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The Right Slug

idzgydz
I'm about to get my first experience hunting in a shotgun only zone, and I need some advice on what type of slug to use in my gun. I have a Rem. 870 Express Magnum (chambers up to a 3.5" shell) with a 26 in. smooth bore barell (choked). I also have an 18.5" smooth bore barell (not choked) that I can swap in. Can anyone tell me what the best type of slug to use for either of these barells would be?

I was told that a good rule of thumb is to use a rifled slug in a smooth bore barell, and a non-rifled slug in a rifled barell. Is this a good rule to go by?

Thanks for the help
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Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • iwannausername
    Foster style slug in a unrifled barrel, in a rifled barrel you want a sabot slug.

    As to which barrel you should use, I'd buy a few boxes of slugs and spend some time on a range with both of 'em
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  • Stilwater36
    Assuming your hunting in Fla. Start with 2 3/4 Foster slugs in both the 18" and the 26" choked either Imp c. and or Skeet or Bore what ever open screw in choke you have. Then try 3" the same way. You will then see what works best and how much recoil you can take. I would advise not trying 3 1/2 slugs too much for deer. Site in at 50 yards. Smooth bore shot guns are usually good (accurate) to 80-100 yards. You are using a shotgun front bead to shoot the slugs and that type of sight is not the best,hard to get a really good site picture shot after shot. Notice that shotgun barrels made for slugs all have adjustable rifle type iron sights. Do yor homework before your hunt it pays off. Good luck
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  • idzgydz
    Thanks for the advice guys. I'm going to try and cycle a few 2 3/4" foster style slugs through my 18.5" barell tonight, and if I don't get good results I'll try the longer barell.

    I am using the bead for my sighting, so I hope Ill be accurate enough to hit a deer with that. I know that most purpose built slug guns use rifle style iron sights, but I'd rather not invest in a slug barell if I don't have to (maybe a top mounted holosight instead). I'm going to try my setup on hogs before I use it on deer, just to see how accurate I'm going to be.

    Any suggestions on what brand of slug to use? Is there really much of a difference between different manufacturers?
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  • Mossbergboogie
    quote:Originally posted by idzgydz
    Thanks for the advice guys. I'm going to try and cycle a few 2 3/4" foster style slugs through my 18.5" barell tonight, and if I don't get good results I'll try the longer barell.

    I am using the bead for my sighting, so I hope Ill be accurate enough to hit a deer with that. I know that most purpose built slug guns use rifle style iron sights, but I'd rather not invest in a slug barell if I don't have to (maybe a top mounted holosight instead). I'm going to try my setup on hogs before I use it on deer, just to see how accurate I'm going to be.

    Any suggestions on what brand of slug to use? Is there really much of a difference between different manufacturers?


    Stick with the short barrel, The equipment you have stated is just a little sub par. It will certainly get the job done but accuracy is a issue out past 50 yards. Every barrel is different no matter the model of gun you just have to shoot and see which your gun shoots best.

    I have never had good luck with fosters so I am up grading this year to a rifled barrel, and rifle sights.
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  • starmaster1953
    Eons ago, before the time of rifled shotgun barrels, I took a 28" modified barrel and cut 2" off it to remove the choke. It'll group Fostner Federal slugs into 3" at 75 yards. That's all I ask from a smoothbore. I'd cut it back to 22" or 24" but I don't want to jinx it.
    I had a holosight on it but it sat too high for my liking - it's now on my Contender. I may try a Red Dot next.
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  • golferboy426
    use breneke, by far the most accurate in my remington 1100
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  • quickmajik
    I like Berneke or Baschieri&Pellagri slugs.


    B&P Low recoil
    https://www.bandpusa.com/Shopping/index.php?cPath=1_14_97



    As to which slugs, I like reduce recoil shells when I know shots are going to close and maybe on moveing targets. There is less recoil so recoil is one less thing to contend with when shooting.

    If I where you I'd try both barrels and see which one patterns slugs the best.. I like a bead sight myself. I'd start at 25 yards, then move out to 50 yards, If you can keep your slugs in a 6 inch or less grouping at 50 yards you are shooting good.
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  • tsr1965
    Long before there were slug guns with short smooth bored barrels and rifle sights, or rifled barrels with, or without sights and/or cantalever's, there was just the plain smooth bore shotgun, with a bead sight. If one was lucky it had a rib and a bead. It did not matter what choke restriction they were, but a lot of folks used foster type rifled slugs in any chocke, up to and including full choke. I seen an old guy with a Winny 97 full choke put slug after slug into a gallon jug at 110 yards.


    That said, most of today's smooth bore slug guns are IC choked, and handle the Foster type rifled slugs well.

    Only use the sabot type slugs in a rifled barrel, as if you don't, the majority of the barrels will fill up with lead in the rifling, if you use foster type slugs.

    Not sure what you are hunting, but I would put my money on the smooth bore and foster type slug.

    Best
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