kennygarza
Member
What is the optimum length for a 12ga. rifled slug barrel? I'm looking to get a deer on some government land this year. Also, any manufacturers recommendations?
Thanks.
KG
Thanks.
KG
12ga. slug barrel?
- Thread starter kennygarza
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Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
What is the optimum length for a 12ga. rifled slug barrel?
Most are 20- 24". Generally there is no real advantage with longer barrels in shooting slugs. Note that barrels for slugs come in both smoothbore and rifled varieties- the smoothbore barrels are more versatile, as they can handle buckshot as well while rifled barrels throw 'donut' patterns with shot. The rifled barrels work better with sabot type slugs as a rule, smoothbores generally shoot Foster type slugs better.
Also, any manufacturers recommendations?
Generally IMO it's better to stick with the manufacturer of your gun and get a barrel made by them that fits your particular model. There are some 'aftermarket' barrels on the market (Hastings etc.), I have no experience with them and will leave that discusssion up to members who have used them.
http://www.whitetailfanatic.com/html/rc_go_slug.shtml
http://www.ncgameandfish.com/hunting/guns-shooting/gf_aa106503a/
hth,
lpl/nc
Most are 20- 24". Generally there is no real advantage with longer barrels in shooting slugs. Note that barrels for slugs come in both smoothbore and rifled varieties- the smoothbore barrels are more versatile, as they can handle buckshot as well while rifled barrels throw 'donut' patterns with shot. The rifled barrels work better with sabot type slugs as a rule, smoothbores generally shoot Foster type slugs better.
Also, any manufacturers recommendations?
Generally IMO it's better to stick with the manufacturer of your gun and get a barrel made by them that fits your particular model. There are some 'aftermarket' barrels on the market (Hastings etc.), I have no experience with them and will leave that discusssion up to members who have used them.
http://www.whitetailfanatic.com/html/rc_go_slug.shtml
http://www.ncgameandfish.com/hunting/guns-shooting/gf_aa106503a/
hth,
lpl/nc
scout26
Member
Kenny,
The answer really depends on the make and model of your gun, and the area you'll be hunting. Either way, go with the manufacturer's barrels: Smoothbore if you're using buckshot and/or the area you're hunting in limits you to shots of roughly 75 yards or less. Also good for Foster or Rifled slugs.
Go with a rifled slug barrel for shots upto, say a max. of 100-125 yards. You need to use Sabot Slugs for these barrels.
Either way, you have to buy a bunch of different brands and types of slugs, go to your local range and find out which "flavor" your gun and barrel prefer.
HTH.
The answer really depends on the make and model of your gun, and the area you'll be hunting. Either way, go with the manufacturer's barrels: Smoothbore if you're using buckshot and/or the area you're hunting in limits you to shots of roughly 75 yards or less. Also good for Foster or Rifled slugs.
Go with a rifled slug barrel for shots upto, say a max. of 100-125 yards. You need to use Sabot Slugs for these barrels.
Either way, you have to buy a bunch of different brands and types of slugs, go to your local range and find out which "flavor" your gun and barrel prefer.
HTH.
kennygarza
Member
Thanks, guys, for the info. I will look for one that's less than 24".
Can't wait to shoot it at the range. People say it packs a whallop!
KG
Can't wait to shoot it at the range. People say it packs a whallop!
KG
OneInchGroup
Member
Slug Barrels
figures I'd drop by after the discussion seems closed. Oh, well. Another opinion, for what it's worth. some aftermarket barrel makers do a better job than the factory, since the only thing they have to sell is better performance. There are plenty of instances of a rifled barrel using sabots with velocity specifically matched to the barrel rate of twist getting significantly better results than any factory rifled barrels. There are slugshooting "race guns" out there that will hit MOA or better out to 150 yards in the hands of experienced professionals. These are almost always aftermarket 24" barrels using custom loads and non-discarding sabot slugs.
Happen to have a PIC sent to me by some folks who do this for a living.........
This is a 300 pound
buck taken at 70 yards with one shot from an 870 with an aftermarket rifled barrel using magnum sabots. I have seen this same rig make a 5 shot group of .780 inches at 100 yards, with the shooter freestanding over shooting sticks. I don't think any factory rig can meet that standard. Just an opinion, of course..........
figures I'd drop by after the discussion seems closed. Oh, well. Another opinion, for what it's worth. some aftermarket barrel makers do a better job than the factory, since the only thing they have to sell is better performance. There are plenty of instances of a rifled barrel using sabots with velocity specifically matched to the barrel rate of twist getting significantly better results than any factory rifled barrels. There are slugshooting "race guns" out there that will hit MOA or better out to 150 yards in the hands of experienced professionals. These are almost always aftermarket 24" barrels using custom loads and non-discarding sabot slugs.
Happen to have a PIC sent to me by some folks who do this for a living.........
This is a 300 pound
buck taken at 70 yards with one shot from an 870 with an aftermarket rifled barrel using magnum sabots. I have seen this same rig make a 5 shot group of .780 inches at 100 yards, with the shooter freestanding over shooting sticks. I don't think any factory rig can meet that standard. Just an opinion, of course..........OneInchGroup
Member
OOPS! The gun in the picture is a Browning BPS 3". There were 4 hunters in this hunt, and only one Browning, so somebody called it wrong. It does have a Hastings rifled barrel, as did all the guns used in this particular hunt.
got to shoot a new 870 with 20" rifled barrel (factory) and it shot well at 100 yards
I was using iron sights and the first two rifled slugs hit about 10" apart. I assumed this had more to do with me than the gun. I have no doubt the group could have been a little tighter. The target I was using was an IDPA sillouette so I was aiming for center mass not for bullseye. The third round was a sabot, I shot and hit a little low. I figured that it was me and my inexperience with this particular gun again.
I felt confident that I could probably get atleast 5" groups or better if I sandbagged it and really tried. Good enough.
I was using iron sights and the first two rifled slugs hit about 10" apart. I assumed this had more to do with me than the gun. I have no doubt the group could have been a little tighter. The target I was using was an IDPA sillouette so I was aiming for center mass not for bullseye. The third round was a sabot, I shot and hit a little low. I figured that it was me and my inexperience with this particular gun again.
I felt confident that I could probably get atleast 5" groups or better if I sandbagged it and really tried. Good enough.
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