Chuck7

Sir,
Can you shoot slugs from an 870 Remngton 3 1/2 inch magnum ..I use the gun for turkey..If so,,what choke would I use..the modified..?? and would it mess up my gun?
I have 4 different chokes.
improved
modified
full
turkey

Rebel Hog

I shoot a fully rifled Hastings Barreland went through this in 1999......


http://www.hastingsbarrels.com/safety.html

Centaur 1

You can use the improved cylinder with foster style slugs. They won't hurt your gun.

Chuck7

Thankyou sir..My Ithica 37 shoots nice patterns at 50 yds..with slugs..I was just wondering about the 870 ..The Ithica only shoots 2 3/4 ..the 870 shoots 3 inch or 3 1/2 inch.

I tend to only get tight groups with hollow points..

floridabucks

Chuck,
I have the same 870 Super Mag as you. I purchased a rifled slug barrel from Remmington for mine. Don't remember theexact price ($80 - $150) but it was worth it for me. The barrel is quite a bit shorter than the original barrel on the gun. It makes for better manueverability in thick stuff,and a lighter load. This is nice because I am always loaded down and walking a long way during deer season.The rifling in the barrel also makes the gun more accurate than the original barrel.

Mike

Chuck7

What kind of groups are you getting at 50 yds??

Rebel Hog

Hey Chuck, put your cursor on it's heart and then move it to it's tail....

http://www.tnoutdoorsmen.com/killzone.htm

Rebel Hog

Chuck, if you can place all your shots in a 6" pie plate @50 yds, they are dead!

We've already said that an average whitetail buck gives you about a 10" diameter target. That deer measures perhaps 17" deep through the chest, measured from the top of his back to his brisket. Here are some top of back to bottom of brisket estimates for other common North American game animals taken from various sources, but primarily from Jack O'Connor's book The Hunting Rifle:
[ul][*]Pronghorn antelope = 14"-15"[*]Small deer = 14"-15"[*]Medium size deer = 17"-18"[*]Large deer = 18"-20"[*]North American wild sheep = 20"-22"[*]Mountain goat = 22"-24"[*]Caribou = 24"-26"[*]Elk = 24"-26"[*]Moose = 30"-36"[/ul]
Given those external body measurements, here are some estimated "vital area circle" diameters that roughly correspond to the approximate (heart/lung) target area:
[ul][*]Pronghorn antelope = 8.5"-9"[*]Small deer = 8.5"-9"[*]Medium size deer = 10"-11"[*]Large deer = 11"-12"[*]North American wild sheep = 12"-13"[*]Mountain goat = 13"-14.5"[*]Caribou = 14.5"-15.5"[*]Elk = 14.5"-15.5"[*]Moose = 18"-21.5"[/ul]

Chuck7

Thanks Reb,
My Ithica continually puts slugs in a 3 inch group at 50 yds..I've shot many different types..Winchester Hollow Points have grouped best for me.

I shoot them from a 28 inch modified barrell

Dixie Slugs

All excellent answers, but I have never had good results shooting 2 3/4" or 3" Foster slugs in the 3 1/2" chamber. We are testing a new load for the 3 1/2" smoothbores (and rifled barrels) now called the Tusker Plus (in the 3 1/2" hull).....but, since it is a hard cast heattreated .727" - 600 gr slug, it has to be shot in a cylinder barrel or a .727" choke.
Regards, James