Slugs and Chokes?

[peck1234]

Just recently purchased my first shotgun! (A Mossberg 535 ATS)

This weekend Im planing to go to the range and put a few slugs though it...

What kinda of choke do I need for slugs? Mossberg Included a Full, Modified, and improved choke...

Thanks...

 

[rcmodel]

Imp Cyl will probably give the best slug accuracy.

Mod could be used without hurting anything though if you want to try it also.

rc

 

[peck1234]

"hurting anything" ?

 

[rcmodel]

O.K.

Many people think shooting slugs through a choke will hurt the gun.

I assumed since you didn't know which choke is best for slugs, you might be one of those people.

Mossberg owners manual does say this:
835® models are designated to fire 12 gauge 2-3/4”, 3”, or 3-1/2” factory loaded ammunition.
Do not fire slugs of any type (single projectile ammunition) through the overbored 835
Accu-Mag barrel. This barrel is designated to shoot lead or steel pellet shot loads only. Use
only 835 barrels designated specifically for slug shooting.

535™ models are designed for factory loaded 2-3/4”, 3”, and 3-1/2” shells and rifled
slugs.

rc

 

[peck1234]

I see! Thanks!

 

[wrs840]

Help me with a stupid question please: So any choke, Skeet thru Full is OK for rifled Slugs? But not if the barrel is overbored to the extent it apparently is in the Mossberg 835 Accu-Mag barrel? Why? And... Is that barrel rifled?

Just trying to learn something...

Thanks,
Les

 

[rcmodel]

Yes, Forster or Brenekke style rifled slugs can be shot through any degree of choke without hurting anything.

They are already smaller then the tightest choke, but may expand to fit the bore somewhat.

The rifling does not make the slug spin.
They are there to give the excess lead some place to go when they do expand in the bore and have to squeeze back down through a tight choke.

I don't know the exact reason Mossberg says no slugs in an over-bore barrel.
But it "might" have something to do with pressure loss past the base wad on the over-bore barrel leaving the wad stuck in the bore.

Just guessing though, but I can't think of a single other good reason it would hurt anything.

rc

 

[wrs840]

Thanks, rc.

Les

 

[ranger351w]

Don't know about over bore what ever that is? Skeet choke? But they used to say it was not good to shoot slugs in a full choke. I think it was a period thing .Bunch of hoey. Improved cyl always seemed the way to go for slugs. but it would have been a run what ya brung thing then anyway.
The first shotgun I ever hunted deer with was a full choke white powder wonder 16ga. single shot that was ancient back in 59 when I killed my first deer with it. The firing pin was broke when I got it and being a kid I just ground down a nail and slid it in. worked great as long as the hammer was down when you opened the barrel. If it wasn't the nail would fall out. What fun!
I believe we overthink stuff today . If you are going to talk talk if you are going to shoot shoot. Run what ya brung.

 

[natman]

The bore size in a Mossberg 535 is larger than a normal 12 ga. Shooting a slug through it would be like shooting a 270 bullet in a 280 Remington; the projectile would be grossly undersized for the bore.

A lead slug might not damage a full choke, but that still does not make it a good idea since the slug would be deformed passing through the full choke, which certainly would not enhance accuracy.

 

[rcmodel]

Heres the thing.

Forster slugs were invented in the 1930's.
At a time when the majority of shotguns being made in America were full choke.
With thinner barrels then todays steel shot barrels.

At no time then, or now, has there ever been any problems with blown-up guns, damaged chokes or barrels, or million dollar class-action lawsuits againt the ammo companies that load rifled slugs.

If there were a problem with slugs & full chokes, we would be well aware of it by now after 75 years.
And in todays legal environment, the ammo companies wouldn't still be making them.

rc

 

[Tim the student]

This question should be a sticky. It seems like this question (or a variation of it) gets asked weekly.

 

[rcmodel]

Yep!

Twice in the week just ended.


BTW: I just measured an unfired 12 ga Forster rifled slug.
It measures .690".
A 12 ga bore is .729"
A full choke is .694" or there abouts. (.729" - .035" = .694")

As you can see, a Forster slug is already .004" Smaller then a 12 ga Full choke to start with.

rc

 

[Jack2427]

The old saw about no slugs in full chokes came about many years ago when many slug loads were the old solid lead "pumpkin ball". That is a round solid ball was fired down the barrel out of the shell. So as to be slightly accurate those old balls were a tighter fit in the barrel than the later slugs, and some were pretty hard cast. So one of those might open up ones full choke a little after some number of shots. And those balls that were bore size really needed a cylinder bore choke for maximum accuracy(if one could call it accuracy). Adding to this situation was the difference in bore sizes from make to make and even from gun to gun of the same make. Made no difference with the lead shot loads of those days, but a full bore size ball in one make could be oversize in another bore. This increased pressures, not enough for real instant severe damage, but those old soft steel barrels could suffer damage over a number of oversize balls, or exact size balls through a really constricted full choke.

Lucky we don't have those problems any more!

 

[esheato]

You guys are killing me....it's a foster slug, not foRster.