15 replies to this topic

[Menace]

Murphy came head on today and decided to kill my Remington 740 30-06. Not sure what happened, but while shooting a 100y group of Remington 165g cor lokt something when CLING, ejected the brass and would not cycle another round. The action will not stay closed. I dropped it off at the smith's and was given the outlook of... I may have it ready by Thursday, but don't count on it. So... I have my backup rifle, but my niece is now with out a rifle. Thanks to the 10 day wait I cannot buy a new one. I have a Remington 870. Since all the deer I've encounter in California have been within a 100 yards I thought I would give her the 12g. However, I do not have a rifled barrel or choke. Will this matter? I have time to 2 day a barrel w/ scope mount but is it worth it? Anyone recommend a good slug? Any input would be great, Thanks.John

[rr762mmfmj]

12Gauge slugs would be a real stretch at 100 yards. I have a 1100 with the 22" rifled scope barrel and shooting Federal slugs at 60 yards, I can keep em in a 3" circle. This setup has netted me at least 20 Deer in NY, but thats not a 100 yards, and I would never attempt a shot farther than 75 yards with that setup. Due to the hassle with the extra baggage at the airport, I purchased a used 16 gauge 1100 28" and mounted a scope on it with about the same accuracy, it is a permanent resident of NY now. I don't know how your niece will embrace the 870 with slugs, they can be brutal.Do you have a handgun, say on the order of a 8" .44 Magnum or Contender in something like 30/30 or 7TCU. Thats what I use out here if I think I won't have a shot farther than 100 yards.

[Menace]

She's 14 and shoulders 30-06 w/o any kind of recoil pad shooting reg rounds not the reduced recoil. She duck/pheasants w/ a 12g with no issues. I would never have her take a shot with a slug at 100y just asking opinions.. I'm gonna go out on a limb and predict were prob wont see any deer other that doe's, but I alway keep my fingers crossed in Cali. My main ? is does a slug preform ok in a normal barrel, or does it need the rifled barrel or rifled choke? I've only taken birds w/ a shotgun and never shot slugs out of em for big game. I just want to make sure she is carrying something, cause at this point, that is our only alternative unless I give her the .223 and pray for one hell of a shot!!! J/KJohn

[rr762mmfmj]

She's 14 and shoulders 30-06 w/o any kind of recoil pad shooting reg rounds not the reduced recoil. She duck/pheasants w/ a 12g with no issues. I would never have her take a shot with a slug at 100y just asking opinions.. I'm gonna go out on a limb and predict were prob wont see any deer other that doe's, but I alway keep my fingers crossed in Cali. My main ? is does a slug preform ok in a normal barrel, or does it need the rifled barrel or rifled choke? I've only taken birds w/ a shotgun and never shot slugs out of em for big game. I just want to make sure she is carrying something, cause at this point, that is our only alternative unless I give her the .223 and pray for one hell of a shot!!! J/KJohn

For your purpose, yes, the slugs will be fine in any choke. The more open the better, but I don't think it's that critical. My brother shot a 6 pointer between the eyes at 50 yards with a 50 year old Browning A5, 30" full choke and slugs using the brass bead for sights. The .223 is less of an option than the slugs.

[Braz]

John, you could consider picking up a Black Powder rifle. They don't have a ten day wait. And they are a lot of fun to shoot. Just a thought.

[Thumper Dunker]

My old 870 gets about a 12" group at 100yds- full choke .They are great for close brushy stuff. But my hawken in 58cal makes jacks fly at 100 yds. you need a black powder any way every one should have one or two.

[Menace]

John, you could consider picking up a Black Powder rifle. They don't have a ten day wait. And they are a lot of fun to shoot. Just a thought.

Good idea, but since I failed chemisty on several occasions I don't want to end up like elmer fud wabbit hunting and come home w/ a black face. Thanks for all the imput.. Sounds like Im gonna stick her w/ the 12g. I'm not counting on her taking anything this year, but at least she will have the option if we come accross anythign with range... John

[acousticmood]

Hey rr....Are you using sabots?, rifled slugs or smooth?Thanks,

[Shoot-it]

Smooth bore use rifled slugs . Rifle bore use smooth slugs. try Hornady sst ballistic tip slugs .The box reads 0-at 150 yards . They look wicked. 12 gauge shotgun shooting slugs kick very hard , pump or 0/u even more than semi auto.

[Fjold]

Too bad you're so far away. I could loan you a right handed 243 that I keep just for these type of occasions.

[rr762mmfmj]

Hey rr....Are you using sabots?, rifled slugs or smooth?Thanks,

The 22" rifled barrel on the 12 gauge was designed for sabots. I have never fired them through it, just can't justify the added expense. I use the Federal 1 OZ rifled slugs and the accuracy is acceptable. In the 16 gauge I use 7/8 OZ Federal rifled slugs, and they also have adequate accuracy for my purposes. After about 70 yards the slugs drop like a rock and that works just fine for the heavily wooded area I hunt in NY. I would conceder using the 12 with slugs on wild bore though, I think they would work fine. When I am Quail hunting in D-13, the area I have my deer tag for, I carry a couple of 20 gauge slugs, just in case I run across a dumb buck that lets me walk up on him, then stands there while I switch from 7 1/2's to the slugs, wishful thinking I guess.

[Cranky Farmer]

Any chance of finding a loaner for her?

[Menace]

Any chance of finding a loaner for her?

I actually talked to a co-worker who said he would loan me his 30-06, but the guy is such and over time whore, he hasn't been home in 2 days, so at this point not likely. We have a couple new additions (teenagers of age) going up, one being someone I don't think will take great interest in shooting and I quote, Bambi, so I think we will be taking his rifle and giving it to my niece and letting him roam with the 12g... I'm gonna go look at Black powder in the next couple of days too. Thanks for all the input.. Its nice to have a place with so much knowledge...JP

[OutdoorAviator]

So does the barrel have to be a smooth bore/no choke? I've got a fixed choke (modified) on my Mossberg, and am curious about shooting rifles slugs through it. It's a 28", modified choke barrel, but the choke has me worried. The slug is not going to get plugged trying to exit the barrel, will it?? I wouldn't mind having a couple slugs on me walking through the woods after dove....

[rr762mmfmj]

As I stated above, any choke will work, the more open the better, but they all are safe to fire slugs through. Don't expect MOA out of it.

[acousticmood]

Thanks,I'll check 'em out. I'm looking for any alternate to sabots at least for target practice 'cause they're so expesive.