Slug Gun

257Roberts

257Roberts

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Peterborough ON
When contemplating a new firearm I usually know what I am going to buy, but this time I am not sure.
Looking for input on Slug Guns.
I know it will be rifled and most likely a bolt action but that may not be the case.
I currently have a 12 gauge pump with a rifled bbl. and open sights but I am looking for better accuracy and increased range. It will be used for stand hunting for deer only and with the possibility of a 200+yd. shot.
The question is 12 or 20 gauge.
Personal experiences with what you are using would be great, as well as the type ammo that is working best for you.

In advance thanks for your reply.

David
 
After using a 870 Wingmaster and a Mossberg 535 for a few years I switched to the Savage 220. 20ga bolt slug gun shooting 2 3/4" Remington Accutips, 1.5" at a 100m and a 22" drop at 200m. It has accounted for 3 bucks and a doe since purchasing. I love the rifle feel it gives apposed to the clunky 870 club I carried for a while.

DK4ICNt.jpg
 
The Savage 220 slug guns are good. They have the adjustable accutrigger and can usually get under 2" groups at 100 yrds with 3" Remington accutips. I was shooting mine yesterday and both guns grouped better with the 3" compared to the 2 3/4". I think they are decent sub 200 yard guns. Maybe shaving 50-100 yrds off the range of a muzzleloader with the advantage of quick followup shots. The 20 gauge has less recoil supposedly but I've never owned a 12 gauge slugger.

rlFkOMFl.jpg
 
Best bang for the buck is one of the Savage offerings. For the money there is nothing that comes close in my opinion. With something like the Rem Accutip, the 20ga will do everything that the 12ga will do but with a lot less recoil as the 12's can have punishing recoil in extended range sessions. I usually made a habit of re&reing the scope bases to make sure they were installed with Loctite as I've seen more than one shake themselves loose after a handful of rounds.
 
Buckmastr, I never tried the 3" yet. I had read once they were not as accurate so I bought about 60rds of the 2 3/4. I might have to pick up a couple boxes of the 3"!!

Also, love the laminate stock! Boyds?
 
freddyfour said:
Buckmastr, I never tried the 3" yet. I had read once they were not as accurate so I bought about 60rds of the 2 3/4. I might have to pick up a couple boxes of the 3"!!

Also, love the laminate stock! Boyds?
Click to expand...

The stainless one shoots the both the 3" and 2 3/4" accutips pretty well. Different point of impacts though.
The laminate 220 shoots the 2 3/4" accutips into 12" groups! But the 3" accutips into less than 2" groups. Strange but I'll go with it.

Yes thanks! Its a Boyd's stock. Really takes any recoil away with a bit extra weight and a thick recoil pad.
 
X5 for the 220 Savage. Had mine for 6 years now, Shot two big bucks and two coyotes with it. I'm using 3" accu tips as they grouped the best but Hornady 3" SST grouped well but opened up more at 150 yards.

I put a Boyd's stock on mine and the gun kicks pretty hard with the solid butt pad. The original stock with large butt pad made it a lot softer shooting, But I dont care about recoil as I dont feel it or hear it when hunting.
0gNzy8p.jpg
 
Sharp looking shotgun/rifle dvxdude. I like the grip end cap and the fore end tip. That Boyd's order turned out great!
 
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Thanks for the input.
I was expecting the Savage 220 was the way to go.
What type of scope is everyone using.
I was thinking a 2-7X shotgun scope would be adequate.

David
 
Thanks Buckmastr, Your lamanite a Boyd's aswell?

I have a 4-12x40 rifle scope on my 220. I had it laying around, it was on a .243 at one time. Works great, Shot both my bucks under 50 yards, one coyote at 125 yards and the one pictured above from about 10 yards.
 
Mine have 3-9's but a 2-7 would be good too.
Look for a Leupold SABR or Nikon Slughunter recticle with the drops built in.

Dvxdude, Yes mines a Boyd's, prairie hunter pattern. I think I like yours better.
 
freddyfour said:
Buckmastr, I never tried the 3" yet. I had read once they were not as accurate so I bought about 60rds of the 2 3/4. I might have to pick up a couple boxes of the 3"!!

Also, love the laminate stock! Boyds?
Click to expand...

All depends on the shotgun. I have one which likes 2 3/4 better then 3, another which likes the 3 better than the 2 3/4.
Both like accutips better than anything else I have tried.
 
I had a Savage bolt gun for awhile, terrific accuracy and good reliability...aside from ejection, which was hit or miss. Mostly hit, as in hit the scope and drop back into the action. Switching to 2-piece scope bases helped a lot but did not completely cure this malady. This was near their introduction, before they were improved with removeable mags and Accutriggers. Ejection aside, it was a very easy gun to like.

But...in terms of value...I don't think anything comes close to the old H&R Ultra Slug guns. Laminated stocks, and 10-bore sized barrels but with a 12-gauge bore, so the barrel walls were very thick. Triggers tended to be quite shootable, and once properly scoped those guns were amazing shooters, better than anything else I ever tried. Yes, a single shot is an acquired taste; if you can't wait to pull the trigger just so you can get ready to pull it again, they're not for you. After I moved away from a shotgun-only zone, I immediately sold all my slug shotguns with the exception of the Ultra Slug. Kept it for several more years, just because it was so satisfying to shoot. They still seem to crop up from time to time on the EE, well worth looking for if you want a slug gun, and easy to sell if you decide you don't like it for whatever reason.
 
Sicon000 said:
What's a nice budget scope to go with this slug gun? Optimal range?
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Rifled guns, using sabot slugs, are plenty accurate to well beyond 100 yards, so any decent rifle scope will be great. No need for a special slug scope with a shorter parallax setting; typical rifle scopes have parallax set at 100 yards or more and anything from a 1-4x to a typical 3-9x will work beautifully. I'd be more concerned with eye relief; make sure it has enough (Leupolds are good in this respect) and then make sure that it is properly mounted as far forward as you can get it while still maintaining a proper sight picture.

Of all the reasons to not have the kid behind the gun counter at the big-box store mount a scope for you, this is one of the best! :)
 
I run a Savage 212 at present and find it shoots tight at 80 yds using Federal sabots. The beasty is fitted with a Weaver K2.5x glass and Limbsaver Airtech pad.
These suckers could use better stocks fer sure. My 870 with Hastings Paradox barrel shoots tight as well and is a tad lighter than the Savage.

SAVAGE 212 with WEAVER K 2.5.jpg
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For a lefty such as myself, I went with an Ithaca Deerslayer. Awesome slug gun and now I don’t get empties in the face anymore like I did with my rifled Remington 870. The accuracy beyond 100 yards is also phenomenal compared to the Remington. Only disadvantage is the price!
 
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