Single shot for a deer gun?

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7.62Man

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Northwestern Ontario
Hi all,

I have a 20ga bikal single shot I was hopping to use to hunt deer with this fall. It is a smooth bore and I am not sure if it has a built in choke or not. It is chambered in 2 3/4 only.

I plan on casting my own slugs using a lymans slug mold but am not sure if I should purchase the foster or sabot slug mold? Any ideas as to which on is best to use in a smooth bore?

Where I hunt most shots on deer are less than 50 yards and the longest being 75 yards.
 
First off, I would bet with 99% certanty that you got a full choke. Most if not all smooth singles are and not slug friendly. Secondly, unless you've got some way of sighting that unit I can't see how your going to be consistant at any distance irregardless of slug type. For the hassle its going to be to get that shootable I think you'd be better to get one of the low cost NEF or H&R rifled singles
 
When I was young and poor I took more than a few farm country whitetails with a model 37 Winchester single and WW slugs. (foster type) It was a 16 bore. I practised and was able to consistantly hit pop cans at 50 yards. I always ambushed on run ways out of the corn and any I hit did not get away. I am assuming this old 16 was bored full also. If I remember right the barrel was marked "choke bore" or something like that. To answer the question "will it work?" Yes . Are there better options? Yes. Blindsides' suggestion of a NEF slug gun is perfect and they come with sights, sling studs and they are very affordable.

cheers Darryl
 
I have a baikal 20ga single that has a modified choke, and I have shot slugs thru it, but not with great accuracy. I'd spend the $300 on a NEF slug gun or a used 870 or mossberg 500 and mount a sight on it.
 
At one time we never had what we call a slug gun and we shot lots of deer. If that is what you want or can aford it will do the job.
 
I think your best bet would be to try all the slugs(non-saboted) available and different realistic ranges(I'd keep it well under 100yds) to help you better understand your limitations. Single barrel,full choke shotguns have been taking plenty of deer for atleast the last 5 or more decades.
Good luck,
 
If we take a gun we could get a hundred bucks for and fire who knows how many slugs at a couple bucks a pop we'll be up to the price of the slugger and have what again?
 
I used a single shot springfield for years and i have other shotguns that you would say are better to used but i could get a good group for the single shot,If i were you buy some different slugs and see how they shoot and what kind of groups you get with it befor you take it huntting
 
I don't know your financial situation, but I too would reccomend spending $200, and get yourself an NEF tracker slug gun. I played once with a shortbarreled winchester semi I have off a bench. Using only the front bead, I fired about ten slugs at a lifesized plywood cutout of a deer at 100 yards. I only hit the target three times if I remember right. Still not bad considering, and if I cut that back down to 50 yards, I would have scored more. A different option for your ranges would be buckshot. You could stretch a shot out to 40 or 50 yards with #4 or 0 buck, get decent patterns and still have the poop to drop a deer. Good luck.
 
I plan to take the shot gun to the local gunsmith and maybe he will be albe to tell me what type of choke is in it.

I purchased some remington slug (5 for $4) and was able to get a 5" group at 25 yards with the bead. I purchased a firesight like add on that just slips over the barrel over the factor bead and it closed my groups to 4". I know not much but I sure like how easy it is to line up now.

I purchased this shot gun for $125 (I know I got hosed) and have taken many birds with it this year. I have a old lee handloader for 20 ga and have been enjoying loading my own shells. (saving my pennies for a mec)
I guess I should also mention that I am cheap. I will ask at the gunsmith to see if he can get the NEF tracker slug gun in 20ga. Also anyone know if you can get a smooth barrel for bird hunting. Something that could take steel shot would be great.

Thank-you for all the help
Bill
 
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