Shotgun Barrel Question

[fergchsc]

I am a relatively new hunter. So far I have only been turkey hunting a few times. I am going to start deer hunting this year but I would prefer to use my shotgun that I have used for turkey hunting. I have a basic Remington 870. As far as I know it is a smoth bore barrel. Am I correct in assuming that I am fine to use buckshot? If I want to shoot a slug do I need a rifled barrel? What about a sabot slugs? Also, what kind of choke should I be using, if any, with each type of shot? Any insight into this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks![/align]

[Dan in Alaska]

You do not need a rifled barrel. You can shoot the rifled slugs (sometimes called Foster-style slugs) out of your smoothbore. Use the most open choke you have, usually IC.

Buckshot will shoot fine out of your smoothbore as well. Try different chokes to see which one patterns the best. And, be sure to check the hunting regulations where you live. Not all states are buckshot-friendly for deer hunting.

If you want to use the newer sabot-type slugs, then you will need a rifled choke tube, at a minimum, or better yet, a fully-rifled barrel. I don't shoot slugs, so I cannot tell you first hand what kind of performance you will get with a rifled choke tube, but I have heard good things from those shooting sabots through fully-rifled barrels.

[coloradoprohunter]

yeah you can definitely use buckshot for that barrel, just not a rifled barrel. sabots should only be fired out of a gun with a rifled choke tube or a rifled barrel because of the bullet's density. if you get a rifled barrel and shoot sabots out of it, you should have very tight groups. for buckshot use watever u want. it varies at different ranges. if you do shoot slugs out of your smoothbore shoot them out of skeet or improved cylinder chokes and use lead only slugs. i would reccommend rifled lead slugs.