Sighting in a shotgun

KDX

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I bought a Shockwave and decided to put a stock on it so I ordered a Magpul. Seeing as I'm going to put a stock on it and it already has a rail, I might as well mount a red dot that I have sitting here. I was wondering how most people sight in a shotgun. I was thinking of buying some slugs and setting up a cardboard target at 25 yards or so and shooting off a front bag rest on the bench to sight it in. Is this somewhat correct, or is there a better way?
 
I would prefer to hold the shotgun and rest my forearm against a sandbag and rest my other arm's elbow on the bench... and start at 25 yards and then 50 yards...
 
I generally will sight in slugs at 50y, off a front bag.

First I pattern birdshot and 00buck and slugs with various chokes till I find one that gives me nice patterns and accurate slug results at 15 and 30y, then I’ll push out to 50 with slugs. Around here I hunt grouse and hares with a shotgun, slugs are just in case I see a deer or bear close up and have a chance at cutting a tag.
 
Thanks for the replys. The reason I mentioned slugs is that I would get one easily identifiable hole per shot when adjusting the red dot. The main use for this shotgun is bear and sh!t rat defense. I have a bunch of buck shot and field target sitting here, just thought slugs might make it easier. As you can tell, I'm not a shotgun person.
 
I can't see needing to shoot further then 50 yards for defensive use.... 50 yard zero for slugs should work well and as others pointed out you can see how that works with your other shot loads at closer ranges.
 
I zero my IPSC shotgun at 50 yards with slugs and have no issues with bird shot from up close to the zero range. What choke you choose to use will make the most difference.
 
The gun in question. It will have a Magpul stock on it soon.

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Any suggestions on which to stay away from?

In my own meager experience Winchester Super X foster slug with fulfill most of your typical smoothbore slug requirements. Meaning deer and black bear. Fosters have speed but also means don't neglect cleaning lead from your barrel before it builds up and messes with your accuracy.

Brennekes are the maybe grizzly slug but much more likely to ventilate a bigger wild boar in Canada.
They recoil less than fosters because they are a bit slower than Winchester fosters.
Hence they drop about an inch or two lower than fosters at 50 yards. Obviously more pronounced drop at 100 yards.
These Brenneke Rotweill Classic slugs are the bee's knees for velociraptors and occasional rogue samsquatch at 25-50 yards.

Edit: I try not to stray from these two selections.
 
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Thanks for the replys. The only ones I can get locally are the Federal Power Shock in either 1oz or 1.25oz in 2.75". Winchester 15 round value pack 1oz 2.75" are also available. Is one weight better than the other?
 
Thanks for the replys. The only ones I can get locally are the Federal Power Shock in either 1oz or 1.25oz in 2.75". Winchester 15 round value pack 1oz 2.75" are also available. Is one weight better than the other?

I suspect at normal shooting distances with these two slugs of slightly differing weight you will not observe a big difference downrange. With velocities similar of course.

Example; Alberta Fish & Game practice with Federal Power slugs of one ounce.
Yet in the field they carry these Federal Power slugs but in 1 1/4 ounce. They don't report any notable differences that impact thier work. (But I don't really know if Winchester versus Federal are so differing you can easily see the differences?)

That's what they tell me anyways.
 
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