Slug gun hunters: few questions

[carpsniperg2]

Ok I am thinking about picking up a slug gun, why? I don't have one and there is a few hunts I think I could have fun using one.

So with optics what is a guy looking at for a good range. 150-200 yards pretty doable? Deer sized game.
I know the numbers are fine but want some real life feedback.

I am looking at Winchester xp3 and bonded slugs. The Remington slugs and federal trophy slugs.
Anyone put any of these into critters?

thanks for any feedback.

[Magnum_Willys]

We Used the mossberg 12 gage atf rifled barrel guns in Iowa with Xp3 slugs.  Slugs were good to 200 yards.  Son took a nice buck offhand at 185.   Rifled barrel Shotguns are very picky with their ammo.  The Xp3's shot well the others were all over the place.  Just need to try different ammo. 

200 is very doable. 

[JimmyHoffa]

300 is the new 200.  With a rifled barrel and using the Hornady sabot SST slugs, 200 is well within range.

[RB]

300 is the new 200.  With a rifled barrel and using the Hornady sabot SST slugs, 200 is well within range.

 

I put a rifled barrel on my Mossberg 500 and it shot like a rifle with the above mentioned loads really good accuracy from an inexpensive setup 

[northwesthunter84]

I'm running my Winchester sx2 with a rifled barrel and a Vortex Diamondback 1.75x5 and using Hornady SST FTx 300 gr. Sighted in really well. Gonna put it to work for my Illinois gun hunt.

Not a fan of the federal slugs although the vital shocks grouped fine, the Remington Accutips shot ok, Winchester partion golds have a strong following and shot well out of my gun.

[carpsniperg2]

Thx guy and keep it coming.

The partions are on the list to just forgot to post  them. I have killed many animals with partitions already so figured they  would be good to go if the gun likes them.

Now what about 20g. I am of course thinking 12 but there is some decent 20g rifles out there less expensive and the same ammo just a little lighter bullets.

[JimmyHoffa]

A 20 ga setup limits you t just deer.  If you wanted elk, you'd have to get a second gun.
But 20 ga slugs work great on deer.  Just to show that a 20 is plenty, .410 slugs work pretty good too--.410 slugs were real popular for bang sticks for fish.  So, if they will blow through really big fish then a 20 will do it a little better.

[lokidog]

Most of our slug deer have been brought down by a 20g, current slug gun is a Mossberg 500.

[Bob33]

Go 20 gauge for deer unless you anticipate wanting to use the gun for elk also.

[carpsniperg2]

Yeah got thinking about it and it may find a way into a short range elk hunt at some point to in Idaho or westside jungle some time.

I ordered a browning a bolt 12ga, They have a killer deal close out on them with one of my wholesalers.

I ordered a box of 300g hornady and xp3, then a box of the partition and dual bonded Winchesters that are 375-385.

[lokidog]

I don't understand the restriction of no 20g for elk, they are certainly as powerful as any 50 caliber muzzleloader, aren't they?   

[Bob33]

Yeah got thinking about it and it may find a way into a short range elk hunt at some point to in Idaho or westside jungle some time.

I ordered a browning a bolt 12ga, They have a killer deal close out on them with one of my wholesalers.

I ordered a box of 300g hornady and xp3, then a box of the partition and dual bonded Winchesters that are 375-385.

A more likely scenario is hunting elk in a firearm restriction area. That's been the primary use of my 12 gauge slug gun for elk.

[carpsniperg2]

That could happen for sure. I see a Idaho short range hunt I might hit the end of the month. If I can kill a elk here in the muzzle season.

I'm excited to get it up and running. Might even try to get my brother to thump a deer with it in mod. Going to be a good close range thumper I think

[JL]

Loki, speaking on behalf of my brother, who's a far more accomplished hunter than I (and from a "field/harvest" perspective)... the .50 cal muzzleloader is unquestionably more lethal on game than a rifled 12. Not even a debate. That's comparing the Remington magnum sabots he shoots against a weak Eastern magnum pellet load w/ a 250 grain too.

I like the Brenneke's or Rem's out of my slug gun.

[northwesthunter84]

Thumper for sure, I hit a quartering away whitetail in '03 that three shots in roughly the same spot because he kept getting up. Put a hedge apple through the entry hole and exits were slightly different angle but silver dollars coming out the off side. Bonus was little ruined meat and only had half a field dressing job to worry about. Wish I could find those picks.

[RB]

Yeah got thinking about it and it may find a way into a short range elk hunt at some point to in Idaho or westside jungle some time.

I ordered a browning a bolt 12ga, They have a killer deal close out on them with one of my wholesalers.

I ordered a box of 300g hornady and xp3, then a box of the partition and dual bonded Winchesters that are 375-385.

How good was the close out deal on the A bolt??

[Bob33]

Loki, speaking on behalf of my brother, who's a far more accomplished hunter than I (and from a "field/harvest" perspective)... the .50 cal muzzleloader is unquestionably more lethal on game than a rifled 12. Not even a debate. That's comparing the Remington magnum sabots he shoots against a weak Eastern magnum pellet load w/ a 250 grain too.

I like the Brenneke's or Rem's out of my slug gun.

I've shot 12 gauge slugs with close to 3,500 ft/lbs of muzzle energy. That's a lot. The slug guns shoot the same projectile weight or more (375 grains) with similar velocities and equivalent projectiles.

I can't see any reason they would be less lethal than a muzzleloader at similar distances, but I could be educated otherwise.

[carpsniperg2]

Yeah got thinking about it and it may find a way into a short range elk hunt at some point to in Idaho or westside jungle some time.

I ordered a browning a bolt 12ga, They have a killer deal close out on them with one of my wholesalers.

I ordered a box of 300g hornady and xp3, then a box of the partition and dual bonded Winchesters that are 375-385.

How good was the close out deal on the A bolt??

Cost me 499 delivered. There is a few places that have them for about 570.00 delivered but one of the wholesalers put them on clearance and I decided what the heck. Mine is just the base they have the wood and camo model on clearance as well.

[JL]

Loki, speaking on behalf of my brother, who's a far more accomplished hunter than I (and from a "field/harvest" perspective)... the .50 cal muzzleloader is unquestionably more lethal on game than a rifled 12. Not even a debate. That's comparing the Remington magnum sabots he shoots against a weak Eastern magnum pellet load w/ a 250 grain too.

I like the Brenneke's or Rem's out of my slug gun.

I've shot 12 gauge slugs with close to 3,500 ft/lbs of muzzle energy. That's a lot. The slug guns shoot the same projectile weight or more (375 grains) with similar velocities and equivalent projectiles.

I can't see any reason they would be less lethal than a muzzleloader at similar distances, but I could be educated otherwise.

Bob, I'm obviously not the one that would be able to and I've argued the same. Anything I could contribute would be subjective. He laughed in my face when I suggested a rifled slug was a good way to go close qtrs. against a grizz.

[Bob33]

Loki, speaking on behalf of my brother, who's a far more accomplished hunter than I (and from a "field/harvest" perspective)... the .50 cal muzzleloader is unquestionably more lethal on game than a rifled 12. Not even a debate. That's comparing the Remington magnum sabots he shoots against a weak Eastern magnum pellet load w/ a 250 grain too.

I like the Brenneke's or Rem's out of my slug gun.

I've shot 12 gauge slugs with close to 3,500 ft/lbs of muzzle energy. That's a lot. The slug guns shoot the same projectile weight or more (375 grains) with similar velocities and equivalent projectiles.

I can't see any reason they would be less lethal than a muzzleloader at similar distances, but I could be educated otherwise.

Bob, I'm obviously not the one that would be able to and I've argued the same. Anything I could contribute would be subjective. He laughed in my face when I suggested a rifled slug was a good way to go close qtrs. against a grizz.

I can say this with certainty: the 12 gauge slug guns I've shot kick like a mule going backwards. Ouch!

[JimmyHoffa]

Loki, speaking on behalf of my brother, who's a far more accomplished hunter than I (and from a "field/harvest" perspective)... the .50 cal muzzleloader is unquestionably more lethal on game than a rifled 12. Not even a debate. That's comparing the Remington magnum sabots he shoots against a weak Eastern magnum pellet load w/ a 250 grain too.

I like the Brenneke's or Rem's out of my slug gun.

I've shot 12 gauge slugs with close to 3,500 ft/lbs of muzzle energy. That's a lot. The slug guns shoot the same projectile weight or more (375 grains) with similar velocities and equivalent projectiles.

I can't see any reason they would be less lethal than a muzzleloader at similar distances, but I could be educated otherwise.

Bob, I'm obviously not the one that would be able to and I've argued the same. Anything I could contribute would be subjective. He laughed in my face when I suggested a rifled slug was a good way to go close qtrs. against a grizz.

One of the guys I know that had to kill a big grizz used a 12 gauge slug.

[spoonman]

Loki, speaking on behalf of my brother, who's a far more accomplished hunter than I (and from a "field/harvest" perspective)... the .50 cal muzzleloader is unquestionably more lethal on game than a rifled 12. Not even a debate. That's comparing the Remington magnum sabots he shoots against a weak Eastern magnum pellet load w/ a 250 grain too.

I like the Brenneke's or Rem's out of my slug gun.

Muzzy sabot and a 12 ga sabot in like weight have very simular velocity. I just don't see how a muzzy will kill any better than a 12ga slug gun? Thousands of elk are killed every year with a 243 or 270 or even a bow and arrow. I have a 12 ga slugster and would not hesitate to pull the trigger on a bull at 200 yards! Now at 200 yards that's only 1100 pounds of energy but if it's behind the shoulder it's a dead elk.

[JL]

Lol Bob, the 110 fffg w/ 300 gr sabot I'm running out of the ML honestly makes that recoil feel like a school girl's slap. Not that I've ever experienced one of those... I've shot a lot this summer and I'm telling everybody, 6 of those ML loads on a green shoulder will leave a sweet bruise.

Jimmy, most of what I've read also suggests a rifled 12 sabot at close range is the right tool. It's what I carry myself.

[JDHasty]

I shoot Deerslayer or Deerslayer II and Lightfield Hybrid Elite slugs.  IMHO the most accurate slug gun out there   

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,193502.0.html

[RatRodMike]

I've shot several elk with a 12 ga. using riffled slugs.  They did the job but I wasn't super impressed with the penetration on one.  I had hit the shoulder and that may be why but it broke that shoulder and the bull didn't go far.  My 50 and 54 cals.  with Maxi Balls always penetrate a lot better IMO.

Slug barreled guns are better but I've killed a lot of deer with my smooth bore and found the key to accuracy is taking the time to bench shoot the gun to find out where it's hitting. It's never straight down the sights but it's the same place every time.  Bench shooting while shooting a slug is kind of miserable because, as said above, they really do kick like a mule.

[Widgeondeke]

My son and I shoot a break-action H&R 20g slug gun topped with a Leupold

I've tried several ammo types:

I preferred the Hornady SST, but they KICKED    Muzzle velocity is 1800 and the boy didn't enjoy shooting it    When my son started hunting he was only 10 and weighed about 85#.
Tried Winchester, but didn't like the groups. Settled on Remington Copper Solid. Main reason, less muzzle velocity of 1200, which translated to less recoil yet still accurate

Never have understood why 20ga isn't legal for elk. Yes elk are larger, but we harvested 5 blacktail over the last 3 seasons and every shot was a thru & thru. The solid copper slug wasn't stopped by shoulders, vertebrae, leg or jaw( @Lokidog )   
My son even took a quartering front shot and it entered just behind the shoulder(about 1.5" too far right) and exited out the opposite rear after breaking a rib & vertebrae. The longest shot taken was 118yds.

Now that he is almost 15, stands 5'-8 1/2" and about 125# it's time to change ammo. Also looking for more expansion.
They don't make Winchester XP3 in 20ga, so testing the Hornady SST and Remington Accutip and I may try the Lightfield if one of these don't impress

 

[JDHasty]

I've shot several elk with a 12 ga. using riffled slugs.  They did the job but I wasn't super impressed with the penetration on one.  I had hit the shoulder and that may be why but it broke that shoulder and the bull didn't go far.  My 50 and 54 cals.  with Maxi Balls always penetrate a lot better IMO.

Slug barreled guns are better but I've killed a lot of deer with my smooth bore and found the key to accuracy is taking the time to bench shoot the gun to find out where it's hitting. It's never straight down the sights but it's the same place every time.  Bench shooting while shooting a slug is kind of miserable because, as said above, they really do kick like a mule.

Lightfield Commanders will penetrate practically anything short of cold rolled steel.  Hastings Laser Accurates (now Rotweil https://www.americanhunter.org/articles/2014/1/24/rottweil-laser-plus-sabot-slugs/ ) will do the same.  They are lousy on deer because they zip through and do not transfer a lot of energy leaving the deer to run off.  Lightfield Hybrid Elites will usually take a deer straight off it's feet.   There are photos of recovered slugs of both types in the link I provided up  above in this thread. 

[Bob33]

I've used several different slugs. I like the Remington Accutips in both 12 and 20 gauges: 12 for elk, and 20 for deer. I'll see if I can find a 12 gauge Accutip that I recovered from an elk and share a photo: Remington should pay me for it to use in their ads because of perfect expansion. The SSTs are OK for deer but I wouldn't use them on elk as they're quite frangible. I killed an elk with a Copper Solid once, and it looked just like it did before firing: it didn't expand at all. The fact that I recovered it from a dead elk would be a strong case for acceptable performance, however.

[carpsniperg2]

Im not much on Nikon but after reading about 100 4.5+ star reviews I decided to give one a go and ordered the slug gun hunter 3-9 with the DOA 200 reticle. We shall see how it holds up.

[Bob33]

Im not much on Nikon but after reading about 100 4.5+ star reviews I decided to give one a go and ordered the slug gun hunter 3-9 with the DOA 200 reticle. We shall see how it holds up.

I have Nikons on both my 12 and 20, and have had no issues.

If you have one, use a Lead Sled to zero the gun.

[carpsniperg2]

I do indeed. I don't use it much but I may have to pattern testing 4 different brands of ammo.

[carpsniperg2]

Im not much on Nikon but after reading about 100 4.5+ star reviews I decided to give one a go and ordered the slug gun hunter 3-9 with the DOA 200 reticle. We shall see how it holds up.

I have Nikons on both my 12 and 20, and have had no issues.

If you have one, use a Lead Sled to zero the gun.

Has that 200 reticle been pretty spot on good for you?

[h20hunter]

I can vouch for widgeondeke and his boy slaying some deer with that 20 gauge...I sold it to him! Great shooter and jazzed they put it to use.

[Bob33]

Im not much on Nikon but after reading about 100 4.5+ star reviews I decided to give one a go and ordered the slug gun hunter 3-9 with the DOA 200 reticle. We shall see how it holds up.

I have Nikons on both my 12 and 20, and have had no issues.

If you have one, use a Lead Sled to zero the gun.

Has that 200 reticle been pretty spot on good for you?

I've honestly never tested it. The furthest shot I've taken on elk was 140 yards.

[carpsniperg2]

Gotcha. Should be fun stuff.

[Bob33]

Gotcha. Should be fun stuff.

My personal opinion is that if I have to rely on holdover reticles for an elk, it's too far to shoot with a slug.

[carpsniperg2]

I think the cross hair is for 50 yards. first circle on that thing is for 75 yards then the next 100 etc?

[Bob33]

I think the cross hair is for 50 yards. first circle on that thing is for 75 yards then the next 100 etc?

I'd zero it at 100 or maybe an inch or two high. I think you will be Point Blank Range out to 175 yards or so.

[Brushcrawler]

I've used several different slugs. I like the Remington Accutips in both 12 and 20 gauges: 12 for elk, and 20 for deer. I'll see if I can find a 12 gauge Accutip that I recovered from an elk and share a photo: Remington should pay me for it to use in their ads because of perfect expansion.

Second this vote for accutips.
In 12 ga they go right through, leaving a solid blood trail, and still have plenty of energy to put holes in trees.
That one was a blacktail at 85 yards.

[carpsniperg2]

Thanks guys. The gun and ammo is here. My scope is still in the mail. I am chasing elk with a smoke pole this week so don't know if I will get it setup for modern but maybe I will grab a late season Idaho shot range tag if I can kill a elk here.

[carpsniperg2]

well scope showed today but the browning rings that I bought that are build for it wont hold the Nikon scope. The main tube is not long enough and the scope bells sit on the rings So dug around and robbed a vx hog 1-4 leupold off another rifle. It fits but a little under scoped. I looked around and ordered a dnz one piece mount tonight. Hoping it will let me use the Nikon slug scope. Guess we shall see.