Kentactic wrote:In my experience with both slugs and shot, the slower it goes the better the results. I shoot reduced recoil Winchester ranger #00 because it produces a more desirable pattern. The hotter the load the more problems you run into with lead. Its relatively soft. So when the gun goes bang its like hitting it with a baseball bat. The harder you swing the more deformed the pellets become and then they dont fly as straight whivh opens up the patterns more. Slugs would likely fall under the same issues.
Keep in mind all slugs are not made equal. Pull a slug out of a federal round and a Remington. They'll appear similar or even identical in design but when you measure the diameter of them they might be very different. Some slugs are nearly the diameter of the bore of the gun. Then you try and jam it past a choke and you run into accuracy issues.
FYI I shoot Remington 1oz. Sluggers. They are a bit slower at 1560ft/sec and ive had great results. I can put rounds on an 8 inch plate under stress at 40 yards with confidence. I use an XS big dot front sight. The gun is an 18.5" cylinder bore.
Thanks for the feedback! I had not been looking at the slower rounds, I will add them to the list of things to try (my wife will be happy I have another excuse to buy ammo ). I'll also try the Federals without a choke.
PapaMAS wrote:I have a bit of a head scratcher I can use some of your expertise figuring out.
I have an older 20 gauge 870 Express Magnum (iron bead sight) which I have fired primarily at targets from 25 yards or less. I use it for home defense so I want to get better with it. I was also starting to investigate shooting at longer ranges, just in case I ever need to send a big hunk of lead about a hundred yards. I figured I would get good at 25 yards, then 50, then 100.
Accuracy was acceptable for slugs and buckshot at within the house ranges, but at 25 yards I noticed some issues. For example, buck shot patterns did not have a good number of pellets within a 30" circle around the aimpoint and did not seem well-spread within it. Some brands of slug did not have much accuracy at all - some days I was lucky to hit the paper.
Now, it's possible I'm just not a very good shot with a shotgun. I don't think this is the case as I shoot very well with other types of firearms, and have shot 3" 5-shot groups with this shotgun at 25 yards with one brand of ammo (Herter's). Remington Slugger and other brands have had the poor results mentione
I recently replaced the improved cylinder choke to see if that would have any effect. I got much better patterning with 3-buck and 00-buck with the new choke (meaning, a pattern exactly what one would expect for that range), but have had mixed results with slugs. While at 25 yards all my slugs are now hitting the paper, almost all are hitting left of aimpoint. I fired several brands of slugs yesterday and almost all shots impacted 2" - 5" left of center. Slugs used were Remington Sluggers, Herter's Select, DUPO20, Federal Premium Truball, and Federal Powershok.
At 50 yards it was about the same only the two Federal types missed the target completely. That's somewhat distressing as those are marketed as being very accurate at 100 yards
So, my question is, what might be the problem? I've already acknowledged it may be me, but unless someone is watching me shoot I don't know how to identify and correct what I might be doing not quite right. What else might cause slugs to all pull left? Could it be a bent barrel? If the barrel were bent to throw off slugs to the left why wouldn't I notice that before, and why would buckshot patterns improve with a new choke?
First if you want to learn to shoot slugs accurate look up TARHUNT.com They have a section on how to shoot slugs. If you don't have a mid bead on your barrel maybe you should try one , a set of add on sights or even a rifle sighted barrel. That way you can make sure you are lined up correctly. A good combination is a smooth bore barrel with rifle sights, The ones i have seen come with out tubes. I got mine threaded for rem chokes . I use a mod choke , a rifled choke a a straight rifle choke which works great on any shot and foster slugs. You can also use plated buck shot to tighten a pattern sometimes.
When shooting for accuracy, get good ammo! The normal foster type slugs were not intended for accuracy, but more to go through a full choke without issues. The "rifling" on slugs does not impart spin any more than a plain slug, however, it does allow the skirt to "fold" as it is rammed through the constriction of the choke. Think of it as swaging a bullet at 1500 FPS or so.
As far as accuracy, check out the Brenneke slugs. Usually i like the cheapest of their line, the KO models. The design dates from the turn of the century from Germany from what i understand. The British liked them because you could travel the world of the British empire, carry a double barreled shotgun, and be ready for just about anything over the planet with a variety of shells. The Brenneke allowed some good groups considering they were made for smoothbores. My rifle sighted 870 will do 4" or so for 5 shots when i do my part, and my 1187 will make one ragged hole. Granted, it is about 3", but 5 3/4" bullets will make big holes! Try some and see if your accuracy at over 50 yards improves greatly.
There are some great reduced recoil slugs on the market now...worth a try. There are
also very good reduced recoil buckshot....
I tend to stay with a bead on the front, which gives me the best visibility when targeting close in. I try to find a slug and buckshot combination that allows me to set the bead on the receiver flat (when targeting) centered, then use the top of the bead for a sighting point, which is very accurate and easy for the eye to align which yields very good accuracy.
). I'll also try the Federals without a choke.