please help to setup a slug gun combo (remington 870 based)

[kmrcstintn]

first off what I have to work with: Remington 870 SPS-T 12 ga 3" chamber w/ factory 20" barrel w/ Hi-Viz adjustable sights (I had this setup as an impromptu 25 - 35 yd open sight slugger using 1 oz Brenneke K-O slugs last year)

now what I want to do...I would like to use the platofrm I have and add a fully rifled choke barrel w/ cantilever mount and scope; I don't want to spend more than $300 to $350 in hardware between barrel, scope and rings; a few ???'s

1) how much for a Remmy factory barrel? any other alternative brands to consider?

2) it is attainable to get 'good' accuracy (considering that it is sabot slugs) out to 100 yards with such a setup

3) for ranges between 25 to 100 yard shots, what magnification power should my scope be? should I get a 'traditional' 3 to 9 x 40 hunting riflescope?

thanks

 

[zinj]

I'm no expert, but here is some information:

1. Cabela's has the Remington cantilever fully rifled barrel on sale for $250 right now, which is about as cheap as you are going to find it:
http://cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templ...&parentType=index&indexId=cat20805&hasJS=true

Mossberg makes a cantilever barrel for the 870 also, it is priced at $170:

http://mossberg.com/products/access.asp?type=barrels&section=access

3. A 3x9 scope would be a bit over-powered on a gun like this. Most scope manufacturers have product line specifically for shotguns which has lower magnification (and sometimes more eye relief).

 

[Plink]

I set up an 870 about 8-9 years ago to be a slug gun. My gun also has the factory 20 inch barrel with adjustable sights. Here's what I discovered along the way.

I used the B-square receiver mount to mount a Tasco ProPoint red dot sight. I don't feel that magnification is desirable for shots at 100 yards or less, as these shots are usually taken in a hurry and magnification just slows down the process. The red dot sight has worked out great at those distances, even with my bad eyes.

I was hoping to have a gun capable of shooting buckshot also, so after trying slugs through the rifled choke, I began experimenting with them through standard chokes. I had amazing results with Brenneke KO's fired through a full choke. The rifled choke just stripped lead from the soft vanes as the slug passed and I doubt if it imparted much, if any, spin. The full choke apparently centers and stabilizes the slug just before it exits, and it flies true.

If I had it to do over, I'd definately go with the cantilever barrel. It would be a more stable platform for optics rather than having them on the receiver and having to rezero every time I pull the barrel.

I have nothing to offer about sabots as I don't use them. You might try the KO's through different chokes before investing in a rifled choke and pricier sabot ammo though. You might get lucky like I did and find a combo that works for you. My setup is accurate enough to take deer out to 100 yards.

Good luck and let us know how it works out for you!

 

[kmrcstintn]

Plink...

your use of a removable full choke certainly woke me up...I have asked about slugging from a smoothbore and everyone I have asked (nearly a dozen shops) stated that using slugs in anything tighter than a modified (removable) choke would be too tight and rip the choke from the barrel...WOW!

this past year, I used an improved modified and as long as I was putting them in a 6 x 6" box at 25 yards I was happy; IIRC correctly, I had 11 out of 15 in the box and the remaining 4 just outside the box...everything was shooting to the right considerably and now I'm wondering if the more open choke was allowing some wobble and that the threadignhad the choke off center...HHMMM!!!

my plan is to setup a magnified optics sabot slug setup as primary and use what I had last year as a backup in case the optics take a hard jolt (gun gets dropped)

 

[Jack2427]

You can use ANY choke for slugs. The rifled slugs will swage down quite nicely(note the hollow base) and Sabot Slugs are way undersized for a normal smoothbore. However using sabots in a smoothbore is a waste, sabots are best used in a rifled barrel sized for them.
Rule of thumb: Smoothbore-use rifled slugs, rifled bore use sabot rounds.

 

[kmrcstintn]

okay, I can see the hollowbase rifled slugs narrowing down...how about 'improved forster' style like the Brenneke KO that retain the wad that is mounted to the base of the slug?

 

[RKellogg]

kmrcstintn , check out Walmart . I think a seen a set up with scope and barrel for under $300 . Made by Remington .

 

[Plink]

Most non-sabot slug manufacturers state that it's safe to fire them through any choke. The Brenneke KO's did. Their vanes swage down and apparently that helps stabilize them as they exit the barrel. They're also mostly hollow in the base, you just can't tell from looking because of the attached wad. Brenekke style slugs seem to shoot more accurately that Forster style anyway, regardless of the choke, so they've always been my preference. They also don't deform as much on impact so they give better penetration and cut a wadcutter-like wound channel.

Anyway, I've been shooting them through my full choked 870 for years. You need to check the choke for tightness now and then. If it shoots loose and you fire a slug through it, you risk stripping the threads. I haven't had any issues, but I have had impressive performance with slugs and 00 buck both, though the buck patterns a bit lower than the slug's impact point. Not a big deal at buckshot range really.