shotgun a Tombstone 12 inch SXS barrels, after sights adjustment , check on the barrels regulation, one barrel will be 00 buck, the other one 7/8 ounce 3 inch slug ( real thumper)... 25/35 yards will be the range, it never exceed that while dogging... JP.

SAM_3950_zps578c9cca.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
 
Caramel, that from 12" barrels, nice. That must be the easiest firearm to carry, what does it weigh? Recoil has to be a brute.
 
big boar said:
Caramel, that from 12" barrels, nice. That must be the easiest firearm to carry, what does it weigh? Recoil has to be a brute.
Click to expand...

5.5 pounds 27 inch long and recoil is noticeable ( at the range)from those 3 inchers but recoil you never notice when you shoot on a deer... JP.
 
200 is very decidedly optimistic. 100 is not. You can expect 2 to 3 inch groups at 100 with ammo your shotgun likes. Smooth bore or rifled matters though. That 2 or 3 inches is out of a smooth bore(If a smooth bore won't hit into well under 6" at 50, there's something wrong with it. Likely the shooter, but it could be the ammo. There's no difference between a rifle and a shotgun when it comes to ammo either will shoot.). A rifled barrel will be better. Not that you'd need it though.
You should call/e-mail your MNR to make sure they think a rifled barrel is still a shotgun. It is here.
Suspect that 12" toy will cause you no end of unwanted attention.
 
I can hit 4 liter milk jugs filled with water 4 out of 5 shots with my 18 inch smooth bore iron sights 870 out to 75 yards. I would be comfortable shooting a deer in the boiler maker up to 100 yards.
 
sunray said:
200 is very decidedly optimistic. 100 is not. You can expect 2 to 3 inch groups at 100 with ammo your shotgun likes. Smooth bore or rifled matters though. That 2 or 3 inches is out of a smooth bore(If a smooth bore won't hit into well under 6" at 50, there's something wrong with it. Likely the shooter, but it could be the ammo. There's no difference between a rifle and a shotgun when it comes to ammo either will shoot.). A rifled barrel will be better. Not that you'd need it though.
You should call/e-mail your MNR to make sure they think a rifled barrel is still a shotgun. It is here.
Suspect that 12" toy will cause you no end of unwanted attention.
Click to expand...

Up our private land, in 25 years of hunting, we never saw one conservation officer, would be very unlucky seeing one now... JP.
 
sunray said:
200 is very decidedly optimistic. 100 is not. You can expect 2 to 3 inch groups at 100 with ammo your shotgun likes. Smooth bore or rifled matters though. That 2 or 3 inches is out of a smooth bore(If a smooth bore won't hit into well under 6" at 50, there's something wrong with it. Likely the shooter, but it could be the ammo. There's no difference between a rifle and a shotgun when it comes to ammo either will shoot.). A rifled barrel will be better. Not that you'd need it though.
You should call/e-mail your MNR to make sure they think a rifled barrel is still a shotgun. It is here.
Suspect that 12" toy will cause you no end of unwanted attention.
Click to expand...

2 to 3 inches at 100 yards??

Yeah.....sure sunray, maybe with a Tar-Hunt, otherwise...........:HR:
 
Last edited:
Sorry, I was trying to post some photos and have never done it before. For some reason it didn't post the pics only the photo bucket site with the pics on it. Anyway, these 3 pics are some targets I did with my 870 fully rifled barrel. The blue target was the first target shot when the gun was new, at 50 yds. with store bought sabots. The other targets are using Lyman slugs that I cast and load. I'll have to learn the photo posting stuff before I die, I'm to old for this.
 
I have a Browning BPS that will easily group 3" at 50 yds., with Challenger slugs out of a smoothbore barrel. I have a Remmy 870 with rifled barrel and a Savage 220 that won't do a heck of a lot better with sabots and rifled barrels. The big difference is out to 100, where the rifled tubes have a decisive edge. However, I'd say 90% of our shots are near 50 yds. Si why do I insist on hunting with a rifled tube? Dunno.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom