870 slug gun?
08-11-2009, 06:33 PM
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: wisconsin
Posts: 70
870 slug gun?
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.
08-11-2009, 08:26 PM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Orange county, NY
Posts: 2,949
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.
08-11-2009, 08:29 PM
#3
Spike
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 63
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.
08-11-2009, 09:12 PM
#4
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: wisconsin
Posts: 70
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.
08-13-2009, 07:43 PM
#7
Spike
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: NJ
Posts: 70
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.
08-16-2009, 12:36 PM
#9
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: VT USA
Posts: 15
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!!
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!!
