Slugs in shotguns?

[muleman69]

Need some info on slugs in shotguns for hunting. What gauge and slugs are used for hunting Elk ? What yardage can a person expect from the right set up? The up coming hunt is for a slug gun or traditional muzzleloader. What would be best?

 

[Sniper338]

A shotgun with a slug barrel. Your nice benelli and beretta field guns with removable chokes arent made for slugs.

12 gauge. A slug is pretty accurate out a good ways. You would have to shoot and learn your gun and or sight it in if you have a red dot or scope.

 

[Outrider27]

What Sniper338 said. I lived in the People's Republic of Maryland for many years, and 13 of the 23 counties, including where I lived and adjacent counties, were shotgun only counties. We used an Ithaca model 37 slug gun and it worked fine. We sighted it in for 63 yards (that was the distance we had available to sight it in) and it worked fine with the OEM iron sights. A low power scope, especially one of those shotgun specific ones for slug guns, or a red dot would have also been fine, but we didn't feel the necessity, as where we hunted a shot over 40-45 yards was unlikely.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Get an 870 with a rifled barrel and shoot the green tip remington sabots

 

[Lone Hunter]

Get an 870 with a rifled barrel and shoot the green tip remington sabots

+1 on the Remington slugs with green tips. I have an 11/87 cantilevered fully rifled barrel that shoots them exceptionally well. Really hammers a deer but never have shot an elk and probably never will so can't help you there. At 125 yds I would be confident in a kill but this is with shooting sticks or a steady rest. Haven't shot them further than that. Most of my shots with a shotgun are 30 -80 yds normally . At $3 a shot and the recoil I'm not going to shoot too many of them anyway.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

+1 on the Remington slugs with green tips. I have an 11/87 cantilevered fully rifled barrel that shoots them exceptionally well. Really hammers a deer but never have shot an elk and probably never will so can't help you there. At 125 yds I would be confident in a kill but this is with shooting sticks or a steady rest. Haven't shot them further than that. Most of my shots with a shotgun are 30 -80 yds normally . At $3 a shot and the recoil I'm not going to shoot too many of them anyway.

I was able to buy a case of those and a case of 3.5” buck hammers along with a rifled 870 barrel from a friend that went hunting somewhere it was shotgun only. I think i gave $100 for both cases and the barrel with a leupold shotgun scope. He said they shot good

 

[Lone Hunter]

I was able to buy a case of those and a case of 3.5” buck hammers along with a rifled 870 barrel from a friend that went hunting somewhere it was shotgun only. I think i gave $100 for both cases and the barrel with a leupold shotgun scope. He said they shot good

You stole those..lol... I've heard the buck hammers shot good but never tried them. I know the green tip (called Premier I believe,would have to look)really do shoot good out of my shotgun. Buddy has a 870 with Hastings barrel and a Browning Bolt Shot gun that shoots them very good too. Going to get a Leupold Ultimate Slam for my next shot gun scope. Will help on the longer shots.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

You stole those..lol... I've heard the buck hammers shot good but never tried them. I know the green tip (called Premier I believe,would have to look)really do shoot good out of my shotgun. Buddy has a 870 with Hastings barrel and a Browning Bolt Shot gun that shoots them very good too. Going to get a Leupold Ultimate Slam for my next shot gun scope. Will help on the longer shots.

Yes the green tips are in a gold box labeled remington premier accu tip. I think thats the leupold i have. It has a diamond reticle in it i believe. Truthfully the only 870 i have is a wilson combat so ive never even installed the barrel. I figure ill go buy or borrow an express supermag if i ever need to slug hunt. They seem to be in stock everytime i look at academy

 

[snert]

I am a fan of the 11-87 with a cantelever rifles slug barrel and a sabot slug. Hornady comes to mind. Either 12 or 20 ga. A 2-7 scope or a red dot. Good to 125 yards before you get into some bloop trajectory.

Energy? TONS. They will shoot thru a whitetail end to end.

For tree stand hunting, HR made a fine 20 ga single shot break barrel that shoots like a rifle. I would shoot elk in timber with it

 

[Tommie]

@muleman69
I’m curious. Never heard of hunting elk with a shotgun. Are you doing this by choice or is it a requirement in the area you’ll be hunting in?

 

[matthias]

I use a savage 212 with winchester 3" golds. Produces 1.5 inch groups at 100 and 2.5 inch groups at 200. It is brutal to shoot. But with practice I have been able to hit 8" steel plates out to 300. Drop is a big issue .

 

[Blackthorn]

I would grab a Savage 220 bolt action. Fully rifled barrel and shoot Federal sabot hydra shocks or the Winchester sabots. Used one for years when I was living in New England. Love the detachable mag. Carry a spare in your pocket and you’re good to go. I sighted in at 50 yards and used hold over for longer shots.
I know it’s just a 20ga but lower recoil than a 12ga. Hits like a 44 Mag.

 

[hogpatrol]

I have had four DSGs, two Mossbergs and two Benellis. They all were the most accurate with Lightfield slugs. One caution, unless you feel like peeling lead off the rifling like skin off a banana, not a good idea to shoot bare slugs in rifled barrels. BTDT.

 

[MGYSGT]

I would grab a Savage 220 bolt action. Fully rifled barrel and shoot Federal sabot hydra shocks or the Winchester sabots. Used one for years when I was living in New England. Love the detachable mag. Carry a spare in your pocket and you’re good to go. I sighted in at 50 yards and used hold over for longer shots.
I know it’s just a 20ga but lower recoil than a 12ga. Hits like a 44 Mag.

Just a 20 gauge. Holy moly, that like saying it's just a Howitzer.

 

[madmixerman]

I use a Savage 210 with Lightfield slugs.I used to have a Mossberg 695, it was very accurate but had a horrendous trigger.

 

[muleman69]

Get an 870 with a rifled barrel and shoot the green tip remington sabots

Sounds like a good way to go, not sure if rife barrel is legal in New Mex?

 

[muleman69]

@muleman69
I’m curious. Never heard of hunting elk with a shotgun. Are you doing this by choice or is it a requirement in the area you’ll be hunting in?

The only firearms they allow for this hunt are shotguns or muzzleloaders. Longest shot will be under 200 yards

 

[joshb]

I helped a good friend sight in his new slug gun at the range. It was a while ago. I don’t remember what gun he had, other than it was “made to shoot slugs” Might have been a twenty gauge. What I DO remember is the accuracy of the Sabot rounds he shot. Not quite one hole but almost. Three rounds at 100 was tighter than the M1A I brought along.

 

[Joe Salt]

I have an Ithaca mod. 87 with a red dot sight that will shoot lights out with Hornaday 300 gr. SST slugs. But you may need a variety of slugs because my buddy has the same shotgun but it only likes Federals.

Joe Salt

 

[DangerRanger]

I am a fan of the 11-87 with a cantelever rifles slug barrel and a sabot slug. Hornady comes to mind. Either 12 or 20 ga. A 2-7 scope or a red dot. Good to 125 yards before you get into some bloop trajectory.

Energy? TONS. They will shoot thru a whitetail end to end.

For tree stand hunting, HR made a fine 20 ga single shot break barrel that shoots like a rifle. I would shoot elk in timber with it

I’ve killed many deer with my NEF youth 20 single shot and a slug. Hits like a freight train