What is realistic tactical range of rifled slug in smooth barrel?

[bushmaster1313]

Waiting for my first shotgun with rifle sights to arrive at my local FFL.

18 1/8 with smooth cylinder barrel.

What is the realistic range with rifled slugs (or any regular slugs) against a hostile target?

For reference, assume the range for one shot sure hit with 00 Buckshot is 25 yards.

 

[jon86]

The realistic range is how accurate YOU are with the shotgun. For me, with a bead sight, it's 75 yards. Yeah, I know, I gotta practice more. I haven't tried at 100, but I wouldn't want to until I tighten my group at 75. I would imagine that with peep or rifle sights you would be able to shoot better than with only a bead sight though.

 

[Dave McCracken]

For me, using mine, about 100 yards.

 

[allfouledup]

I can't really answer your question b1313. IMHO, rifling on the slug is a sales gimmick and doesn't do much if anything for stability/accuracy. I own a Remington 870 with an 18" cyl. bore, and I am amazed how the Ddupleks steel slugs group (not "pattern") at 25 yrds. Next chance I get I'm going to try them at 50 yrds. Just thought you might find these slugs interesting. Google Ddupleks, and check 'em out.

 

[Zak Smith]

At the RM3G nationals, they usually have some slugs targets in the 125-175 yard range.

 

[Yarddog]

"[ IMHO, rifling on the slug is a sales gimmick and doesn't do much if anything for stability/accuracy.]"

NOT SO > Rifiled Slugs are good in a smooth bore out to 100 yrds ; )
Y/D

 

[allfouledup]

I'll take your word for it Yarddog. Just curious though - seriously, I'm not trying to be a smarta$$ - at that range, do they consistently group?

 

[rcmodel]

rifling on the slug is a sales gimmick

Not a sales gimmick at all.
The rifling on a Forster style rifled slug is there to give excess lead a place to go when shot through a gun with a tight choke.

It doesn't make them spin, because there is no laminar air flow over the fins due to the supersonic shockwave over the bow.

They fly point first because they are hollow, heavy in front, and light in the back.
Like a badminton shuttlecock.

rc

 

[bushmaster1313]

Also, what sort of drop at 50 and 100 yards compared to where they hit at 25?

Of course I have to try it to be sure of the performance, just curious what people think.

 

[huntsman]

What is the realistic range with rifled slugs (or any regular slugs) against a hostile target?

I never shot a hostile (all my deer seemed docile) with just a bead it's 50 yards with sights still 50 yards but slugs will still work farther out than that.

 

[VA27]

It mostly depends on the shooter. It's not a sniper or varmint rifle, but a man who knows his gun can be dangerous to 200yds, maybe more. Practice.

 

[The Captain]

My slug gun (500a) is zeroed at 50. It's a smoothbore slug barrel. I have a scope on it only because i wanted one. I get about 1.5-2" grps a 50 with old school Rem. Sluggers 2-3/4. I'm about 4-5" low at 100. My deer, a couple weeks ago, was about 50 yards out. He was dinner tonight.

 

[goon]

I was able to hit within the vitals of a man with the 18" cylinder bore/bead sight riot gun I used to own at 100 yards. I could make clay pigeons flop around with it at that range and occasionally hit one. I would NOT have wanted to be shot at with that gun out to 150 yards. Taking a 12 gauge slug anywhere between the neck and pelvic girdle would be very unpleasant.

 

[Gordon]

100 meters for advanced ITTS or Louis Awerbuck courses into vitals. My preferred Rem reduced recoil slugs drop just right for a chest hit with a head hold at that range,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[sidibear]

I was once told that if you point your gun up at around 30 degrees the slug will go about 1.2 miles. They can sure clang a steel plate at 100yrds.

 

[Pete D.]

Realistic range? 50 yards.
Yes, all the other comments are accurate enough...I watched my son shoot a six inch group at 100 yards with an old H&R single barrel....and with practice those 200 yard shots are doable. But......for practical tactical....50 yards.
Pete

 

[Capstick1]

I got a rifle sighted smoothbore slug barrel for my 870. The front of it is set up for choke tubes. If I want to improve the accuracy, instead of using the traditional Cylinder Bore or Improved Cylinder choke tube, I can purchase a remchoke tube with rifling in it. This will help tighten up the shot groups. You never did say what kind of shotgun you got but you can put rifled choke tubes on Mossberg and other brands of shotgun barrels to if you don't feel like spending money on a rifled shotgun barrel.

 

[Mr. T]

It is very possible to shoot effectively with a foster slug out to 200+ yards. I've watched my father do it at least twice during deer season over the years and he's done it at least a half dozen times since I've been hunting...by the way I've been hunting for 32 years now. My effective range is maybe 150 yards with a double bead barrel. My gun shoots on at 100 yards. At 50 to 75 yards I need to aim 4-6 inches low. I shoot a 12 gauge Ted Williams with a poly choke on the end of the barrel which is set to improve cylinder. My Dad shoot a Browning A5 in 16 gauge, which has a single bead on a vented ribbed barrel with a fixed full choke (Belgium Barrel).

 

[waterhouse]

If I were hunting with slugs I'd limit myself to about 75 yards. That's a much small zone than trying to put a hit "somewhere" on a man sized hostile target.

If you said "hypothetically, there is a smallish bear charging you in an open field from 300 yards away, and it is guaranteed not to stop charging you. You have 8 slugs in your shotgun. At what distance do you take your first shot?" then I'd probably start shooting at about 175 yards.