[viking499]

Why is a dedicated slug barrel supposed to shoot better that a barrel with a modified or improved choke?

What types of slugs shoot best in each barrel?

[Regolith]

Dedicated slug barrels are usually rifled, and the rifling adds increased accuracy to sabot rounds. The sabot rounds are generally more accurate than non-sabot ones because they have a higher ballistic coefficient (as they are smaller in diameter and hence have a larger length to width ratio than full bore slugs) and they have spin imparted on them from the rifling, which slugs shot from a smooth bore lack.

So, to recap, if you have a rifled slug barrel, you want to only shoot sabot rounds. If you have a smooth bore, you want to shoot rifled slugs, as unlike sabots they don't require rifling to prevent tumbling.

[viking499]

The slug barrel I was looking at is a smooth bore. Was told it would shoot a slug better than the modified barrel on the gun.

The gun is an Ithaca 37 12 guage with 28" mod barrel and a 20"+/- deerslayer barrel.

[kentucky_smith]

Here's what should be different about that barrel:

from a guns and ammo article:
With it's original 12-gauge Deerslayer, which featured rifle sights, cylinder choke and a slightly underbored barrel that held slugs tightly and squarely as they passed along its length, Ithaca was the first gunmaker to offer such a dedicated production slug gun (16-gauge and 20-gauge versions would eventually follow). Tighter bore tolerances allowed for improved accuracy with slugs of the day.

http://www.gunsandammomag.com/long_guns/deerslayer_three/

[viking499]

Can you buy a rifled slug barrel to fit on the 37's?

[kentucky_smith]

Yep, but they aren't cheap:

http://shop2.mailordercentral.com/bpicart/prodinfo.asp?number=281

[BruceRDucer]

That was a very helpful post. The slug issue had me confused.

Thanks!

[Blue Brick]

I thought the more "open" the choke the better? I am going on a Cougar hunt very soon which barrel should I use with slugs, (Mossberg) 28 fixed modified or 18.5 cylinder bore?

[Dave McCracken]

BB, the short barrel probably is the better choice, but leave it not to chance.

Go shoot it with slugs. Find the one that's most accurate in that barrel and buy lots of them.....

[Blue Brick]

Can I shoot slugs or buckshot through a "smoothbore" field barrel with Accu-Choke™ tubes? (500/505/535/9200/88/930 models)
Yes, and with sabots or rifled slugs, the more "open" the choke tube, the better the accuracy ("Improved Cylinder" recommended.) The "full" or "modified" choke tubes are preferred for buckshot loads. Slugs, buckshot and steel shot loads are not recommended for use with an extra full "turkey tube" installed, due to the tube's tight constriction. Do not fire any load without a choke tube installed, doing so will damage the internal choke tube threads.


http://www.mossberg.com/content.asp?ID=508&section=resources