I know little to nothing about shooting slugs. I've put together a home defense gun with an 18" barrel and a modified choke. I intend to only shoot buck shot through it, and I'm happy with it. My question is, is it safe to shoot slugs with it? I just don't know how tight you can go and still be safe.
Thanks.
Slugs with a Modified Choke?
Re: Slugs with a Modified Choke?
Should be OK, but you'll have to discover which slugs suit your gun best. In my case, with a cylinder bore 18-1/2" Mossberg-mfr. 870 barrel, I've had some really disappointing results with Fiocchi slugs, and like you, I use buckshot almost exclusively.
Shortly, I intend to start hog hunting in Texas with my 870, and for that reason, I've returned to the issue of slugs. I intend to use an improved cylinder choke with slugs while I try to determine what works best in my gun. Most Foster type and Brenneke type slugs are somewhat undersized to be used with one or another modest choke, including Modified. Do your homework, and find folks using particular brands or styles of slugs with the Modified choke restriction, and create a "short list" of slugs to try to zero with your barrel. As a rule, so-called "rifled slugs" with the exterior rifling shaped ridges on the exterior can pass through some choke, although I suppose that a lot of use might lead to premature wear and mostly indifferent, bad accuracy. Good luck! Consider posting your results here as a "teaching moment."
Shortly, I intend to start hog hunting in Texas with my 870, and for that reason, I've returned to the issue of slugs. I intend to use an improved cylinder choke with slugs while I try to determine what works best in my gun. Most Foster type and Brenneke type slugs are somewhat undersized to be used with one or another modest choke, including Modified. Do your homework, and find folks using particular brands or styles of slugs with the Modified choke restriction, and create a "short list" of slugs to try to zero with your barrel. As a rule, so-called "rifled slugs" with the exterior rifling shaped ridges on the exterior can pass through some choke, although I suppose that a lot of use might lead to premature wear and mostly indifferent, bad accuracy. Good luck! Consider posting your results here as a "teaching moment."
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Re: Slugs with a Modified Choke?
Normal lead slugs will shoot through a Modified choke without any issues. You may not get best results with some slugs out of that constriction, but no one choke is best with all slugs, so you'll have to experiment anyway. I have seen at least one manufacturer recommend using a Modified choke with their Foster slugs, though Cylinder or IC are more commonly recommended.