870 Express set up - Slug Questions

[Disciple882542]

I’d like to make my Remington 870 Express Magnum a little more dedicated to home defense. I’m looking into one of the 18 1/2” barrels but I’m not sure which one would be best suited for my plans. I’d like something that’s accurate with slugs as I don’t really like buckshot for home defense situations (I like knowing where ALL my shots are going).

I’ve considered a smooth barrel with a rifled choke. How accurate are these within a home setting? What about 30 +/- yards?

Price is a factor here as the smooth barrel with rifled choke and rifle sites are around $130 and the fully rifled are around $250.

Thanks and God bless,
Disciple

 

[Fred Fuller]

Try some Brenneke KOs in a smoothbore barrel and don't worry about the rifled choke tube. I think you'll find them plenty accurate.

lpl

 

[Al Thompson]

+1 with Lee. I have a smoothbore 870 with rifle sights - minute of bad guy at 100 yards. How big is your house?

 

[Disciple882542]

I'll have to check on the Brenneke's. Thanks for the advice folks!

Thanks God bless,
Disciple

p.s. I've been lurking for a while and appreciate all the information you and other members have posted here.

 

[Butter]

You sure you want to use slugs for home defense?

I guess expanding slugs would help if you hit the bad guy, I would just think a miss with one of those bad oscars would go through to the neighbor's house and could very well go through the bad guy at whom you are aiming even if you do hit him. At in-home distances, shooting buck shot isn't going to give you that big a pattern, but will dispense a lot of energy that shouldn't be too over-penetrative. As far as slugs go, I have never been to someone's house where they had a 30 to 50 yard hallway that I'd try to aim a slug down.

 

[Disciple882542]

The 30 yard question was intended for hunting scenarios. I don't have a 30 yard hall in my house.

I'm no expert on tactics but would be concerned about the individual pellets of the buckshot rounds hitting what they aren't supposed to. With 3 kids and a wife I want to ensure I know where everything is going should the conditions exist.

How tight a pattern are you looking at with a full choke?

 

[Butter]

Disciple,

I have an 870 "riot" gun with 18 and a half inch barrel and at regular "incident" ranges...say 10 to 15 yards the pattern with buck doesn't seem to be more than 8-10 inches or pie plate patterns. At closer ranges, say 25 ft, it's more like 6 inches. And regardless of the 25 ft to 50 ft home intruder scenario you would still have to aim to hit. Slug'n it at that range, imo, would offer more problems than a consideration of accuracy would merit.

If you can hit with a slug, you'll hit with buck shot and not spray it too far or wide. My concerns with slugs, again, would be missing with it and noting where it goes and perhaps shoot through consideration where buck shot would lose energy much more quickly and not overpenetrate.

In the end, your gun and your decision, but at defensive distances I think accuracy is shot placement is moot since the pattern just won't be that big. Go to a range and set some targets up at about 25 to 30 feet and shoot buck at it, see what you get and then decide.

 

[Disciple882542]

Slug'n it at that range, imo, would offer more problems than a consideration of accuracy would merit...If you can hit with a slug, you'll hit with buck shot and not spray it too far or wide.

Thanks Butter. That's a good point. I may have to do a little more thinking.

 

[Sir Aardvark]

I'm no expert on tactics but would be concerned about the individual pellets of the buckshot rounds hitting what they aren't supposed to

My concern with slugs is that they over-penetrate, so they are going to end up "hitting what they aren't supposed to" anyways - especially the Brenneke KO's, which are noted for their penetration. If you live in an apartment, or your typical suburban tract home, then you are in real danger of shooting a slug into your neighbor's house.

You would probaly do fine with a normal smoothbore 18" Cylinder or Improved-Cylinder barrel - no need to get a rifled-choke or rifled barrel.

Try patterning your shotgun with Hornady TAP 00 Buck or Federal 00 Buck with "Flite-Control" wads. Flite-Control wads are found in Federal Vital-Shok ammo and in their Law Enforcement Tactical LE132 LR ammo.
You will find that this ammo holds very tight patterns.

 

[Fred Fuller]

I second the motion to try patterning your current barrel with one of the loads using the FliteControl wad. One of the 870s here has an 18" CYL bore bead sighted barrel and will deliver 4" patterns at 25 yards with a favorite Federal LE load (don't recall the stock number and don't have a box handy right now). That might work well for you, and you can bet the Brennekes definitely will penetrate a lot. That's why I keep them handy- in case I ever need to convert cover into concealment for a BG somewhere.

lpl

 

[Jeff F]

I use a modified choke tube and can keep 9 pellets of OO buck inside five inches at 30 yards. Way tighter at 30 to 50 feet which is about the longest range inside the house.

 

[mgkdrgn]

I’d like something that’s accurate with slugs as I don’t really like buckshot for home defense situations (I like knowing where ALL my shots are going).

At HD distances, all of that buckshot =is= going to go to the same place. The recoil of the slug round is also going to make a followup shot take considerably longer to get on target than a reduced recoil buckshot round.

 

[Dave McCracken]

At typical HD ranges, buck spread is about shirt pocket size.

Casa McC is a townhouse, and I like my neighbors. No slugs here except for very special circumstances.

As I've written many times, MEASURE the longest possible shot opp in your domicle, add one yard for GPs, and pattern at that range to see just what to expect. Try different brands to see what your shotgun "Likes".

 

[buenhec]

Here is a stupid question, will your 870 Magnum shoot magnum loads? or is it just the name? I looked all over the manual and it did not mention anything.

 

[Butter]

BTW, per patterns, different loads will pattern differently in different guns. Like the others are saying, I'd get a few different HD loads and see what your gun likes. Good luck on your search.

 

[ocharry]

Desciple,,,maybe you should consider a 20" smooth bore remington slug barrel with rifle sights

the one on my 870 will put remington sluggers into one raggedy fist size hole at 50 yrds,,,and at 15 yrds it will put 00 buck into a 5-8" pattern,,the rifle sights put the pattern and slugs on target,,,,and you will need to use the sights inside your house too

this barrel and the one on my 1100 have in the past been used to deer hunt with when i lived in Ohio,,and they have done there job very well,,,but now they both reside on HD guns here at the house,,and i know they will step up when and if called upon

IMO a smooth bore barrel is what you need,,,,because a smooth bore will do the double duty of slugs and shot,,,but a rifled barrel while it may be better for slugs,,,and at 30 yrds that is a big MAY,,,,it doesn't work worth a hoot for shot or buck shot,,,,and a barrel with a screw in choke,,,well in a HD scenario,,,,who has time to change the choke tube??

just something to think about before you spend your money and decide you need something else,,,,,and of course this is just my .02 and YMMV

ocharry

 

[Disciple882542]

Thanks folks!!!

Oh well...looks like I'll have to shoot a little bit this Friday. It's a tough job but someone has to do it!

Thanks everyone for the input.