Do smooth barrel shotguns shoot slugs straight?

[khunter#1]

I'm thinking about buying a 12 gauge, but the one I want has a smooth barrel, how accurate is it going to be with slugs?

[Curly]

Check out this article: http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot46.htm


Edit - I fixed the link I originally posted.  I don't know how the link got messed up.  Hopefully it is right now.

[Axle]

That was a good article 

[Rooster1981]

You can buy rifled slugs for your shotgun. I've haven't shot them yet so no input on how well they work. But I have tagged two bucks with 12 gauge slugs out of a smooth barrel shotgun, and it shot well out to about 75 yards. I never tried to shoot farther than that.

[coachcw]

rifled slugs out to 100 yards work fine , pie plate fine

[hillbilli]

smoothbores and foster (win/rem/federal plain rifled slugs) or breneke slugs vary... but generally expect paper plate or better groups at 75yds.. often the limitation is not the bore, but the sighting arrangement. My Mossberg will make "palm of your hand' size groups at 75yds.. the breaktop single shot (bead sight) I started deer hunting with would consistently hit a deers ribcage (or a gallon milk jug) out to about 80yds.. your mileage may vary, and your accuracy with bead sights may limit you to 60yds..
 

[jyerxa]

Great question! Thanks. I don't think I'll ever have need for a rifled shotgun here in Washington. Maybe Kansas but not here.

Shotgun Barrels and Rifled vs Sabot Slugs

[Redbeard]

Thats what I use for deer.  11-87 with a smooth bore 20" barrel. You just need to find which slugs run through the best. Mine likes Winchester 1 oz. My buddies likes Federals. Just need to do some bench shooting.

[Bofire]

My 870 express tactical shoots 1 oz. rifled slugs about 2 feet low left at 50 yards, but a nice group!! XX buck at 50 yards put two pellets on paper, 2'X3', at 50 yards, out of 3 shots or 18 pellets.
Be great at 25 yards!!
Carl

[Bob33]

With more and more areas in Washington becoming "firearm restriction" areas, you might want to consider getting a second barrel that is rifled. Accuracy can improve significantly.

[mossy8352]

Just make sure you do not shoot slugs in any of the over bored shotgun barrels. My 835 is over bored and Mossberg states not to shoot slugs in that barrel. You can get a second rifled barrel that will handle slugs safely for that gun though.

[khunter#1]

Thanks for all the info I received on this post, here is the shotgun I just bought,   http://www.gunsamerica.com/939188424/J_C_Higgins_583_23_12_Gauge.htm#