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slugs for rifled barrels

hog hunter
hey guys, I have a Remington 870 with a 20" rifled slug barrel, a 2 X 7 centerline scope mounted with a B Squared saddle mount. I am shooting Federal Fusion sabot slugs 2 3/3" and the 285 grain HP. My problem is that when I sighted it in at 50 yards, I shot about a 2" group which isn't great but I'm OK with that. when I go out to 100 yards, it groups about 12" totally unacceptable? this is off of sand bags and good controlled conditions.

do you think my gun may just not like this ammo? i never shot slugs before so I am not sure what to try next? a buddy of mine says he had the same issue out of his 1100 and he found that shooting regular rifled slugs worked best for his gun. I thought that was a no no? rifled slugs for smooth bore and sabot for rifled barrels. does anyone have any info on that as well? they sure cost less, that's for sure and I really don't need the 200 yard velocity of the sabot but I do want the accuracy. if I need to trade off velocity for accuracy, I would gladly do that.

thanks for the responses,
hog hunter
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Comments

11 comments

Date Votes
  • fordsix
    you will have to try different brands to see what works the best
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  • hog hunter
    what about trying rifled slugs in a rifled barrel? would this be an issue?
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  • extremedealerz
    i believe its best to use rifled slugs in a smooth bore barrel
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  • allechalley
    Have you cleaned the bore? The barrel can load up with plastic sometimes. Agree that you need to try more different makers/loads
    as rifled shotgun tubes can be even more finicky than pistols as to what they like/don't like, even different guns of same maker can have a total difference in what they prefer, one to the next.
    Rifled slug in rifled barrel may/may not work, usually poor performance, again there are exceptions.
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  • allechalley
    Have you cleaned the bore? The barrel can load up with plastic sometimes. Agree that you need to try more different makers/loads
    as rifled shotgun tubes can be even more finicky than pistols as to what they like/don't like, even different guns of same maker can have a total difference in what they prefer, one to the next.
    Rifled slug in rifled barrel may/may not work, usually poor performance, again there are exceptions.
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  • PA Shootist
    I have an inexpensive Mossberg bolt-action 12 gauge, a model I believe is since discontinued, with rifled barrel that shoots 3" magnum sabots better than I have any right to expect out to 100 yards. Recoil is stout, and even these relatively high-velocity rounds have a trajectory that requires very accurate range estimation for anything beyond 100 yards. It does rival most deer rifles for group size, 2 to 3 inch groups at 100 yards not at all uncommon. Due to trajectory, I consider it 100-115 yards max, and that is no adverse factor really, hunting in the woods. Anything slower may have greater limitations due to arcing trajectory.

    This same shotgun fares poorly for accuracy with common Forster-style rifled slugs. As stated this appears to be the usual rule, though, also as said, there are exceptions. I have wondered why, thinking this style of hollow-base slug ought to work similarly to the Civil War era hollow-base Minie balls, expanding the skirt to fill the bore and engage the rifling. Maybe they can't expand enough to properly obdurate the bore, due to being too much undersize?

    But my old shotgun does great with the Brenneke-style slugs! And they tend to be relatively cheap, compared to the sabot style, though they are found in 2-3/4" length only. But there is no way to predict all this; you may just have to experiment with your individual shotgun.
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  • hog hunter
    thanks for the responses, I am going to try different loads this weekend to try and figure out which will fire the best in my gun. I bought Hornady SST rounds last night at bass pro. the only problem is, it get's really expensive when trying to figure out which shoots the best since there are so many different brands and types available.
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  • Mossbergboogie
    Remington has better deals on all slugs usually unless you shop at walmart and then Winchesters are a better buy.

    EDIT Why not just get a barrel with a factory weaver base (rail)? Then all you need is rings.
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  • Stilwater36
    It is expensive to find the load the 870 likes but once the group settles in don't change. I shoot 870 12ga. 2.75 Hornaday and 20ga Benelli Super 90. Both like the Hornaday sabots. The 3" don't preform any better. When shooting for group from bench hold down the forearm at 45 degrees with a down force to stop barrel jump from effecting the sabot before leaving the barrel. Also make sure the barrel is seated as tight as possible. Some barrels are sloppy in the receiver. Cleaning is very important,start cold Barrel and space the three shots so the the gun shoots cold. Make sure the B Squared Saddle mount is firm and has no play,I like the barrel mount scopes better. Wind has big time effect on the sabots so the longer you shoot the larger the group. Agree 12" inches is not good you should be in the 3-4 inch at 100 yds. I have good results with Litefield lead sabots but am staying Hornaday. Good luck, keep shooting and cleaning. You find the right one....
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  • hog hunter
    thanks again for all the responses! I tightened the cap as tight as I could get without putting a pair of pliers to it. I also don't remove the barrel since the scope is on the reciever and not on the barrel. I agree, the B Squared scope mount isn't terrible but it could be part of the problem. I stopped at my local gun shop today and got a quote on getting the reciever drilled and tapped as I won't use this gun for any other reason except my deer gun with slugs. My gun smith also recommended pinning the barrel to the reciever.
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  • Stilwater36
    Tarhunts 870 slug conversions pin the barrels. I did not know the shotgun was a slug gun only or I would have told you about pinning the barrel.Tarhunts also ports the barrels on there conversions. They also distribute hint on shoot tight groups with a slug shotgun. Let me how you do and what you do to make this slug gun more accurate.
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