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albjorneby
Kids!

I am a bird hunter but do have a 870 Rem with smooth bore, 18" slug barrel and other "bird guns". My 26 year old son-in law has always deer hunted in Northern WI with his A-Bolt Browning .270. We live in east central WI just south of the rifle line. So he decides he wants to stay home and deer hunt farm country here on opening weekend. Comes over and asks if he can try my 870 and, since he shoots left handed, wants to also my try my left handed Benelli M-1. I put the cylinder choke in the M-1 and give him the 870 with the slug barrel (and rifle sights). Wanted my new SBEII but I said no way, (the M-1, is just as good, if not better for deer hunting).

Anyways he takes both out and shoots a couple boxes of slugs. Comes back and tells me the slugs drop 10" at 75 yards. I said that sounds about right, he gets mad and tells me it is my guns. I told him that if he thinks he is going ot shoot a deer at 75 yards with a smoothbore shotgun, he had better learn to "lob'em in". slugs are not like .270s. I'm no deer hunter but I told him 50 yards is about as far out as I would shoot at a deer.

Am I right on the distance with a shotgun (without a rifled barrel)?

I also told him if he did not like my guns, to put'em back in the gun cabinet and get his own, and he would be hard pressed to beat either.
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • albjorneby
    Can someone tell me if these slugs are ok for my Rem 870?? Federal Hi Shok Slugs, Hollow point. Can I fire these through the stock smooth bore or do I need a rifled barrel? Thanks guys
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  • Mossbergboogie
    What do you mean by smooth bore? All shotguns are smooth bore unless rifled and the difference then is the choke. Read the box of slugs you bought. Most are fine with restiction up to full choke.
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  • albjorneby
    Thanks for answering, someone gave me a case of these slugs. I know some slugs need a barrel with rifling and sone are made for the regular barrel. Just trying to figure this out. the box doesn't say one way or the other. can I tell by looking at the shell??
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  • krawiech
    what brand of shotgun do you own does it have choke tubes or is it a fixed choke if its a fixed choke the barrel should be stamped as to what choke is the barrel is you have to watch the chamber size also
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  • tsavo303
    yes they are fine, and no you dont need a rifled bore
    they will do better without a rifled bore
    rifled bores shoot sabot slugs only
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  • albjorneby
    Thanks to all of you guys for the help, much appreciated
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  • 45er
    albjorneby,

    I understand your question, and is a good one to ask. "Saboted" slugs are for use in rifled barrels only.
    I do not know if your Fed Hi Shok's are saboted or not.
    "Brenneke" type slugs are good to go in smooth barrels.

    Chuck Hawks has an excellent article on shotgun slugs:

    http://www.chuckhawks.com/shotgun_slugs.htm
    EDIT Opps, just saw tsavo already answered. The article is still worth a read.
    45er
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  • albjorneby
    45er, I just read Chuck's whole article. Quite a lot to digest but he answered my question clearly and to the point. Thanks for the link. It was a big help. Unfortnately, I live in one of the "shotgun only" areas (long island). That's why I was asking for future reference, as well as wanting to know how I can shoot this case of slugs my friend gave me. Thanks again.
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  • montanajoe
    • Community moderator
    quote:Originally posted by albjorneby
    45er, I just read Chuck's whole article. Quite a lot to digest but he answered my question clearly and to the point. Thanks for the link. It was a big help. Unfortnately, I live in one of the "shotgun only" areas (long island). That's why I was asking for future reference, as well as wanting to know how I can shoot this case of slugs my friend gave me. Thanks again.

    "unfortunately,I live in a shot gun only area"........
    We have a shot gun only area here too. It runs from sept 4 to Jan 15th. Its only Oct.29th and wife &I have 4 deer in the freezer already thanks to slugs. I consider that fortunate.[;)][;)][:)][:)]
    Slugs hunting can be fun and they do take deer. Of course, every tool has its limitations. Get out there and get some deer. Good luck.[:)][:)][:)]
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  • albjorneby
    Thanks Joe, and well done. I have a nice 35 Marlin that I used to go upstate with and I enjoyed hunting with it. That's the only reason I say "unfortunately" The friend I used to visit and hunt with passed away a few years ago, another "unfortunately". He had a great piece of land. I used to go up in the off season to help him out with his place and then we'd hunt his land in season. It was a nice arrangement and he was a good guy, fun to be around. We can go to state land if we want, but going to the range to practice up, I see some of the knuckleheads with guns that I'd be sharing the woods with. You know the ones I mean. I may just wait until I get another invitation to hunt private property with someone. I know a few people who have been kind enough to offer invitations in the past. I'd like to hunt, not be hunted.
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