Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

I bought a new Hastings rifled slug barrel for my Remington 12ga shotgun and need some suggestions as to how to zero it in right. I have never deer hunted with a slug gun but want to try it this year and I understand this Hastings barrel is the "cats meow" when it comes to shooting sabots. I would like to know where to start to zero it in and what the maximum should be ...it is a 3in mag and will have a 3X9 scope.

Thanks
DD

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

I would sight it in 1" high at 50 yards and you should be good out to 150. Look up the ballistics for the slug you will be shooting and then shoot it in the field to make sure what it does out of your gun and you will be fine.

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

First off make sure you site in on a day where there is very little wind. It goes without saying, but slugs are more suceptible to wind then most centerfire bullets..

If you are serious about acuracy,(as I already know your are), I would expect to show up at the range with no less than 4-5 different brands of slugs.

First thing to keep in mind is that your barrel has a 1-34 twist. That means it is relatively slow and may not stabilize certain lightweight bullets.

Whenever reading recomendations on how a particular slug shoots insomeone elsesgun, always follow the comments from those who are shooting a rifled barell with a similar twist. For example in your case, two similar guns would be the Mossberg 695 (1-36), and Savage 210 (1-35), among others.

First thing I would do personally,(and as always othersmay certainly disagree), is to get sighted at 75 yds. This is happpy medium between the 50 and 100yd sight in where wind is only a minor factor, and deviations in accuracy can be displayed well.

For your original site in Iwould recomend using Remington Copper Solids. They are one of most stabile, accurate sabots on the market. The only reason why you will be trying other sabots is that these do not have the best trajectory. You will be searching for a good accuracy and a better trajectory after you are sighted in. (For the most part you can relatively trust the trajectories supplied by sabot manufacturers.)

Now once you are happily sighted in at 75yds you are simply going to shoot 5 shot groups of each different brand of ammo you are going to try. Remember at this point you are not worried about the bullseye,(as you will be resighting again specificallyto your final choice of ammo), all you will be looking for is consistant grouping size.

You may get luck and the ammo with the best trajectory also happens to be the most accurate in your gun. In which casethat willbeyour easy choice. Otherwise you must make an accuraracy vs trjectory judgement on the final competing ammo.

Once you come up with your final choice you can read the maufacturers stated trajectory and based on your expected range decide on where you would like your expected zero. In my case that is is 1in high at 100yds with my ammo. That gives me a steady hold through 125yds, most likely the far end of my expected range.

To be cont..

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

I sighted my wife's 20 ga.in with the Remington Premier Ultra Bonded Sabots and they are expensive but IMO they are worth every dime. I would definitely try them. I was shooting 3 shot groups at 50 yards that were about the size of a quarter.That was with a hastings barrel also. Here are the ballistics on that bullet:
[align=left]http://www.remington.com/ammo/shotshell/am_prsabotslug.htm







[/align]

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

As far as the best performing slugs as far as trajectory goes here are a few.

Hornady H2k....Hornady SST.....These two slugs more that likely will not stabilze well in a barell with

your twist.

Winchester Partition Gold.....a #1 choice

Remmington Core Lokt ultras.....a#1 choice....and my personal favorite, its all I use right now.

Lightfields.....lacking in trajectory...but very accurate...worth a try

I am sure others will suggest some more. But as always check the trajectories, and make sure they are appropriate for your expected range.

My savage 210..

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

One more thing to keep in mind......be aware that 12ga and 20ga slug guns barrels from the same manufacturer have completely different rates of twist.

This means that a brand of ammo shot in both a 12ga and a 20 ga may shoot completely different. Itis not a safe to assume that if something shoots well in a 20ga that it will shoot will in that manufacturers12ga

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

I have been hunting with a slug gun for 10 years and they have really come a long way in that time as far as performance and accuracy. One thing is for sure, you will not want to shoot a lot at one timewhen sighting your gun in. A slug gun, mine anyway, has a lot of recoil and will take control of your shooting habits after your first box of shells. There has been some very good advice posted, such as starting out at 50 yards. When doing so make sure your target is large enough that you will see where your first shot hits or at least have a spotter. 150 yards is a heck of a long shot for a slug gun, however it is attainable with consistent practice. Make sure you have a quality scope as it will take some punishment, and around here (IN)there are very few hunters who use such a high powered scope for a slug gun. A slug I have had had great success with is the Brenekke slug. Good luck.

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

BG brought up a good point I forgot to mention. If you are serious about spending range time with this gun, make it quality time. The best way to ensure that is with a quality shoulder recoil pad.
Without one, 5 shots may have you flinching. With one, I have no problem shooting up to 50 shots in a single range session.
For me it is a don't leave home for the range without one, item.

I use, and recommend the Past mag plus recoil shield.(I picked up an extraone on ebay for 15$ last week....FYI)
http://www.battenfeldtechnologies.com/310010.html

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

Thanks guys for taking all the time to give me this info ...this is what helps make this sight and our sport GREAT ...

DD

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

No problem DD,

Here is the anotheridea to help extended your time at the range when shooting slugs. A very heavy rest. I personally use a brute tite-group rest for slug shooting.It is incredibly functional for sighting in, andit tilts the scale around 14lbs.

http://www.titegroup.com/

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

Two recommendations: Shoot 2 3/4" slugs and don't get a 3-9X scope. 3" slugs are completely unnecessary for deer hunting. All they do is give you a little more KE at range. Not worth the extra bruises, believe me. On the 3-9X scope, it's really overkill for a shotgun. the very most i'd go with is 2-7X. a friend has a custom made Tarhunt 870 with a 3-9X Zeiss, way too much scope for that gun, even thought the thing can shoot out to 175 or 200 yards. I have a 1-4X Leupold and i love that thing to death. I shot a doe this past year at 131(LRF) yards. Dropped her in her tracks. However, average shots for a shotgun will be 50-75 yards. For slugs, i'd shoot a few different brands. Yes, its expensive, as I quickly found, but getting your gun to shoot straight is more important. I don't have to have to have 1" groups like alot of guys. Same with my rifles. I don't go for that high precision crap. If the slug goes where i want it to go, i'm cool with that. Getting it to put 3 slugs in an 1" group or getting 3 .270 bullets in a 1/2" group isn't what I'm looking for. I'm looking for hunting accuracy, being able to put the bullet in the vitals when i have to make it shoot through gaps and tough shots. sure, its nice to have ultra tight groups, but necessary? No.

My slug of choice is the 2 3/4" Remington CopperSolid. Most of my group in iowa shoots copper solids. And almost all of us shoot Remington 870's(exception being an 1187 and an Abolt shotgun). The copper solid has the best weight retention of any slug on the market, and it really puts them deer down. Other slugs i'd recommend: Barnes Expander(by Federal), Winchester (I can't remember the name, i think premium something..extremely expensive, but good. I've seen the lightfields in the field before, and I don't like them. They get mad expansion, but i think they could break up easily upon hitting say, the opposite shoulder. They roll out flat to a little more than a quarter shaped pancake style chunk of lead. That i don't like, as i think the slug could break up too easily. I prefer pass throughs by far. Two holes is always better than one. Hope all this helped

slayer

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

Deerslayer, is dead on about the 2 3/4s I have not found any 3in that shoot any better than 2 3/4s. Not to mention the extra recoil.

As far scopes, I had a Leuplod VX-II 1-4x20 and found that I never used the 1x magnification, but often wanted more on the high end. I then switched to Leupold 2-7x33 and am much happier than I was with the 1-4x.

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

Deerslayer thank you for your info however the scope came as part of the package ....

DD

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

DD,

3-9x will do you just fine....

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

I recommend doing the great bulk of your scope zeroing with 2-3/4", finding brand that shoots best.

Then go to the 3-inch stuff and see what is delivered.

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

[blockquote]
Doesn't mean you can't sell it or put it aside. I usea 1.5-4x .

I think your going to have trouble at close range with that 3 power. Let alone a second shot, or if the deer refuses to stop. Just a thought to ponder.[/blockquote]

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

Gentlemen,

I have seen lots of great advice and figured I would give my 2 cents. I live in SE VA and here our county is shotgun only. We use buckshot when dog hunting but when we climb a tree, most of our hunting group does it with a 20 ga slug gun. I have a single shot NEF Laminated Stock Special Edition. It only set me back $200 and the thing is a tack driver. I shoot Federal Barnes Expander slugs, 3", out of it and have never lost a deer. I do use a 3-9X40 Leupold RIfleman, but with high rings. If the deer is to close for the 3X, I just look down the barrell. I even killed a coyote running last year with it. Just wanted to mention my setup but to each his own!

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

DD,
IMO your 3x9 should work just fine. If you ever change scopes,consider one with 50 objective. Will give you 15+- minutes addt'l shooting time at dawn/dusk, particularly in heavy cover.

I have found after 25+yrs of slug slinging 3" slugs don't do much but cause addt'l pain.
2-3/4 slugs have come a long way in 10-15 yrs. They will cleanly take deer out to 150yrds.

With slugs I like to start at about 30yrds to get a decent group and then back off to 50-75yrds.
Then mark off 125 yrds and try that. Then go back to 50yrds and shoot. I've also found that a good cleaning after 3-4 shots(with sabots)can make a big differance in groups.

Bottom line is - you might get lucky and only shoot 2 boxes of slugs or 5+ before you find out exactly what that lead slinger is doin out to your desired range.

Good Luck

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

Simms recoil pad.Nuff said :)

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

I can safely say, I would want more than just a Simms pad if I was planning on shooting 50+ rounds out of my slug gun in one afternoon.

RIStrut...have you shot 50 slugs in a day with your gun and its Simms? Was your shoulder showing signs of bruising two days later?

How could you possible make a fair comparison of accuracy withoutany rest?

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

Reality Sighting-In[/align]
You can study ballistics tables for hours, fret over fractions of inches and shoot until your shoulder is raw. Or you can follow these simple sighting-in guidelines and take the pressure off.[/align]Twelve Gauge Slug Gun: With a rifled barrel and saboted slugs, sight in 2 inches high at 50 yards; you can hold right on to 100 yards. With a choke tube or smooth barrel and regular rifled slugs, use the same sight-in but hold right-on out to only 75 yards.[/align]Rifle: For woods and brush hunting, sight-in to be dead on at 50 or 100 yards. Either way, you'll be right on for any shot that you encounter. There's nothing like knowing exactly where that bullet is going in these situations. When longer shots are possible, sight-in to be 2 inches high (no more) at 100 yards. I don't care what caliber you're shooting, you'll be dead on at 200 to 230 yards with everything from a .270 Win. on up; that's plenty far.[/align]Muzzleloader: Use the shotgun guideline: 2 inches high at 50 yards. You'll be good out to 100, maybe beyond, but check first.[/align]

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

Get the thing laser boresighted first. I totally forgot about that. When we were having trouble sighting in our 870's with 20" rifled barrels and 1-4X scopes, we had them boresighted, which put us considerably closer to where we needed to be. It really saves your shoulder and wallet.

slayer

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

Sure you can.....if you don't mind being +/- 10 in at 150 yds.

That is not acceptable to me, and should not be acceptableto any qualified hunterwho may have the possibility of taking such a shot.

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

Ok!

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

TheReal...
...of rifled slug shooting..


12 ga Lightfield Exp sighted 2 in high at 50 yds= -9.7 inches at 150 yds
12 ga Remington Core Lokt sighted 2 in high at 50 yds = 0 inches at 150 yds

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

Is this right, really - Maybe I should look at switching from lightfields?


FH

RE: Help On How to Zero In Slug Barrel
 

Slug gun sight in project.
http://www.mainehuntingtoday.com/magazine/articles/Other%20Hunters/sight_your_gun.html