Maximum slug range of an 870?

[dharbert]

I'm needing a bit of information about the maximum range of slugs for the 870. I have a smooth bore 870, and I've been using 2 3/4" Foster-type 1 oz. rifled slugs (1600 fps) at 100 yards. I've also tried these out to 200 yards, but haven't been able to hit the target consistently.

I know that maximum range is not the purpose of a shotgun, but that's the way I want this particular 870 set up. I'd like to be able to consistently hit targets at 200 yards and up to 250-300 yards if possible. Have I reached the limit of the smooth bore with rifled slugs at 200 yards?

I've only just started looking into this, but I assume that I'm going to have to swap out the smooth bore barrel for a fully rifled one and start using 2000+ fps sabot slugs.

[Synchronizor]

You can reach past 100 yards with Foster slugs, but drop is going to be considerable, and groups aren't going to be very impressive because the slugs loose too much velocity. I know some manufacturers offer high-velocity 12ga Foster slugs that are lighter than 1 oz. Their sectional density is going to be worse, but the starting velocity would be higher, so those might be worth trying out.

Bottom line though, smoothbore slugs suck at long ranges. Their velocities, sectional densities and aerodynamic stabilizing just aren't up to it. If you want to get the best long-range accuracy you can, sabot slugs in a rifled barrel are the way to go. They're faster and have better sectional density since they're smaller than bore diameter, and they're spin-stabilized like a real rifle bullet.

You may have issues trying to install a rifled barrel with your full-length rail, though. Most fully-rifled barrels have rifle sights or a cantilever scope mount, which would probably interfere with the rail. Other rifled slug barrels are heavy-wall barrels, which probably wouldn't work with the rail's clamps.

[dharbert]

You may have issues trying to install a rifled barrel with your full-length rail, though. Most fully-rifled barrels have rifle sights or a cantilever scope mount, which would probably interfere with the rail. Other rifled slug barrels are heavy-wall barrels, which probably wouldn't work with the rail's clamps.

I've found a couple of 20" fully rifled barrels that aren't cantilever, but they do have rifle sights on them. Are these sights able to be removed by me, or would I have to take the barrel to a gunsmith?

[Synchronizor]

You can remove the sight elements, but the bases, which are welded or brazed to the barrel, will be tougher to remove.

[dharbert]

It looks like the best two sabot slugs that I can currently purchase are the Remington Premier AccuTip Bonded Sabot Slug @ 1900 fps and the Hornady SST Sabot Slug @ 2000 fps. I've read reports online where shooters are getting 4" groupings at 250 to 300 yards with these.

In December Remington is releasing their Hypersonic AccuTip Bonded Sabot Slug which reportedly has a whopping 2300 fps velocity! Can't wait to try that one. That's going to have some nasty recoil.

[Zebra62]

Get on youtube and search out this video: LONG RANGE SLUGS WITH KIRSTI. She is shooting Winchester Foster slugs at 150 yards with an 870 STANDING and hitting the gong. Looks as though she is shooting downhill which will compensate for drop and there is about a second between the report of the weapon and the sound of the gong giving a good idea of how slow these rounds are in comparison to a rifle cartridge of your favorite flavor.

Get some rounds and go to the range. See what your chosen round will do at a given distance. Back up and try again.

PLACE UNCONFIRMED CLAIM HERE.

I had a buddy I shared a house with up in the booming metroplolis of Plattsburgh, New York, about a hundred years ago (more like thirty, but feels like a hundred)when we were still in the Air Force. He had an old Mossberg turkey gun he was married to. Went everywhere with it. He had our local gunshop make an order for rifled sabot slugs from Italy, I think. Paid a good bit for them, too. The local gunsmith also morphed a 4 power scope to the receiver. After about half a day getting the scope sighted, he was able to get a 4 inch group at 400 yards. That was way back in '82 -'83 with "primative" ammunition compared to what is available today. Just imagine what you will be able to do when Reminton has their new slugs fimally on the market.

[stratotrev]

Get on youtube and search out this video: LONG RANGE SLUGS WITH KIRSTI. She is shooting Winchester Foster slugs at 150 yards with an 870 STANDING and hitting the gong. Looks as though she is shooting downhill which will compensate for drop and there is about a second between the report of the weapon and the sound of the gong giving a good idea of how slow these rounds are in comparison to a rifle cartridge of your favorite flavor.

I watched this video a few times tonight while on post. It was pretty cool. I've never really seen anyone actually fire a shotgun like that at a distance such as that. Didn't hurt that she's not so bad to look at either. What piqued my curiosity was the note at the end saying that the camera battery died as they moved the gong out to 250 and to look for "part 2". I searched for a while for "part 2" and never found it but would be curious to see that if they actually did it.

[tnaka]

I've been practising a bit with slugs and i can now hit a clay pidgeon in the center at 100 yards. My backyard range is only 100 yards, but on our other range i've been able to hit A4 size white paper target. Dunno about 200 yards, because the other range is only 150yards. I was pretty impressed with the accuracy allthough i need to practice my gun placement when aiming, i need to aim a bit left and down to hit those clay pidgeons at 100yards. So propably i'm placing my gun so that i aim a bit high. It's fun shooting slugs and also good practice in case of bear attack, allthough shooting bear at 100yards as self-defence would get me a quite fine or jail time. At the moment i'm using sellier & bellot sport slugs 28 grams 12/67,5 shell (so thats propably a foster type slug).



Gun is 870 express synt 28" 12/89 with vent rib and front bead sight.

What would be good sights for slug? Ghost ring sights? Can those be fitted on vent rib barrel?

[Synchronizor]

At the moment i'm using sellier & bellot sport slugs 28 grams 12/67,5 shell (so thats propably a foster type slug).

Looks more like a Brenneke slug to me.

[tnaka]

Looks more like a Brenneke slug to me.

Yeah. You are probably right.