My Rem 870 supermag shoots high
My Rem 870 supermag shoots high
Hey, i just bought a new 870 supermag express synt. When shoot slugs i need to aim really low. For example hitting a target at 150 meters i need to aim to the ground in front of the target, when targets is at height of about one meter. At 25 meters i need to aim at bottom of the target board to hit center. Anyone else had this problem? Of course it might just my shooting, meaning if i place the gun in wrong position when i shoot. I have mod choke, but the same thing is with cylinder choke. I already asked remington and they said that it shouldn't shoot high. When i shoot clays which are on groun with trap-shots, i need to aim a bit low also. The bead is about on the bottom end of the clay. Remington didn't give me any good info what to do, just said that mod choke might cause erattic behaviour with the slugs trajectory. I would think that slugs should fly rainbow like trajectory. Slug are 3" sellier&bellot and my barrel is 26". Any help appriciated. Thanks!
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Re: My Rem 870 supermag shoots high
I can think of a few reasons your gun might be shooting high.
1) Since you're shooting 2.75" or 3" shells in a 3.5" chamber, the half-inch jump may be causing problems. Shells perform best when the shell length and chamber match, which is why dedicated competition guns often have just 2.75" chambers. Shooting 2.75" shells in a 3" chamber isn't usually too problematic, but doubling or tripling that gap by using a shorter shell in a 3.5" chamber has been known to make patterns appreciably worse.
2) Your choke may be the wrong constriction for your slugs. Most smoothbore slugs have a specific choke that will produce the best results. For example, Remington recommends Improved Cylinder for their Foster slugs, and Winchester suggests Cylinder or Modified for theirs. I don't know if S&B has a recommended choke or not; you may just have to do some experimenting to find what works best.
3) Your vent-rib (assuming that's what you have) may not be designed to be exactly parallel to the bore. Vent-ribs are usually used for bird hunting or clay shooting, where the target is led and the shotshell produces a wide pattern. Like you said, you also might be lining up the rib improperly. I have a bead-sight barrel, and I also had a tendency to shoot high until I realized I was lining up the bead and receiver improperly.
4) Sometimes, for whatever reason, a gun just won't like a particular load. You could try shooting a different brand of slugs, and see if things change.
Those are a few possible causes off the top of my head. If you want to get into serious slug hunting or shooting, you might want to look into buying a separate slug barrel with rifle or ghost-ring sights. These will be more precise with tight shot groups and single projectiles, and will allow you to adjust the point of aim to match the trajectory of your preferred ammunition.
1) Since you're shooting 2.75" or 3" shells in a 3.5" chamber, the half-inch jump may be causing problems. Shells perform best when the shell length and chamber match, which is why dedicated competition guns often have just 2.75" chambers. Shooting 2.75" shells in a 3" chamber isn't usually too problematic, but doubling or tripling that gap by using a shorter shell in a 3.5" chamber has been known to make patterns appreciably worse.
2) Your choke may be the wrong constriction for your slugs. Most smoothbore slugs have a specific choke that will produce the best results. For example, Remington recommends Improved Cylinder for their Foster slugs, and Winchester suggests Cylinder or Modified for theirs. I don't know if S&B has a recommended choke or not; you may just have to do some experimenting to find what works best.
3) Your vent-rib (assuming that's what you have) may not be designed to be exactly parallel to the bore. Vent-ribs are usually used for bird hunting or clay shooting, where the target is led and the shotshell produces a wide pattern. Like you said, you also might be lining up the rib improperly. I have a bead-sight barrel, and I also had a tendency to shoot high until I realized I was lining up the bead and receiver improperly.
4) Sometimes, for whatever reason, a gun just won't like a particular load. You could try shooting a different brand of slugs, and see if things change.
Those are a few possible causes off the top of my head. If you want to get into serious slug hunting or shooting, you might want to look into buying a separate slug barrel with rifle or ghost-ring sights. These will be more precise with tight shot groups and single projectiles, and will allow you to adjust the point of aim to match the trajectory of your preferred ammunition.
Re: My Rem 870 supermag shoots high
Hey, thanks for the answer!
Did some shooting today with slugs and took my time to adjust shooting/aiming position and it did help. So part of the problem probably has been that my head is too high in reference to vent rib and bead, so that has made me shoot high. It was still a little bit high, but not at much. Noticed a little veering to the right, but it might been as you said, different size cartridge or the choke. I was using 12/67,5 slugs so thats 2 5/8 (?).
I practice slugs for the rare event of bear attack and don't wanna miss then. There's not too much to hunt with slugs in these woods. Maybe an occasional roe deer, but a buck shot might be better.
Did some shooting today with slugs and took my time to adjust shooting/aiming position and it did help. So part of the problem probably has been that my head is too high in reference to vent rib and bead, so that has made me shoot high. It was still a little bit high, but not at much. Noticed a little veering to the right, but it might been as you said, different size cartridge or the choke. I was using 12/67,5 slugs so thats 2 5/8 (?).
I practice slugs for the rare event of bear attack and don't wanna miss then. There's not too much to hunt with slugs in these woods. Maybe an occasional roe deer, but a buck shot might be better.
Re: My Rem 870 supermag shoots high
I thought i might add my 2 cents on subject. I have an 870 Super Mag, and use 18" and 20" barrels mainly, i've never shot it with a "long barrel" before. My 20" rifle sighted barrel shoots 2 3/4" and 3" slugs very accurately and i get tight groups consistently, at ranges out to 75 yds. I also get very nice patterning at short and medium ranges shooting buckshot. My 18" barrel is perfect for HD puposes. I generally stick to 2 3/4" for that role, and i get awesome patterns with 00 buck out to 25-30 yds. I also am very accurate with slugs in my short barrel; i generally dont pracice any further than 50 yds with that barrel, but get nice groups mind the occasional "thrown shot". I've never had a 1/2" "jump" problem when shooting any size rd i choose to shoot.
I know dedicated trap and clay shooter stick to recievers stick to 3' chambers, and shoot only 2 3/4" or 3" shells to "match" their chambers. IMO, the super mag has an advantage in some areas; it can shoot all three rounds perfectly and can handle the magnum loads if desired. I've put a lot of rds out of my 870 S. Mag and have never experienced any negative issues with shell lengths or sizes or loads. Mine has never "shot low" or high, it's always accurate and troublefree. Thats just been my experience with my 870. The only downside to owning a super mag is if you want to convert it into a tactical/HD role, you usually have to slightly modify the inside of a "tactical" fore-end, and thats it.
I know dedicated trap and clay shooter stick to recievers stick to 3' chambers, and shoot only 2 3/4" or 3" shells to "match" their chambers. IMO, the super mag has an advantage in some areas; it can shoot all three rounds perfectly and can handle the magnum loads if desired. I've put a lot of rds out of my 870 S. Mag and have never experienced any negative issues with shell lengths or sizes or loads. Mine has never "shot low" or high, it's always accurate and troublefree. Thats just been my experience with my 870. The only downside to owning a super mag is if you want to convert it into a tactical/HD role, you usually have to slightly modify the inside of a "tactical" fore-end, and thats it.
Gun Control Means Using Both Hands.Re: My Rem 870 supermag shoots high
I'm also thinking getting a shorter barrel, either 18" or 20". It would be easier to carry in the woods for self defence purposes and also for bird hunting in dense forests. Is there shorter barrel for the super mag? But is there shorter factory barrels for the supermag?
http://www.remington.com/pages/support/ ... ables.aspx
That table doesn't say anything about 3 1/2" chambers. It would be nice that i could fire super magnums with the shorter barrel also if i want to. Of course 3" chamber barrel will work too, because slugs are max 3". Am i even right that barrels are also designed for the chamber, so if i buy barrel designed for the 3" chamber i can only fire shells up to 3" allthough my chamber is 3 1/2"?
I am certain now that the reason for shooting high was my poor aiming. I could do better with rifle sights if i shoot slugs, but practice with bead also made the problem smaller, so with more practice i think it will dissappear.
http://www.remington.com/pages/support/ ... ables.aspx
That table doesn't say anything about 3 1/2" chambers. It would be nice that i could fire super magnums with the shorter barrel also if i want to. Of course 3" chamber barrel will work too, because slugs are max 3". Am i even right that barrels are also designed for the chamber, so if i buy barrel designed for the 3" chamber i can only fire shells up to 3" allthough my chamber is 3 1/2"?
I am certain now that the reason for shooting high was my poor aiming. I could do better with rifle sights if i shoot slugs, but practice with bead also made the problem smaller, so with more practice i think it will dissappear.
Re: My Rem 870 supermag shoots high
Yes you can buy 18 to 20" barrels from Remington that will work on any 870-including the super mag. You will just be limited to 2 3/4' or 3" shells/slugs. They sell these length barrels in rifle sights (preferable) or ramped bead (fine for HD). You would see the size shells accepted stamped on these barrels, and could not fit more than a 3" anyway. Point is, yes you can buy shorter barrels and basicly, if it works on an 870, it will work on an 870 Super Mag. I'm not sure what remington is charging for specific barrels lately, but you might check ebay first, they always have factory Remington barrels (of all sizes) for sale at good prices. Good luck!
EDIT: When looking for an 18" to 20" barrel for your Super Mag, you don't have to just look at super mag barrels (on the contrary), all you'll see is long barrels (basicly). My 18" and 20" barrels were bought to fit an 870 express, and not only do fit, you'll have no problems with amy ammo you choose (mind that your restricted to 3" max. shells). I've shot every shell you can think of with no problems at all. For insatance you could buy an 18.5" Remington smooth bore barrel with a ramped bead sight (not designated as a super mag barrel), and it will serve you just fine. How do i know this, i own two short 870 barrels and shoot all manner of ammo with my super mag all the time! Yes, buying buying a Magnum barrel is a great choice for what you want, but i'm here to say i shoot magnum ammo and slugs all the time, out of barrels designed to fit an 870 Tactiical, or just a plain ole 870 express, and have had no issues or problems. You would probably want to buy a barrel with rifle sights if you plan on using slugs quite a bit (Magnum or not). This is not a complicated issue. I have seen many modified (reborn) Super Mags on many other web sites, and at gun shows. If you want a short barrel, just look for an "870" barrel, find one that fits your needs, and buy it, it will work.
EDIT: When looking for an 18" to 20" barrel for your Super Mag, you don't have to just look at super mag barrels (on the contrary), all you'll see is long barrels (basicly). My 18" and 20" barrels were bought to fit an 870 express, and not only do fit, you'll have no problems with amy ammo you choose (mind that your restricted to 3" max. shells). I've shot every shell you can think of with no problems at all. For insatance you could buy an 18.5" Remington smooth bore barrel with a ramped bead sight (not designated as a super mag barrel), and it will serve you just fine. How do i know this, i own two short 870 barrels and shoot all manner of ammo with my super mag all the time! Yes, buying buying a Magnum barrel is a great choice for what you want, but i'm here to say i shoot magnum ammo and slugs all the time, out of barrels designed to fit an 870 Tactiical, or just a plain ole 870 express, and have had no issues or problems. You would probably want to buy a barrel with rifle sights if you plan on using slugs quite a bit (Magnum or not). This is not a complicated issue. I have seen many modified (reborn) Super Mags on many other web sites, and at gun shows. If you want a short barrel, just look for an "870" barrel, find one that fits your needs, and buy it, it will work.
Last edited by Automag on Tue Aug 20, 2013 5:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: My Rem 870 supermag shoots high
Don't bother with that page, download Remington's full parts price list instead. The rest of Remington's website is a crappy resource for detailed parts information.tnaka wrote: I'm also thinking getting a shorter barrel, either 18" or 20". It would be easier to carry in the woods for self defence purposes and also for bird hunting in dense forests. Is there shorter barrel for the super mag? But is there shorter factory barrels for the supermag?
http://www.remington.com/pages/support/ ... ables.aspx
That table doesn't say anything about 3 1/2" chambers. It would be nice that i could fire super magnums with the shorter barrel also if i want to. Of course 3" chamber barrel will work too, because slugs are max 3". Am i even right that barrels are also designed for the chamber, so if i buy barrel designed for the 3" chamber i can only fire shells up to 3" allthough my chamber is 3 1/2"?
You can put a Magnum barrel on a SuperMag, you'll just be limited to 3" shells. This would probably be the best choice, it'll give you more options, and you'll spend less money and time on the project. 3.5" shells are pretty much pointless for defensive roles and upland bird hunting. The only place they offer any major advantage is with steel waterfowl loads, which is what they were designed for (and even then, modern non-toxic shot materials are way better than steel in pretty much every way).
If you really want to keep the ability to shoot 3.5" shells though, you could look at turkey barrels, which are usually 20" - 23" in length. Some of them come with 3.5" chambers, and you'll have a couple different choices in sights. They'll come with turkey chokes, but you can always replace them with more open choke tubes for other roles. A lot of them are camo-printed though, which you may or may not like.
Another option would be to buy a longer SuperMag barrel and cut it down to the length you want. This would give you more options for length, but it'll take more work. You'll also have to have it re-threaded for choke tubes if you want something other than a cylinder bore, and you may need further work done if you want specific sights.
Speaking of which, what type of sights did you want on this barrel?