Slug gun question

[BSLNORTH]

I've been deer hunting for 25 years, always with a Rifle. I recently purchased some land in west metro, so I will be able slug hunt during the week. I have a few 12ga shotguns, do I need to buy a slug barrell? Probably use my Benelli supernova 12ga. I have read that just switching to a modified choke will work, i just don't want to ruin my gun.

 

Thanks,

 

BSL 

[Barbelboy]

Spend the money on a slug barrel for one of your 12 gauges or a slug gun. You can mount a scope on them and with modern slug loads they shoot similar to center fire rifles.

You've spent the $$ on the land, spend a little more for a gun specific to your hunting zone. You won't regret it.

[phishnerd]

I agree with Barbelboy.  You might be in for a case of sticker shock when you price out a rifled shotgun barrel for your Nova...  If you have a Remington 870 I'd get a rifled cantilever barrel for that.  Barrel prices are more reasonable and once you mount the scope you won't have to take it off.  Sighting in each year is a lot easier since you're not starting completely over.  You'll be shocked at how accurate they are with the right sabot slug!

[Wanderer]

You don't NEED to buy a slug barrel for one of your bird guns and you won't wreck it shooting slugs out of it.  But typically a cylinder bore choke or improved is about as tight as I've ever gone.  I also find Brenneke slugs to fly out of em best that way.  2 3/4 inch, not 3 inch.

Benelli slug barrels are obscenely expensive; I never bought one for mine because of that.  

The two best shooting slug guns I've witnessed were: a Remington 1100 with an upgraded slug barrel and cantilever scope mount, shooting copper solid sabot slugs; and my H&R single shot slug gun in 20 gauge shooting Hornady sabots.

Both of these set ups are rifle like accurate @ 100 yards, and still good at 150.

The single shot H&R is much cheaper though and a 20 Guage puts a big enough hole in a deer to do the job. Since I picked one up based on a friends recommendation, it's become one of my favorite guns I own.

 

[MJ1657]

This is my Benelli Nova rifked barrel with Nikon Slughunter BDC scope. It's accurate and has taken a deer at 162 yards. I bought it with the slug barrel already mounted and the deal was right. My only real complaint is that the forearm is noisy. If you bump it or something it rattles around. I'm used to it and am careful. 

 

I set my hunting buddy up with a Remington 870 20 ga with a cantilever barrel and same scope as mine. It's a sweet slug set up. 

[Wanderer]

I'm liking the idea of 20 gauges with rifled barrels and sabots more and more.  Less kick, great accuracy and less meat damage.

[ZachD]

 

I think the slug barrel for my 870 would have been like 2 something

I said forget buying the barrel and I spent a 150 more or so and got the Mossberg 500 with a field and rifle barrel and a scope. It shoots Hornady sst slugs like a laser. I have had it four years now it has killed 8 deer and I have never had a malfunction.

 

 

 

[eyeguy 54]

Bought my son a 20 ga in 2000 and it came with 2 barrels, one being the smooth slug barrel. He didn't gun hunt with it but I used it 3 years ago and last year when I hunted south of Rochester. Bought a used slug gun scope online for 45 bucks.I used the Brenneke KO slugs and they worked dandy on 2 nice 8 pointers.   50 yard shots so cant comment on further out. 

[MJ1657]

I shoot Remington copper solids out of my 12 ga. They are expensive but they were the first slug I tried and are accurate. They do a good job and I haven't lost a deer yet. Shoot Hornady SST's out of the 20 ga.

 

If I were to look for a different slug gun for myself it would be a 20 ga. 

[ZachD]

16 hours ago, MJ1657 said:

I shoot Remington copper solids out of my 12 ga. They are expensive but they were the first slug I tried and are accurate. They do a good job and I haven't lost a deer yet. Shoot Hornady SST's out of the 20 ga.

 

If I were to look for a different slug gun for myself it would be a 20 ga. 

Those SST's shoot really good I love them wont ever switch

 

And I agree with you on the 20g my next purchase is going to be the Savage 220 bolt action 20g that thing is a sniper

[Guest Yellowstone]

Thanks for the tip on the SSTs. We settled on Federal sabots after having my son (13) try half a dozen sabot types with his new Mossberg 500 last year. On a scale of 1-10, they are an 8 in terms of consistency but the best slug he tried sighting in with using the riffled barrel. Will have to try a box of these at the range this month too. Now I just have to scout some public land for him. Kind of late in the game but I have some ideas and was counting on the likelihood of him getting drawn for a special state park hunt he applied for.

[Mossy19]

Yellowstone, I owned a Mossberg 500 for many of years.  Good gun unless you shoot Federals out of them.  I have the same problem with my Mossberg 835.  For some reason they don't like to eject them federal shells.  I have my 835 set up for deer hunting and have slug barrel and a Vortex scope on it.  I use to shoot Winchester Sabots out of it until I found the SSTs.  Will not be going back to Winchester's because the SSTs are more accurate and take less time to site in according to me. I have no issue with the gun ejecting either the Winchesters or the SSTs.  They are both good slugs, but prefer the SSTs.

[Guest Yellowstone]

Thanks. We'll have to get some and get to the range soon. I have been scouting public land spots for him (13 years old) as my goal is to tag out before the end of October (nice buck or adult doe) with bow so I can FOCUS. lol. Seriously, though. I want to get some surefire meat in the freezer and then help him be successful. My big archery buck can wait another year. ha.