Shotgun only Areas for deer and a burgeoning deer herd have created some interesting technology in the last two decades.
The latest in rifled barrel and sabot slug technology has stretched the effective range of slugguns to previously unheard of distances and hunters are increasingly taking advantage of this trend.
Rifled shotgun barrels in the early eighties were commonly long/slow twists (1:36 and longer) and short barrel lengths of around 20-22 inches. Sabot slugs beginning with the original BRI Sabot were commonly a waisted .50 cal one ounce pellet with a two piece hard plastic sabot traveling at around 1200 to 1400 fps. These guns usually had rifled sights and barrels not fixed to the the receiver but only held on with a barrel nut like traditional shotguns.
These guns had an effective range of 100-150 yards... and even at shorter ranges the slugs were limited in accuracy and energy.
Many newer slugguns have 1:28 twists and 24 inch cantilever barrels designed to stabilize the new tech slugs. These new sabots are multi petaled plastic sabots around bonded or partition bullets that shoot 1900-2000 fps and deliver incredible energy and accuracy out to 200 yards.
Some of the better/faster slugs are Remington Core-Loct Ultra, Winchester Partition Gold and Hornady SST among others.
Bolt action slugguns with good accuracy were developed with some success by Browning, Mossberg and Savage but met with limited demand and meager success in the marketplace. Most deer hunters favored faster repeaters like pump guns and semis which led to the virtual abandonment of this technology with only one model still in production at this juncture.
Ithaca made a pump action 26 inch 1:28 twist barrel deer slayer II that was considered one of the fastest and most accurate slugguns ever developed until the company's recent demise. Browning, Winchester, Benelli and Beretta among others offer semi autos and pumps with 1:28 ROT 24 inch cantilever barrels that shoot with amazing accuracy. Remington is still using the longer twist rate but their guns are capable of shooting good groups as well... although I find the groups open up quickly at longer range with faster slugs.
Beretta ES-100 and Benelli SBE I and II offer 1:28 twist rifled barrels at 24 inches long and fixed to the receivers. I have tested and owned both of these and they are extremely accurate semis and consistently shoot minute of deer (4-5" groups) at 150-200 yards with the right optics and slugs. I prefer 3-9 or higher magnification long eye relief scopes and 1900 fps Coreloct Ultras... (Plastic removal with Sabot Cleaner is imperative when shooting sabots!). I am testing some 2000 fps 3 inch sabots right now with the SBEII and they look promising.
I recently acquired a 28 inch 1:28 ROT Stainless fluted barrel for my Encore Pro Hunter. I am waiting not so patiently for a fore end and scope mount so I can give this technology a work out. I am expecting the remaining puzzle pieces to arrive in the next week so I will post my results when they are available. I expect this to be state of the art (factory) in long range performance for a slug gun... I would like to see minute of deer accuracy and enough energy at 250+ yards.. we shall see.
What are you guys using for slugs and slugguns... what do you consider your maximum effective range.
The latest in rifled barrel and sabot slug technology has stretched the effective range of slugguns to previously unheard of distances and hunters are increasingly taking advantage of this trend.
Rifled shotgun barrels in the early eighties were commonly long/slow twists (1:36 and longer) and short barrel lengths of around 20-22 inches. Sabot slugs beginning with the original BRI Sabot were commonly a waisted .50 cal one ounce pellet with a two piece hard plastic sabot traveling at around 1200 to 1400 fps. These guns usually had rifled sights and barrels not fixed to the the receiver but only held on with a barrel nut like traditional shotguns.
These guns had an effective range of 100-150 yards... and even at shorter ranges the slugs were limited in accuracy and energy.
Many newer slugguns have 1:28 twists and 24 inch cantilever barrels designed to stabilize the new tech slugs. These new sabots are multi petaled plastic sabots around bonded or partition bullets that shoot 1900-2000 fps and deliver incredible energy and accuracy out to 200 yards.
Some of the better/faster slugs are Remington Core-Loct Ultra, Winchester Partition Gold and Hornady SST among others.
Bolt action slugguns with good accuracy were developed with some success by Browning, Mossberg and Savage but met with limited demand and meager success in the marketplace. Most deer hunters favored faster repeaters like pump guns and semis which led to the virtual abandonment of this technology with only one model still in production at this juncture.
Ithaca made a pump action 26 inch 1:28 twist barrel deer slayer II that was considered one of the fastest and most accurate slugguns ever developed until the company's recent demise. Browning, Winchester, Benelli and Beretta among others offer semi autos and pumps with 1:28 ROT 24 inch cantilever barrels that shoot with amazing accuracy. Remington is still using the longer twist rate but their guns are capable of shooting good groups as well... although I find the groups open up quickly at longer range with faster slugs.
Beretta ES-100 and Benelli SBE I and II offer 1:28 twist rifled barrels at 24 inches long and fixed to the receivers. I have tested and owned both of these and they are extremely accurate semis and consistently shoot minute of deer (4-5" groups) at 150-200 yards with the right optics and slugs. I prefer 3-9 or higher magnification long eye relief scopes and 1900 fps Coreloct Ultras... (Plastic removal with Sabot Cleaner is imperative when shooting sabots!). I am testing some 2000 fps 3 inch sabots right now with the SBEII and they look promising.
I recently acquired a 28 inch 1:28 ROT Stainless fluted barrel for my Encore Pro Hunter. I am waiting not so patiently for a fore end and scope mount so I can give this technology a work out. I am expecting the remaining puzzle pieces to arrive in the next week so I will post my results when they are available. I expect this to be state of the art (factory) in long range performance for a slug gun... I would like to see minute of deer accuracy and enough energy at 250+ yards.. we shall see.
What are you guys using for slugs and slugguns... what do you consider your maximum effective range.
I have a Millet saddle mount holding the scope down. I had a cantilever on my 870, but it was hopelessly out of allignment, so I got rid of the gun. Here's a pic of my Mav88 with the Choate stock. I'll take a better pic after turkey day.
