Slugs-Newbie Question

3809 Views 18 Replies 9 Participants Last post by XD9SC71, Jun 15, 2011

XD9SC71

Discussion Starter · Jun 13, 2011

Can slugs be used in any barrel even with a full choke? I've never used slugs and can't find anyone who knows. I know they make slug barrels, but have always been under the impression you could switch between shot and slugs with the same barrel. Thanks.

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

AllStrobedUp

· #2 · Jun 13, 2011

A slug barrel is most likely rifled.

ichy_trigger

· #3 · Jun 13, 2011

Yes you can shoot slugs through a full choke but an improved cylinder is prefered in a non rifled barrel.

cce1302

· #4 · Jun 13, 2011

Slugs should not be fired through an overbored barrel such as the Mossberg 835's smooth barrel. If you want to use the 835 (an excellent shotgun, I might add) for both, you ought to buy both barrels (smooth barrel and rifled slug barrel) for it.

the overbored smooth barrel is bored out to 10 gauge dimensions in the first few inches after the chamber, so you will find that your slugs are loose in that portion of the barrel.

Cuda66

· #5 · Jun 13, 2011

AllStrobedUp said:
A slug barrel is most likely rifled.

Most, in fact, are not. Your standard slug barrel is a smoothbore, cylinder or IC choke.

Rifled barrels are available, of course.

And yes, you can fire slugs through a FC barrel. If your choke is fixed, you shouldn't have any issues...if you have a screw-in choke, however, you can have problems--I wouldn't recommend it if that's the case.

cce1302

· #6 · Jun 14, 2011

Cuda66 said:
Most, in fact, are not. Your standard slug barrel is a smoothbore, cylinder or IC choke.

Rifled barrels are available, of course.

And yes, you can fire slugs through a FC barrel. If your choke is fixed, you shouldn't have any issues...if you have a screw-in choke, however, you can have problems--I wouldn't recommend it if that's the case.

That "fact" I had never heard. You might be surprised at how many slug barrels are made with rifling if you haven't looked into them in the last 15 years or so.

I went to gunbroker to check and see how many were listed. In the "shotgun barrel" category, I searched "rifled slug" and came up with 55 results. I also searched "smooth slug" in the same category and found 3. Unscientific survey to be sure, but I would venture with those results and with a sample of all those that I have known to hunt deer with shotguns (especially in states like Ohio and Indiana where rifles are not permitted for deer) that most use rifled barrels with sabot slugs because they are significantly more accurate than smooth barrels with foster slugs.

Cuda66

· #7 · Jun 14, 2011

Interesting...since I went to Gunbroker, did a search for slug barrels (using the term "slug", since most slug barrels are assumed to be smoothbore), and the result came back with 151 hits, about 2/3rds smoothbore--or at least, no mention of rifling (and a quick analyisis of several of those not mentioning rifiling, none had it in the more complete description).

Considering how long smoothbore slug barrels have been around, and how recent of a developement the rifled shotgun bore is (relatively speaking)...I guarantee you there are a heck of a lot more smoothbore than rifled out there.

cce1302

· #8 · Jun 14, 2011

Cuda66 said:
Interesting...since I went to Gunbroker, did a search for slug barrels (using the term "slug", since most slug barrels are assumed to be smoothbore), and the result came back with 151 hits, about 2/3rds smoothbore--or at least, no mention of rifling (and a quick analyisis of several of those not mentioning rifiling, none had it in the more complete description).

Considering how long smoothbore slug barrels have been around, and how recent of a developement the rifled shotgun bore is (relatively speaking)...I guarantee you there are a heck of a lot more smoothbore than rifled out there.

check the box for title and description, then you get 139 rifled barrels out of 151.

Cuda66

· #9 · Jun 14, 2011

cce1302 said:
check the box for title and description, then you get 139 rifled barrels out of 151.

Bull$hit.

There's more than 22 smoothbore barrels on the first page alone--33 by my count.

AllStrobedUp

· #10 · Jun 14, 2011

All of my "Slug barrels" are rifled, and to run the Hornady Sabot Slugs, it is recomended to have a rifled barrel.

Cce1302, thanks for havin a brothers back.

Boris

· #11 · Jun 14, 2011

Slug barrels are smooth bore and rifled barrels are rifled.

Too easy.

cce1302

· #12 · Jun 14, 2011

Cuda66 said:
Bull$hit.

There's more than 22 smoothbore barrels on the first page alone--33 by my count.

Well that explains a lot. 139 from 151 is 12, not 22. and you're calling "bull$hit." That's cute. As I said, check titles and descriptions. lots of people don't put "rifled" in the title because most people (even on a polymer pistol forum) know that the standard for slug barrels is rifled, and has been for several years now. I even checked some manufacturer websites. Remington lists more rifled slug barrels than choked slug barrels. Mossberg doesn't even make a smooth slug barrel for the 930 or 935. 7 of 9 500 slug barrels are rifled. both 535 slug barrels are rifled. 7 of 8 slug barrels for the 835 are rifled.

And borris -

thanks for sharing. do you know what a shotgun is?

ichy_trigger

· #13 · Jun 14, 2011

MOST barrels that are dedicated to slug shooting these days are rifled. In fact, you will find the variety of slugs these days are designed for rifled barrels.

The guy asked a question about shooting slugs through a full choke, don't let your egos ruin his page, start your own.

Cuda66

· #14 · Jun 14, 2011

cce1302 said:
Well that explains a lot. 139 from 151 is 12, not 22. and you're calling "bull$hit." That's cute. As I said, check titles and descriptions. lots of people don't put "rifled" in the title because most people (even on a polymer pistol forum) know that the standard for slug barrels is rifled, and has been for several years now. I even checked some manufacturer websites. Remington lists more rifled slug barrels than choked slug barrels. Mossberg doesn't even make a smooth slug barrel for the 930 or 935. 7 of 9 500 slug barrels are rifled. both 535 slug barrels are rifled. 7 of 8 slug barrels for the 835 are rifled.

And borris -
thanks for sharing. do you know what a shotgun is?

Yep, I'm calling bull$hit on your post. Your search was likely also pulling up barrels with rifle sights.

But, just because you don't seem to be getting it, here's some of the results from the first page of searches.

Winchester 1300 Ranger DEER SLUG Barrel, $.01 NR : Barrels at GunBroker.com
Weatherby 82 or Centurion Barrel 12 ga slug 22 in : Barrels at GunBroker.com
BROWNING A-5 12ga RS Slug 24" barrel : Barrels at GunBroker.com
MOSSBERG 500 20ga 24" CB SLUG BARREL w/ADJ. SIGHTS : Barrels at GunBroker.com
870 Slug barrel 20 inch RS 12 ga : Barrels at GunBroker.com
Remington 1100 12GA., 2-3/4" Slug Barrel Only : Barrels at GunBroker.com
MOSSBERG BBL REM 870 SLUG 12GA 24" RS CYL MATTEBLU : Barrels at GunBroker.com
Beretta 301-302-303 Slug Barrel - -12 ga. - 22" : Barrels at GunBroker.com
Mossberg 500 20ga 24" Slug Barrel Rifle Sights : Barrels at GunBroker.com
Remington 870 12 gauge Slug Deer Barrel - NEW : Barrels at GunBroker.com
Remington 1187 12 Ga Slug Barrel W/ Cantilever : Barrels at GunBroker.com
Remington 11-87 21 Inch Slug Barrel 12 Gauge : Barrels at GunBroker.com
REMINGTON 870 STANDARDWEIGHT 20 GAUGE SLUG BARREL : Barrels at GunBroker.com
870 28ga SLUG BARREL 23" : Barrels at GunBroker.com
Mossberg 500 20ga slug barrel : Barrels at GunBroker.com
ITHACA SKB 12 GA. SLUG BARREL 44X : Barrels at GunBroker.com
Hastings Beretta A-390 12ga Slug Barrel : Barrels at GunBroker.com
REMINGTON 1100 SLUG BARREL 12 GAUGE : Barrels at GunBroker.com
MOSSBERG BARREL FOR 870 - SLUG : Barrels at GunBroker.com
REMINGTON 1100 LT-20 SLUG BARREL 20 Gauge LT20 New : Barrels at GunBroker.com

That's over 20, and I got tired of reposting...which is far more than your "139 out of 151" claim of rifled bores.

And Boris also got it right...you're the one who has it wrong.

See less See more

Boris

· #15 · Jun 14, 2011

cce1302 said:
And borris -
thanks for sharing. do you know what a shotgun is?

Well then. I remember a time when if you would have told anyone shotgun barrels would be rifled, every last person would have laughed you.

Rifled shotgun barrels caught on very very slowly and reliable accurate sabots have only been around for a very very short time now. Your knowledge base tells me you have less experience than this shotgunner.

Just so you know. Shotguns have smooth barrels. I give two fliping dolphins if a 12 gauge bore has a rifled barrel. Once you slap that barrel on there its a rifle. Because duh, the bore is rifled. THe projectile might be in a shotgun shell hull, but thats where the similarity ends.

Incase you read over what I said last time.

Slug barrels are smooth bore, rifled barrels are rifled. Just because you do not know that and opine otherwise and have no clue on the facts, does not make you right.

See less See more

tjt2039

· #16 · Jun 14, 2011

Seems to me Cuda and Boris have more facts on the matter so I would assume they are correct.

Anyway, back to the OP. You guy said that it is "preferred" that you get a rifled barrel to shoot slugs. Does that mean I should be worried about damaging my choke if I shoot slugs out of my barrel?

I have the Remington 870 Express Magnum. Any concerns with shooting slugs out of this??

And how about a Mossy 500? My brother has one, and he's asked me in the past if he can shoot slugs out of it but I was never really sure so I told him not too just in case.

Deer Slayer

· #17 · Jun 15, 2011

tjt2039 said:
Seems to me Cuda and Boris have more facts on the matter so I would assume they are correct.

Anyway, back to the OP. You guy said that it is "preferred" that you get a rifled barrel to shoot slugs. Does that mean I should be worried about damaging my choke if I shoot slugs out of my barrel?

I have the Remington 870 Express Magnum. Any concerns with shooting slugs out of this??

And how about a Mossy 500? My brother has one, and he's asked me in the past if he can shoot slugs out of it but I was never really sure so I told him not too just in case.

If the barrel has a fixed choke, and smooth bore, it's more than likely fine to shoot rifled (foster) slugs out of. My mossberg 500 shoots rifled slugs just fine out of a smooth bore. However, a full choke might not give you very good accuracy. Unless it's some sort of turkey barrel, or something with an extra full choke, then it's a definite no-no.

If you can change the choke on the barrel, it's not a good idea to shoot slugs out of it. Supposedly it can be done, but a restrictive choke, + a slug = poor accuracy. Like with a fixed choke barrel, an extra full, or turkey choke is a definite no-no. You'll be able to tell because the choke will have little notches cut into it on the inside of the end of the barrel. That means the choke can unscrew with a special wrench, and you can put different chokes in it. They do make special chokes for slugs, including rifled choke tubes for sabot slugs. Don't really know much about those though.

A rifled barrel is for shooting sabot slugs, not rifled slugs. As stated above, a rifled barrel and a sabot slug are more accurate than the smooth barrel and a rifled slug. You also get more range out of them. I think the whole rifled barrel thing was just a way around the stupid laws about using rifles to hunt deer in certain areas. I hunt with an 870 with a rifled barrel and a scope. Puts the deer down in one shot every time.

See less See more

ScubaSteveXdm

· #18 · Jun 15, 2011

I have a NEF pardner pump aka rem 870 clone with a smooth bore , it really likes the federal truball slugs. I have had really nice groupings at 50 yards with them even with the old beed front site.

Of course this is what I have found to work for me , that is all.

XD9SC71

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jun 15, 2011

Never have used slugs, so I didn't know. I have a High Standard pump 12ga and a Winchester 37A youth both have a bigger than full choke but didn't know if a full was OK. I've got too many kids and not enough rifles for deer season. Was thinking about the slug route for myself and letting the kids have my rifles.

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.