Hunting with a 20" barrel... good idea?

[Ukraine Train]

I have a Mossberg 500 with a 20" smooth bore barrel, bead sight, and 7 round magazine. I want to take up hunting because I now live in the sticks and can hunt on my land. I'm a broke college kid, though, and don't want to have to buy a slug barrel or new shotgun. I have a spare shotgun scope so I was thinking of getting a scope mount for it and a plug for the mag so it only holds 3 rounds. I'd then use rifled slugs to hunt with (deer). Would this be an accurate combo?

 

[VeT|Us]

That depends on what load you will use, and what terrain you plan to hunt on. If the terrain dictates that the range is going to be inside XX yards (insert number of yards of which you are proficient with your shotgun with slugs), and you find a slugload that is accurate enough, I dont see any issue with it.

I'd recomend you buy a whole lot'a slugs, and find out which one patterns the best at say, 50 yards. Find one that your shotgun likes, stock up,
and head out.

Happy hunting!

 

[Art Eatman]

Ditto...

, Art

 

[Ifishsum]

+2 on the above advice. I also recommend a good recoil pad

 

[Ukraine Train]

The terrain is flat in sparse woods. Longest shot would be 50 yards probably before a tree gets in the way. There are a whole lot of deer through this area so I'm pretty sure I can get a close shot pretty easily; My roommate was riding his dirtbike yesterday in the woods where I'd be hunting and a deer jumped right in front of him out of nowhere. He swerved to avoid hitting it and ended up laying the bike down and now has a swolen knee and ankle lol. What kind of loads are generally used on deer at this range? 3" mag or would a standard 2.75" be enough? Sounds like I need to get that scope mounted and start practicing.

 

[scout26]

UT,

A variety of Foster style slugs will work best in in your rig. Avoid Sabot slugs as they will not perform well in a smooth-bore.

Since you're shooting a smooth bore at ranges of no more then roughly 50 yards 2.75" Foster style slugs are sufficent. You'll just have to buy a bunch of different kinds and shoot 'em to find out which flavor your gun likes best.

You might also want to check into taking a Hunter Ed class (might even be required.), check out your state's DNR website for details on the rules and regs for hunting. If you don't have an experienced hunter to go with, check out the sticky at the top of this section.

Good Hunting is Safe Hunting....

 

[22-rimfire]

ditto on the foster slugs.

Shoot some and see how they do... 25 yards, 50 yards.... you may not even need a scope even though the traditional bead sight is a bit not specific in terms of point of aim. If there is a rib on the gun, most mossbergs do, it should be easier to shoot sufficiently well. Hit a regular paper plate at 50 yards, then try 100 for kicks to see how you do.

 

[SteveS]

You might also want to check into taking a Hunter Ed class (might even be required.), check out your state's DNR website for details on the rules and regs for hunting. If you don't have an experienced hunter to go with, check out the sticky at the top of this section.

Your profile says MI,OH...so I am not sure where you'll be hunting. MI requires a hunter's safety course for all hunters born after 1961 (IIRC). I have heard the the course is good and has improved since when I took it (early 80's).

Where are you thinking of hunting?

 

[Ukraine Train]

I'll be hunting in Ohio. There is a course required here also. I go to school in MI but non resident licenses are really expensive so I won't be doing any hunting there.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I can assure you a 2 3/4 Winchester 1 oz slug from a Remington 870 can still hit a bulls eye at 100 yards. Plenty of energy too.

Slugs do kick like a mule off the bench and sighting in your scope can be a problem, but it makes up for the lack of traditional sights on your shotgun.

The other option is to buy a spare rifled barrel, or barrel with a rifled choke tube and sights... at 50 yards you don't really need a scope and a good scope will cost as muh as a spare barrel.

 

[wdlsguy]

Slugs do kick like a mule off the bench

Sure do. Anybody using "low recoil" slugs on deer?