870 slug gun?

switchback hunter · 08-11-2009, 06:33 PM

Hi all I am wandering how the 870 is for a slug gun. Right now I am kinda tore between a 243 bolt-a remington 1100- and a 870. I hunt rifle country but shots are less then 100 yards and usually more like 50.wich gun would you buy, of course I would also be getting slug barrels for the shotguns.

DeerandbearhoG · 08-11-2009, 08:26 PM

243 (7-08 be better) no question. Do you know how much sabot slugs cost and how much they kick? The best slug gun cant dream of shooting as accurate as the worst CF rifle. I hunt rifle and slug zones in NY. I bought a savage 10ML 3 years ago and wouldnt touch a slug gun(especially a pump) ever again, and defiantly wouldnt use one if I had a choice to hunt w/ a rifle. Id buy a nice used 870 wingmaster for birds and a rifle for deer.

ranger400ex1994 · 08-11-2009, 08:29 PM

I have been hunting in slug country for 12 years now. I have 5 slug guns. And yes a 870 is a great slug gun with the right slug. All my slug guns have rifled barrels. I have 2 870s that i have pinned the slug barrel to the gun so there is no movement . it makes it a fulltime slug gun. But if you have a chance to use i rifle i would us that over any slug gun i have. Any chance i can use my rifles I do. I have a few rifles and even the samller caliber rifles out perform a slug gun. Yes at close range slugs do have alot of killing power. I have taken deer out to 150 yards with sabot slugs. Would you use the slug gun for anything else? Like maybe getting a bird barrel for it? if so then yes i would get the shot gun if not i would get the rifle.

switchback hunter · 08-11-2009, 09:12 PM

my thoughts were do i want to spend money on a gun i can only use 9 days a year or spend the money on a slug/bird gun combo. I hunt in the northwoods of wisconsin and you rarely get a shot over 75 yards and i know slugs should do that without a problem. I have used 243's in the past and always had good luck problem was almost never hed a trail to follow after shot.

Ron Duval · 08-12-2009, 04:53 AM

removed by RD

ranger400ex1994 · 08-13-2009, 07:27 PM

Then i would get the Deer/bird combo. With the right sabot slugs and a good scope if you decide on one you can cleanly kill deer out to 150yards.

Dominick · 08-13-2009, 07:43 PM

The 243 will be much more versatile if and when you ever need a 100yd+ gun. Under 100yrds, a slug gun will kill anything in North America. Do you hunt heavy brush? If so, I rather use a slug over a 243. Another possiblity is to buy a Mossberg bird gun and a $399 Weatherby Vanguard in 243 or better yet, a 30-06.

Powerfisher · 08-16-2009, 11:56 AM

I used to hunt deer in upstate NY with Rem 870. I put a Hastings Rifled Barrel on it and used 3" Mag BRI .50 Saboted slugs. Tac driver at 50yds.

JamminJay · 08-16-2009, 12:36 PM

I live in rifle country as well but I hunted last year with my mossberg 835 slug gun. I didn't get anything, as usual.

Like you, I hunt in an area where shots are usually 50 yards or under, so laser accuracy isn't needed and a 12 ga slug pokes a really big hole.

I'm currently experimenting with hand loading my own slugs to cut costs a little. I've had some moderate success, but still have a few bugs to work out, especially with the sabots.

If anyone is interested, I've started to conduct some terminal performance testing of various slugs.

http://www.carbinecountry.com/Shotgu...g%20Tests.html

The 3.5" lightfields are just plain nasty!!