[AcceptableUserName]

I'm considering sell off my slug pile. The shotguns a limited weapon as it is...would anyone ever really have a practical use for a slug in a true HD scenario? I mean honestly. If you CAN'T AFFORD a rifle, or will never buy one, I suppose I could see the use. But if you have a rifle (s) already, wouldn't you rather run/stock up on buckshot strictly?

[jmortimer]

At close range the slug is devestating. Even if the bad guy has on a "bullet proof" vest the BG would probably be incapcitated if you hit the vest.. Unless you are shooting OO or OOO buck shot you may not get enough penetration anyway.. You can shoot slugs out to 100 yards so that would cover most any situation. If you want to use the best HD "buckshot" get the Dixie Slugs Tri-Ball. Many load both and start with the buckshot and mix in a slug or two. Makes sense. What's not to like about a slug. At most any HD range there is nothing better than a shotgun.

[ArmedBear]

1 oz. of lead hits pretty hard.:)

But I don't have any slug loads ready for HD, myself. If I want a powerful long gun with a slow rate of fire, I might just as well hit 'em with some .30-06 elk loads, or better yet, some fast-expanding deer loads like SSTs. At HD ranges, those would probably work all right.:D

[oasis618]

They eat my tomato plants.

[reckless carolinian]

No, I cannot afford a rifle. I will never be able to afford a rifle. Will you then donate your slugs to me as an ammunition stimulus package? Free samples? (Worth a try.)

[jakemccoy]

If I were downsizing my system, I would probably get rid of my slugs. However, I'm not hiking on foot during the end of the world. So, I figure I can keep some stuff around that I'll probably never use but that makes me feel good just to have it. It's called a luxury: I don't need it, but it's nice to have the ability just for the heck of it.

[Girodin]

would anyone ever really have a practical use for a slug in a true HD scenario?

I take it you have never shot anything with a slug before.

[LoneStarWings]

I keep 4 full power slugs on my shotgun's shell saddle in addition to 9 extra rounds of reduced recoil buckshot. If for some reason I'm in a situation where buckshot won't work, I want to have those slugs there (more precise shot at 15+ yards or more penetration required). Most defensive shotgun courses will preach this concept to their students at length.

[Tim the student]

They are no fun to practice with, thats about as far as my not liking them goes.

In my home, I use buckshot though.

[Speedo66]

1 oz. of lead hits pretty hard.

:D

Yes, from both sides of the gun.

[Girodin]

Yes, from both sides of the gun.

That is the thing I like about my S12 the most it is such a soft shooter. I can shoot 3" slugs and my wallet will get sick of it long before my shoulder.

[mrjohnston]

Yeah 435 sum odd grains of lead moving rather slow, deposit alot of energy. Hog hunting I ran 2 slugs followed by 3 buck, logic being the first two shots would be at a standing hog or one getting started running, and then next 3 would be running. In a home defensive situation I switch that. First 3 buck, oh crap threat is still threatening, 4 slugs, that should do the trick. Recoil is a nonissue when adreneline is flowing.

[Brass Rain]

From any tactical standpoint, I think the more options the better. That's not unreasonable at all.

[ArmedBear]

It's interesting that, while some do like slugs, nobody seems to advocate keeping a .45-70 Guide Gun for HD, though. It's maneuverable, quick, and powerful, shooting a big 405 grain bullet relatively slowly, but accurately.

[76shuvlinoff]

I think in any potential HD situation it is very good to have options.....

[Smith357]

I keep a deer slug loaded in last 2 positions in my HD shotty. I don't know how well it will actually work should I need them, and I hope I never have to find out, but it makes me feel warm inside knowing it's there. :)

I have found a deer slug used for its intended purpose very inadequate. They just don't have the accuracy for dropping a deer past 50 yards. For deer I went with a .54 which gives me an extra 100+ yard range.

[lobo9er]

From any tactical standpoint, I think the more options the better. That's not unreasonable at all.

The more can also be the more confusing. For any type of SD/HD might be better to keep it simple. Do most of your hunting with a shotgun might as well use the same for defense. you know the system, you've used it under pressure and you know how it performs.

[Tim the student]

I have found a deer slug used for its intended purpose very inadequate.

Do you mean when hit, or is this tied to accuracy? I find them to be great for their intended purpose.

They just don't have the accuracy for dropping a deer past 50 yards.

They do. A combination of you, your gun, and your slugs may not be suitable past 50 yards, but the slugs themselves are just fine.

[Youngster]

I don't know about slugs for HD but they certainly have their uses outside the home, animal defence for one.

[SuperNaut]

I really do NOT like 3" magnum slugs.

[SnakeLogan]

I have a couple boxes of slugs, but would never consider using them for HD.

My HD round is 00 buckshot (12 pellets). More surface area than a slug (so you're more likely to hit the CNS), and more penetration (so you're more likely to reach the vitals).

[Fred Fuller]

In a flimsily built apartment complex, a trailer park, or yuppie-box suburbia with exterior walls a reasonably strong person could put a fist through, slugs have some definite disadvantages as defensive rounds. Heck, in that kind of environment, larger sizes of buckshot do too. If you live in a place like that, you may well have no business considering slugs in a shotgun for defensive use.

Out here in the country where we live, slugs have some definite advantages in power, range and penetration. I'm not giving mine up...

lpl

[DougW]

I don't like full power slugs or buck. I use only reduced recoil slugs and buck, and have fired slugs effectivly out to 150 yards. The HD shotgun has only buck, but 6 slugs are on the butt culf, 6 buck on the side saddle.

I would consider my Benelli my primary defence weapon fron 1' to 150 yards. Tremendously effective and accurate.

I also don't mix rounds. Having shot a recent 3 gun match which required mixing rounds for specific targets, 7 shooters hit the right targets with wrong loads and were DQ'ed. 4 of the 7 are avtive duty police, 2 being Tactical Unit members. It is too easy in a stress situation to loose awareness of what round you are on when shooting. If over penitration is a concern, slugs are not always a good thing.

My thinking is to "repel boarders", not prusue and attack. I'm too old for that crap. I leave the "fix bayonett's" stuff to the pro's.

[zhyla]

I like slugs for rang shooting... it's just nice to see one hole right where you aimed once in a while :).

[AcceptableUserName]

I guess my stance is softened a bit since making the thread, there's nothing wrong with having the versatility a slug offers. That said, I'm selling my slugs and putting it in to buckshot. When I'm comfortable with what I have as far as 00 and #4 goes, I'll probably stock up on a ratio or equivalent in slugs.


What rifled slugs do you guys like? Hollow point or solid nose? I'm thinking of stocking up on equal parts Winchester Hollow Points (CHEAP CHEAP at Wally and also very destructive) as well as solid nose Remington Sluggers. There's probably BETTER, like the Brenneke asnd Federal Tactical, but I believe these two offer the most value for the money.

[jmortimer]

Would recommend the Federal Tru-Ball. More accurate. The Brennekes are Beasts - will kill anything on the earth.

[faizi]

I keep 2 Federal 1oz hollow point rifled slugs along with 3 Federal OOO buckshots in my Maverick88's mag.

[wlewisiii]

HD diet - 00, slug, 00, slug, slug, slug out of an Ithaca 37.

William

[blitzen]

I hate slugs and I'll tell ya why.
I consider my Benelli M2 Tactical Hd shotgun just that. A shotgun ment to be pointed very quickly. (as in shooting at a quail). Sooo, I removed the sight system that came on the gun and installed a tritium big dot sight on the bbl. All is well until I start going to three gun matches and the guy who sets the stages up insists on having slug stages out to 50 or 75 yds. :banghead: I can hit them and I do fine but I don't like it.
I also think that it is folly to think that in a gunfight with real bullets flying and your trying to get small that you will be swaping out the buckshot that you have loaded for the slugs that are on your side saddle. To me that's just trying to be game fancy. Just my thoughts.
For all occasions I like the tactical buckshot loads and the reduced recoil slugs. The buckshot shoots what I would consider a deadly pattern out to 40 yards and the reduced recoil slugs are accurate and not unplesant to shoot.

[batmann]

Unless you really need the room, keep the slugs, they cost nothing to keep. Next time you practice, shoot a couple. Shoot 'em for practice!
My main HD load is 00, but I keep some Brenneke slugs close as well.

[76shuvlinoff]

I keep six rounds in the extended mag on my 870, the last one shoved in is a slug making it first in the chamber, the rest are 00. This arrangement allows a slightly more surgical approach to the first round if needed, if surgical placement is not needed it's going to get fired anyhow, I'm not shuckin it out of the way. If 6 loads from my 12 ga is not enough and I'm still breathing then I'm going to something else.

[fireman 9731]

I have 2 in the buttcuff on my shotty.

Its better to have them and not need them than need them and not have them.

[arizona98tj]

I have found a deer slug used for its intended purpose very inadequate. They just don't have the accuracy for dropping a deer past 50 yards.

That may be true for you. But to assume it is for others would be silly.

I just picked up a new semi-auto shotgun. After getting things dialed in on the 1X optic (red dot), the next 4 slugs shared a 1.3" hole on the target, @ 50 yards. I would not hesitate to use that shotgun on a deer sized target at 100 yards. Matching up the gun, ammo, and shooter can and does often times make a significant difference in performance. ;)

[AcceptableUserName]

one thing I NEED to disagree with here is staggering the mag load. No offense to you guys who've thought it out and believe in it, but the staggered buck-slug combo seems to be the mall ninja prescription of choice in my experiences. I can't tell you how many times I've been buying buck at Cabelas and asked by some 18 year old at Cabelas, "you use slugs with this, right? I heard that's the best. Such a scary combo!" It's pretty insulting really, but whatever. And personally, if I were a bad guy I'd probably be more worried about nine copper plated balls rather than one huge chunk of lead...although neither sounds like a picnic :D


Seriously, no offense, but a slug really has no purpose at SELF DEFENSE ranges. WAY too much penetration, even a hollow point is going to pass right through the average size man with energy to burn. And mixing the mag tube is asking for trouble. No one can keep track of what kind of ammo they are at in that kind of situation. It's best to keep the slugs in the saddle and the buck in the tube, having patterned AND grouped both ammo. At SELF DEFENSE (again, the keyword) ranges, the buckshot is easily the go to.


And to the smarty pant's, YES I have shot many a slug in my time. That's why I choose buckshot at self defense ranges. :D

I'm going to keep some slugs on hand, I believe it would be prudent. But my shotguns are SCATTERGUNS, first and foremost.

[Dave McCracken]

The Winchester 1 oz HPs have done very well for me on Eastern Shore deer. In one of my slug shooters, they rank second in accuracy and not much worse in the other.

The KO Brenekke 1 oz non sabot is also worth a look. That's the best one so far for accuracy and has done well on venison acquisition. It's also been rather inexpensive at times.

[AcceptableUserName]

Yeah, I love the Winchesters. I love the classic Winchester style crimp and high, fat base/brass too (I avoid anything euro crimp), and they deliver extreme expansion. If I was hunting and/or had a dedicated slug gun, Brenneke would probably be my top choice. They're great, but for the purpose they don't really fit in, cost-wise.

I like the Remington sluggers for ball slugs, but I am looking for a similarly-priced alternative because for some reason those sluggers like to stick in my guns for some reason. I haven't figured out why...


Basically, I'm wanting to build a 50/50 stock of Hollow Point (Winchester) and ball slugs. I'm looking for a good alternative to the Remmys that cost the same and offer the same quality.

[PJR]

Living in a semi-rural area where HD can mean longer distances and larger four-legged creatures I prefer slugs to buckshot for added range, penentration and stopping power. The only buckshot I use is #4 which is intended for small varmints.

[Deltaboy]

Slugs drop things inside 100 yards STONE COLD DEAD. Back in the 1980's a LR Ark PD officer with a BP vest was killed on a drug raid by a Brenneke Sabot Slug from a sawoff H&R single shot 12 gauge shot gun. It knocked him back out the door snapped his sterum and a Rip bone punched a hole in his heart.

[sarduy]

i dont want to get hit my a 440gr (1oz) slug flying at 1500 fps. same as getting shot with .44 magnum but with a bullet .440gr bullet.

[jmortimer]

I'd say it's worse - the slug is starting out at .69" compared to .429"

[smallbore]

I use slugs for game and 00 buck for home defense.

[MCgunner]

They make for a versatile field gun. Not necessary in the home and I've never actually shot anything with one other than paper. I have rifles where rifles are required, just good to have a few slugs on me when I'm dove hunting. Never know down there when you'll get a shot at a hog, and I like pork. :D

[huntsman]

The problems I have with slugs are the good ones can be very expensive.
Remington copper soilds $14.99
Brenneke classic mag $ 7.50

and that's per 5.

[Avtomat Kalashnikova]

That is the thing I like about my S12 the most it is such a soft shooter. I can shoot 3" slugs and my wallet will get sick of it long before my shoulder.

i was thinking the same thing

[joe_security]

I was waiting for someone to say it, and Lee Lapin said it. I consider the slugs to be to much penetration for HD. For me, its low recoil OO or bird shot. No home invader wants to walk into a cloud of birdshot.

[76shuvlinoff]

Slugs drop things inside 100 yards STONE COLD DEAD. Back in the 1980's a LR Ark PD officer with a BP vest was killed on a drug raid by a Brenneke Sabot Slug from a sawoff H&R single shot 12 gauge shot gun. It knocked him back out the door snapped his sterum and a Rip bone punched a hole in his heart.

Tragically if this is true it makes valid point. If LEO has body armor in the 80s so can a BG today. Granted it ain't likely but we prepare for the unlikely don't we?
Mr. BG may not have body armor but the SOB could be shooting at you from behind the fridge.

[Avtomat Kalashnikova]

The main reason i don't have slugs in my HD gun is because i live in a suburban area and have close neighbors, otherwise i think they would be a good choice for HD

i use a rifle to hunt so, i have no need for them in that way

[Hunterdad]

Shotgun....limited?

The shotgun can do everything from rabbits to bears. I wouldn't call it limited.

[Drice72]

I have slugs in my HD gun. I load so my first two shots are 00 buck, next is two are 000 buck lastly, two 1 ounce Win Super X hollow points at 1600 fps. That puts just under 2500 ft lbs of force into the BG. Now they are last for a reason. I don't want to over penetrate, but if the buck shot doesn't do the job. Its time to graduate to something else. If the situation continues to elevate beyond what buck shot will handle. Then its nice to know I can elevate too.

[MCgunner]

Shotgun....limited?

The shotgun can do everything from rabbits to bears. I wouldn't call it limited.



Bear at 400 yards? Okay, now is it "limited". :D

[Lynx_Strife]

I have found a deer slug used for its intended purpose very inadequate. They just don't have the accuracy for dropping a deer past 50 yards. For deer I went with a .54 which gives me an extra 100+ yard range.

My handloads print 2-3" at 100 yards.I will take it over a a traditional deer gun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaL61Z0nzf0

also watch that. :D

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

You don't need a stockpile of them. Just two or three on the sidesaddle, just in case a full tube of OO doesn't do the trick. :) Or maybe towards the front (last in line) of the tube mag.


anybody NOT like slugs?

They eat my tomato plants.

Game, set, and /thread! :D