new slug gun accuracy?

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Sadiesinner

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i bought a 20 ga. Rem 870 slug gun with remington 2-7X32 scope. it was package deal sold at Gander Mountain.

870_exp_ss_cl_410.jpg


i also bought a couple boxs of hornady sst slugs.

now trying to sight this in for deer season i cant zero it in. without adjusting the scope im hitting the target all over. @ 75 yrds im hitting 8in high, then 6 in low, then 5 in right. its all over. i am shooting from a sandbag rests (barrel and stock) on a picnic table.

now i feel i should definantly be shooting better than this with quality slugs in a rifled barrel. so i blame the scope.

BUT why would they put an inferior scope on their SLUG gun?
Can anyone suggest a decent scope that can handle the shock of a slug gun?
 
yeah i checked that. its mounted secure.
im just a little miffed cause this scope reminds me of one i got with a Rem 597 i had a while back. now i have to look into getting a better scope. Shouldnt have relied on a "package" scope i quess.

anyone have a decent slug gun scope recommendation?
 
Make sure the magazine cap is tight too... that's what holds the barrel on, and if it's loose, the barrel and scope will move around.

lpl
 
that's a wild looking shotgun, an oldtimer once told me you should pay more for the scope than the gun, maybe an upgrade is in order.
 
yes the barrle nut (mag cap) is tight too.

im all about the upgrade, i just need a little advice for a good one.

edit:
i would like a fixed power. maybe 4x32
bushnell makes one. buts its economically priced. anyone know if it or something like it would hold up. or should i just step up and get the leopold?
 
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OK, just trying to take care of the most obvious first. #1 culprit to check is loose rings/mounts, #2 on a shotgun is a tight magazine cap.

Now then, #3- if the bases are tight (I'd guess it's permanent), the rings are tight, and the magazine cap is tight, next question is, have you let another shooter try the gun, and did they get the same kind of results?

If the answers to that one are yes, other shooter(s) tried out the gun/scope, and yes, they got patterns not groups, then trying a new/different scope might be a solution.

It's easy IMHO to put too much scope on a relatively short range gun like a slug gun or a .30-30. If you want a fixed power scope, I'd try a 2X or 2.5X, and for a variable, a 1-4X or 1.5-4.5X. I've had deer too close to me before to be able to see anything clearly with a fixed 4X scope, the lower powered scopes give you a lot wider field of view as a bonus.

JMHO, YMMV...

lpl
 
i agree a lower fixed would be nice. i could settle for a 2 power.

no i havent let anyone else shoot it yet. i literally just got it and and have shot 3 boxes through it now. during today's shooting session, i was getting 3 shot - 2in groups with my muzzle loader with open sights from the same rest/ same distance. i was bewildered to not shoot better with my 870. i got the 20ga cause the 12ga slugs were too brutal. this gun kicks just a little more than my muzzle loader. if it comes down to it i may just hunt with my muzzleloader during firearms season instead of my 870 if i cant get it reigned in.
 
well tomorrow will be the last day before the season starts so i will try to see whats available in town here. im hoping for one of the leopolds. there are "VX I" and "rifleman" shotgun scopes. any differances????

i am now curious after reading the other "slug questions" thread. some barrels/guns have a "preference" for different ammunition. do you think that maybe this gun just doesnt like these slugs?? i have not shot anything else yet.
 
Looks like a nice rig.

If it's a scope problem Gander Mountain should replace it for free. Even if you want a different scope, I'd still get a new free one to trade or put on another gun.

My 20 ga 870 w/rifle choke wouldn't shoot discarding sabots worth a hoot. Like you, 3 foot 50 yd groups were the norm. Every third round was a key-hole, which told me it wasn't a scope or mount problem.

I switched to non-discarding sabot Remington Buckhammers and it became a tack driver. 3" at 100 yds. They're way cheaper, too, and hit like a friggin' freight train.
 
im going to buy a couple boxes of different slugs and see before i settle on a different scope
 
Try shooting prone (on a blankey or cardboard) with nothing touching any bags, just the butt stock on the ground.In your case looks like the bottom of pistol grip will touch ground.
 
update with pics...
I went back to Gander Mountain and discussed the scope with a gun dept associate. He told me it was a factory Remington scope shipped with the gun and not their responsibility.:banghead: so i ended up buying a nikon prostaff shotgun scope. 2-7X32. They only had 2 choices to pick from. No Leupold. And i bought some winchester silvertip slugs.

first box @ 50 yrds got me zeroed in. then i backed up to 75yrds. (what i usuallly zero in at) Two shots, final adjustment.

then this 3 shot group @ 2 3/4". this is the best i have ever shot with a slug gun. this is what i was expecting.
75yd.jpg


now i dont know if it was the scope or the hornady slugs since i switched both today. its too bad i had to waste 5 boxs of the hornadys to find out something wasnt working.

heres the shotgun with the nikon mounted.
870.jpg
 
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discussed the scope with a gun dept associate. He told me it was a factory Remington scope shipped with the gun and not their responsibility
Click to expand...
I'd ask to speak to the store manager. I don't believe that is Gander Mountain Corporate policy.

I could be wrong, but here in Wisconsin (where GM is headquartered) the GM stores make a big deal about standing behind all the guns they sell. Maybe it's all BS, but I'd still want to hear it from someone higher up the food chain.

The fact that the new scope (that you bought at their store!) fixed the problem pretty much proves the original scope was defective.

Let me know how it turns out because it will matter on where I spend my money in the future.
 
just helped my buddy sight in this combo and it was good out to 200yd... i can't say enuf good thing about this gun or scope.... scope is $269 at walmart.com
 

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That's a great looking slug gun. If I had to hunt exclusively with a shotgun, I'd go with the cantilevered barrel also. I think you made a good choice on the scope too. Glad to hear you got your problem solved, but you need to try and make Remington make good on the defective scope.
 
Good choice on the scope, that's exactly what I was going to recommend. It's clear, holds zero, and has good low light gathering.

I also have an 870 express 20 GA that I use for deer hunting. I use the same set up, rifled barrel, Nikon 2-7x32 shotgun scope, and the Winchester Partition Gold sabots and it seems to be a really accurate combo.

I was going to recommend sighting in @100 yds though because that is the top of the arc in the sabot's trajectory. You would be within 1in or less at anything under 75 yds and only 2in low @125 yds according too the Platinum Tips ballistics.

I shot a nice 8 pointer last year with mine at 75 yds and it was right on the money and it dropped within 20 yds after a shot through the vitals. I am completely confident in taking a shot at 125 yds with this set up, the slug still still flying at over 1450fps and retains over 1250ft lbs of energy at that distance. The Platinum tips are still good too, over 1300fps with over 1000ft. lbs of energy at 125 yds.

Here is a link for the Ballistics of the 20 GA 2-3/4in Platinum Tip sabot slugs from the Winchester site.
http://www.winchester.com/products/catalog/shotdetail.aspx?symbol=SSPTH20&bn=5&use=8
 
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Outstanding results- glad it finally came together for you. Good luck when the season opens,

lpl
 
in regards to the original problem, it is very common for factory mounted scope bases and rings to be mounted wrong. its very common for the scope itself to be mounted slightly off axis with the barrel.

also, these barrels are not "one size shoots perfect with all loads", you gotta find the one that works right through trial and error.
 
I'd still be interested to see what the Hornady does with the new scope. Even a loose scope will give you some sort of grouping.
 
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