Calling all slug shooters...

[JWM]

I got a Remington 870, light contour bbl, 26 ", 12 gauge shotgun that I bought new four years ago. The gun came with IC, Mod, and Full chokes. It has been a great gun for the New England grouse woods. ("partridge" to the locals).
Now, I got the hankering to adapt this shotgun to shooting Foster type slugs for occasional deer shooting. No, I don't want to buy the extra deer bbl with rifle sights. Just want to use the existing front bead sight for my slug shooting. So, I headed to the range with Remington Slugger slugs and some Winchester Super-X slugs to give it a try. I tried the different brands thru all three chokes. Results ?, Well the good news is good, consistent groups on the 50 yard line. The bad news is that all the choke/load combinations through my group about one foot to the left of the aiming point. Elevation right on, but windage way off !!
Question: Is there some choke tube that might move my bullet holes about a foot starboard on this gun ??

 

[RCL]

Do yourself a favor and buy the slug barrel. Doesn't have to be rifled, just have sights.
Right now where your head rests on the stock is your rear sight. You need something more precise and REPEATABLE than that.
My 870 12 ga. with smooth bore slug barrel (which I think are choked imp. cyl.) will put 5 slugs into a 3" spot off a bench. It likes the Foster type Winchester 1 ounce, 2 3/4" slug the best (seems to me the Win. slugs have always been the most consistent of the Foster types).

 

[Flash Hole]

Try some of the shot gun sights from Truglo or Hivis.
They bolt or clamp on with no gunsmithing, and are
fully adjustable. I use them for Turkey and Deer.
Point of aim- Point of impact.

John

 

[HSMITH]

What we need to know is if it is you or the gun. Did anyone else shoot it?

There is NO need for a slug barrel if your shots are 75 yards or less and you take a little time and effort to learn your shotgun. Anyone that disagrees is welcome to consent to giving me ONE shot at them from 75-100 yards away with just a lonely ol' bead, if I miss they can stick their tongue out and laugh at me. I will even shoot offhand with a two second limit from the buzzer to the shot. If not they will be quiet whether they want to or not .

 

[Rupestris]

You might want to try a fiber optic front sight as a cheap next step.
I shoot an 870 with the 26" vent rib bbl w.IC choke. From the bench and off hand at 50 yards I manage 3" 3 shot groups with Remington Sluggers with the bead sight only. With the sluggers my groups are about 2 inches to the left. I just picked up a few boxes of Rottweil Blitz to see if I can improve my groups/center with a slightly higher grade slug.
I'm sure the reason I shoot just as well off hand is because being 6'2" and hunching over at the bench makes shooting uncomfortable. I get a much better hold and shooting is easier on the shoulder when standing. Give off hand shooting a try to see it theres any improvement. You'll be in a much more natural position. Try lots of different ammo too.
You could also look at a side saddle scope mount and a scope with long eye relief like the Simmons Pro Diamond. This combo should only set you back about $80.
HTH,
Chris

 

[JWM]

thanks for advice

I have the "light contour barrel" version of the 870. Can I slap on any current version 12-gauge rifle sights bbl from Remington ?? I was under the impression that the light contour versions of the 870 were made slightly different in the frame/rails area, and therefore, the range of interchangeable barrels were more limited in options. If I'm wrong, then please chime in...(p.s.: my shotgun was manufactured in 1999).

 

[Darrin]

I'll second HSMITH's post. A front bead site and Dave's formula of BA/UU/R will do wonders.

 

[Dave McCracken]

A coupla things....

The 30" LC barrel recently written about by Yr Humble Scrivener interchanges nicely on two standard 870s here. I've little doubt it'd work elsewhere if needed.

Next time, try shooting it with your left eye closed. Some mixed eye/hand dominance probs surface only during one kind of shooting. IOW, you may be right eyed in the grouse thickets but revert to left eye in the open areas of a range.

And, have someone of known ability take a few shots with it to see if it's the weapon and load, or "Pilot Error".

And for your question, there's no choke tube that can move slug impact over a foot at 50 yards that I know of.

Frankenstein, with it's bunty 21" barrel and single bead, will keep KOs in 3" or so from the bench. Best groups with a peep sight and dedicated slug gun run not much larger.

FWIW, I see few shot opps over 50 yards in my deer hunting. 32 yards, all weapons, is about my average since 1992 or so.

Also, make sure your barrel is on tight with no slop by taking it hand tight, then using padded channelocks or vicegrips to tighten it ONE click.

HTH....

 

[Al Thompson]

Hate to disagree with such an august body of folks that I respect, but get a inexpensive set of clamp on sights (do you have a vent rib?).

I went through this ten years ago. Area where I hunted required slugs. My 1100 with a bead did fine at the range, but I had a couple of weird shots. Slug did not hit where I aimed - checked zero that afternoon (X 2). Finally figured out that I was moving my head when it was a meat shot. Spent the 20 bucks or so for the clamp on sights and the mystery shots stopped.

Despite some serious years of shooting, I need a rear sight for slugs.

HTH!