Cant hit the broadside of a barn with with 12 gauge! Help!
 

For some reason I cannot hit a deer for the life of me with my 12 gauge 870 express. I missed twice this year, twice two years ago, once the year before that, and twice before that! I hunt the second part of the season in a shotgun only county, but the first half in a rifle area and I have knocked down a fair amount of deer with my 30-06 700ADL. But for some reason with my darn shotgun I always seem to choke. I get decent groups at the range with 2.75 inch copper solid sabots, but in all honesty since shooting a rifle is way more fun and not nearly as painful I dont tend to practice with the slug gun much. I really think it's %100 mental since I missed that first deer and it has gotten in my head since then. I have a couple solutions in mind:

1. Practice at least twice a month over the summer with the shotgun, its just a lack of confidence.

2. All the shots have been off-hand, since i sit in a box my father in law built and the sides are to low to use as a rest, so get a monopod to use as a rest.

3. Practice with the reduced recoil loads for practice just to get my confidence up and take one more variable out of the equation.

4. Last resort..and my favorite; BUY A NEW GUN (probably not most logical but any excuse for a new gun) been eyeing up the savage bolt action slug guns.

Any thoughts from veteran slug shooters?

Try to calm yourself down when you are taking those shots, that might help.

Have you had anybody shoot the gun to rule out "hardware" issues? If it's mental......................perfect practice makes perfect. Start shooting a lot more throughout the year.

i had a problem with my mossberg 500 shooting slugs, i think it was me cause of the recoil. i wasn't scared of it i just didn't like it. but i shoot my .270 like a freaking pro. lol

I'd venture to say the reduced recoil slugs will knock bambi over.
Even in a 20 ga.

My son groups well with a mossy 500a ghost ring sites. Fist time using the gun, he grouped 2" at 30 yards.
I'd gladly give him the gun during rifle season.

Sounds like a good excuse to get a Savage 220F to me LOL. My 12ga Browning kicks the crap out of me with slugs but I shoot slugs all year long and have never had a problem killing deer with slug guns.

You may be suffering from trigger creep shotgun triggers are not even comparable to a rifle trigger. If you jerk or slap a trigger on a shotgun it can drastically effect point of impact. Mentally remind yourself to squeeze instead of slap just an idea

your flinching i had the same problem your prolly closing your eyes before the shot 2

How does ML recoil compare to a 12 gauge sabot? I toyed with the idea of geting an ML to use in the shotgun zone, that way I can hunt during ML season to. I would probably stick with a max 250 grain sabot and 100 grains of pyrodex pellets. I am guessing a ML has better balance and trigger than a shotgun.

If your gun prints good groups I'd say just practice more. If your trigger is an issue, take it to a gunsmith and have them do a trigger job on it. I had my Mossberg worked over and it's not like a high quality rifle trigger by any means, but it's a whole heck of a lot smoother and lighter than it was originally. A ML may give you more of the feel of a CF than the shotgun does. If you have the $, go with a new muzzleloader. Any excuse for another gun is a good one.

rw

ML all the way!
 

I have never had any confidence in my shotguns, never knew where the bullet was going to go and I did not like that! I never had a rifled barrel for any of them so that may have been the problem, but anyhow bought a Remington 700 inline years ago, converted it over to shotgun primers and I shoot a 240 grain sabbot with 150 grains of pellets (3-50's) and it shoots skoal can groups at a 100 yrds. Not only do I have alot of confidence in this setup, it drops the deer in their tracks.

i have a hard time shooting slugs with a shotgun too. but i hate to talk to you like a kid but just take your time, be cool and have confidence. go into the shot like theres nothing on the line. you have nothing to lose.

I experienced this problem myself and other than practice the main thing that helped me is getting some of the reduced recoil slugs, this really made a big, big difference. If you do get another gun, a muzzleloader would be a great choise. only 2 things I don't like about them is only one shot and the smoke after the shot.

How far were the shots you think you missed?

My Mossberg 500 with the rifled slug bbl kicks like a mule at the range. Never noticed it on deer though. At the range, you learn how to do the math and adjust your scope once with a second shot to prove the point and then that is enough.

I agree with some things others have said. Once you are mentally committed to the shot, you make the shot your priority. Focus and make it. Than get excited.

All the missed shots have been from 50-80 yards.

I am guessing I'll have to wait til spring and make a few trips to the range to double check my groups with the 870. If things aren't where I want them it might be time to invest in a muzzleloader! Unles I see a good deal on one before spring, then it might be muzzleloader time anyway.

Another benefit or a muzzleloader is that it might make me concentrate more before pulling the trigger knowing I only have one shot.

Sounds like the kick of the gun is affecting your shooting a lot. Get a Simm's Limb Saver (or other top quality) recoil pad. It will make shooting that kicking mule seem like shooting a dove load. If you have room in the stand use a bipod instead of a monopod rest, or build a rest into the stand. The Limb Saver pads go on all new guns I buy, don't matter if there is a pad already on the gun or not.

Bought a used TC Blackdiamond and though it's old and used it's a tack driver with 245 gr powerbelts and 100 gr pellets.
what kind of barrel are you using for you copper solids? It should be fully rifled and cantileavered for the scope. My 870 slug barrel I use winchester rifled slugs good out to 80 yds no problem. My 1100 w/fully rifled and cantileavered is good to go past 100 with 2 3/4copper solids though I prefer lightfields. Don't slap the trigger like your bird hunting and use a sling if you must shoot off hand. Better yet a rest. But practice makes perfect.

I have a fully rifled barrell, I added a scope after the fact so that is put on with one of the b-square scope mounts. Maybe the b-square mounts aren't real stable?

50-80yds? if i were you and you are allowed, id put a 28" barrel on that gun with a full choke and shoot 00bk buckshot. my buddy has a 870 exp. and he shoots 3" winchester 00bk and i have seen him kill deer standing still at 80-100yds with 1 shot, and deer running he has killed many up to 70yds running. thats a good shooting gun, you just need to practice and pattern it.

Would love to try that but Buckshot of all sizes is illegal in WI.

This is a great excuse for you to get a “Slug Gun”…..not taking anything away from the 870 but that’s just not what it was made for….unless you purchased a slug barrel for the gun? Confidence in any weapon is important and bringing up the shotgun to your shoulder comfortably means the world. It’s got to feel good, you also need to check your length of pull make sure that your index finger isn’t wondering around trying to find out where it belongs J Go to your local shop and pick up every gun you would even consider…unfortunately the more expensive weapons had a tendency to “feel better”
One last point and owning a store I have seen this over and over>>>> we spend so much money getting to the woods on items that are not a high priority, your weapon is.
Buy a good gun that fits you, good ammo and your experience will most likely turn out better and missing an animal with the wrong gun just seams’ wrong.

Its all about the trigger.....get the 220f and your problems will be solved. I bet you will like the squeeze better than your 700adl.