a couple of shotgun questions

[Mooseman]

I have a home defense shotgun with an 18.5" barrel can I shoot regular slugs through it? Sabot slugs? Is the accuracy with regular slugs half decent for deer hunting?

My local shop has a older mossberg 600at shotgun, can I put a mossberg 500 rifled slug barrel on it?

I live in a special regs area of PA, I'm taking my marlin 336 deer hunting this year but I have to drive a good distance to get into a county that allows hunting with a rifle. I'm thinking of using a shotgun next year so I can stay closer to home.

 

[DaleCooper51]

Are you sure it has a full choke?

Most short barrels have open chokes.

With a short barrel marked full, I would think that it is a cut down barrel.

 

[Mooseman]

I was under the assumption that defense shotguns had full chokes but I'm probably wrong. Are open chokes standard for them?

 

[Jim Watson]

Most shotguns are marked as to choke.
Very few riot guns are choked. A store here got some used 20" Full Winchesters from some police department or prison once and sold out before I could get one.

I have never seen an actual pumpkin ball shotgun shell, they were obsolete when I started reading about guns in 1957. Are you talking about the regular Foster lead slug?
If so, it is made to pass through a choke without damage.

 

[DeCocker]

Typically Cyl choke.

 

[Rshooter]

I have an 870P and two Wingmasters that are IC. You can use slugs through them, my Remingtons prefer Remington slugs. Sabots are best for rifled guns. I cannot say about the accuracy on your gun but mine are accurate enough with Remington slugs for hunting ranges as long as you practice.

 

[BP Hunter]

I have a Remington 870 express 12 guage with an 18.5" barrel. It also comes only with a bead sight. I have learned to shoot this simple set up with rifled slugs quite accurtely up to 60 yards. The grouping is an acceptable 4".

 

[arizona98tj]

Is the accuracy with regular slugs half decent for deer hunting?

Regarding slug accuracy, my FNH SLP keeps 5 rounds in a 2.5" group @ 50 yards. Never bothered to pattern it at 100 yards....but I can hit 100 yard steel with it at the range for what that is worth. If this satisfies your idea of "half decent", then yep, slugs will work for deer hunting.

 

[Mooseman]

Thanks all, sounds like it's viable with regular slugs. I'll have plenty of time till next season to get proficient. I'm off to hunt with the 336 in a few hours, wish me luck