Effective range with rifled slugs

[dispatch55126]

What is the effective range of both 20ga and 12ga rifled slugs. I went out with my 91/30 last year but my farm sits in a shotgun only zone. I'm still crossing my fingers that I'll get my warranty refund Monday or Tuesday so I can get a slug gun. For both shotguns, they start to drift high at 50 yds but is 100yds too much to ask from a smoothbore?

I'm using a Mossberg bolt action 20ga and I'm letting my brother use my Savage Model 720 12ga. Thanks.

 

[Titan6]

Well it kind of depends upon the slug, the gun and the shooter. Figure about 100-150 yards after you plug in the variables.

 

[Snarlingiron]

The round is fine out the range you describe. The bigger issue may be sights. Accuracy at those ranges is difficult with the typical bead front sight.

 

[S&Wfan]

My old 1969 Ithaca 12 ga. DSPS has simple, rifle-like non-adjustable sights (notch rear, with triangular glow orange front) and it turns out it shoots dead on at 100 yards w/ Federal "Classic" brand rifled slugs.

It also shoots 1 1/2" 3-round groups at that distance. At 125 though, the "rainbow" trajectory is already taking its toll. Thus, 100 yards is definately in my comfort zone for this firearm. With other brands/loads, my confidence factor would shrink rapidly below 100 yds. I like to put 'em down where they are shot.

I have fond memories of taking TWO bucks on the last day of a long, non-productive deer season around 1999 with that Ithaca. Both came from behind me, parallelling where I was set up in my climber. They were SEVENTY-FIVE YARDS to my right side though, and they wouldn't be getting closer as they walked away through the bottom I was hunting.

Both fell to the Ithaca M37 DSPS that morning, shooting left-handed (then again, I AM left handed). Man, that slug can blow quite a hole in a big buck!!!

T.

 

[Buckwacker]

Are you saying that you want to shoot long range without a rifled barrel? I would not take a shot at a living creature over 70 yards if that with a smooth barrel. A clean kill is important to me.