Question For Slug Shooters

[FFMedic]

For those of you who shoot slugs in smooth-bore shotguns:

-What size choke tubes have you shot slugs (such as Federal Tru-Ball) through? How tight can it go?

-What size choke is most accurate, cylinder bore correct?

-What adverse reactions have resulted from say, a modified choke and slugs?

Thanks!
FFMedic

 

[Sergeant Sabre]

-What size choke tubes have you shot slugs (such as Federal Tru-Ball) through? How tight can it go?

I've only fired slugs through a true cylinder-bore barrel. One can shoot foster slugs (often called "rifled" slugs) through any choke up to full. They are very soft and the "ribs" on their sides will swage down through the choke without damaging anything.

-What size choke is most accurate, cylinder bore correct?

Which choke is most accurate probably depends on the individual shotgun. I've seen ammo boxes than say an IC or cylinder is best.

-What adverse reactions have resulted from say, a modified choke and slugs?

None, that I'm aware of.

 

[springfield30-06]

-What adverse reactions have resulted from say, a modified choke and slugs?

Before I got my new 870, I used to shoot slugs out of a modified choke with no problem. Mine was a fixed choke, I don't know about the interchangeable ones though.

 

[sernv99]

when I got my new Benelli tactical shotgun, I asked about this. I was told to shoot the most open choke you can as that if you shoot a slug through a choke that is too "tight" for the slug to pass through, you'll blow up the gun, maybe risk injury to yourself as well. I was told cylinder choke is all you need.

so if I load my gun up with a mixture of rifled slugs and buckshot, what would be the ideal/best choke to use to be all around effective for both?

 

[Fred Fuller]

I've used all chokes CYL to MOD, both fixed and choke tubes. Never had any problems with either version.

There simply is no general rule for much of anything I know of regarding shotgun barrel performance. Every shotgun barrel is pretty much a law unto itself and there is no real way to tell what any given barrel will do. You have to gather up a variety of ammo and spend some time making holes in paper to find out what a given barrel will do with a given load.

NOTE: With slugs, this can be a less than pleasant undertaking, unless excellent form in shooting is maintained throughout the exercise.

I have had at least acceptable performance with Brenneke KO slugs (the cheap ones, yes) out of every barrel I have tried them in so far. Many barrels have done very well with them. I buy them by the case, not the box.

hth,

lpl/nc

 

[redneck2]

AFAIK, Foster style slugs shoot thru any choke, though sometimes very poorly. Long time ago I had an full choke 1100. Literally couldn't hit a 5 gallon bucket at 20 yards. Hit everywhere around the bucket.

 

[foghornl]

Generally Speaking, because every shotgun barrel/choke/ammo combination is a law unto itself, Modified is as tight as you want to go with slugs. Cyl or Imp Cyl are usually the best.

 

[JShirley]

I have a cylinder Model 500 that I load with Remington Reduced Recoil or KO for tough targets.

J

 

[rcmodel]

I was told to shoot the most open choke you can as that if you shoot a slug through a choke that is too "tight" for the slug to pass through, you'll blow up the gun, maybe risk injury to yourself as well.

Thats BS.
Who ever told you that is full of it!

No manufacture is going to sell rifled slug ammo that will blow up a gun because you shot it through a tight choke.

Just think of the millions of slugs that have been shot through old full-choke single-shot farm guns and such, before folks had access to all the Internet wives tails!

Blow up a Benelli Tac shotgun & injure the shooter?
I don't think so!

rcmodel

 

[chas08]

Thats BS.
Who ever told you that is full of it!

Nice job of sugar coating it RC (LOL) and your right.
I've shot foster type slugs through all chokes from full through cyl and have never had a problem. It is generally believed that a loose choke will perform better with slugs and probably for the most part that is correct. I have a 42+ year old HR 158 with a modified choke that shoots slugs pretty well (beer can accurate at 30 yds) As for, which choke would be the best for a mixed loading of slugs and buck, experimenting is the only way to find out. Like the man says ba/uu/rr.

 

[PJR]

I've tested various slugs with chokes from cyl to full, fixed and tubes. Nothing was damaged.

I use two barrels with my 870 for slug shooting. One is fixed modified while the other uses choke tubes in which there is most often a modified choke tube. Both shoot slugs well and I prefer the modified choke for #4 buckshot.

 

[DaleCooper51]

I have had at least acceptable performance with Brenneke KO slugs (the cheap ones, yes) out of every barrel I have tried them in so far. Many barrels have done very well with them. I buy them by the case, not the box.

My 870 with a 20" IC barrel does really well with these and I have a case of them in the closet.

 

[JShirley]

Thats BS.
Who ever told you that is full of it!

RC,
I've read several articles in the last 15 years that claimed that slug manufacturers were seeking to improve accuracy by making Foster-type slugs that were closer to full bore, with the warning not to shoot them through full chokes. I have also seen choke warnings on slug boxes, though I don't recall what the tightest choke suggested was.

John

 

[357wheelgunner]

I have improved cylinder barrels on my 870s and fire at least a hundred slugs when I go shooting for the day. No issues with Remington Low Recoil 1 oz slugs, and fantastic accuracy out to 100 yards.

 

[FFMedic]

Well I tend to shoot 00 buck by the case some weekends, so I'm well aware of the shooter shoulder issue. I have 3 guns with cyy bores, I'm thinking of an IC on my next and taking up some more slug shooting.

Does a 20" BBL with an IC choke sound like a good all around combo for buck and slugs then?

Thanks,
FFMedic

 

[Dave McCracken]

FF, yes.

 

[ocharry]

dang i hate it when you beat around the bush like that RC,,,,if you got something on your mind,,,,, hell just go ahead and say it,,,LMAO

both of my slug barrels are IC and the do really well with the foster style slugs,, as long as i keep the lead out,,taken a lot of deer

ocharry

 

[Fred Fuller]

Does a 20" BBL with an IC choke sound like a good all around combo for buck and slugs then?

<Movie Preview Voice> Only the pattern paper knows for sure... </Movie Preview Voice>

Seriously, gather an ammo can full of various loads and hit the range- that's the only way to tell what loads your particular barrel will like best.

I have similar barrels on several 870s and they do well. If you want tight buckshot patterns, try Hornady TAP or one of the Federal loads with the same FliteControl wad Hornady uses. Try Brenneke KOs for slugs. Unless I miss my guess, with a FliteControl buckshot load and KO slugs, you won't have to experiment much.

lpl/nc

 

[rcmodel]

I have also seen choke warnings on slug boxes,

I stand by my original statement.

Many people don't read warnings on boxes, and many that do ignore them. Heck, many people can't read at all.

No manufacture is going to sell slug ammo that will blow up the millions of old full-choke guns running around in the U.S.A!

Least of all a new Benelli Tactical shotgun!

Has anyone ever heard of it happening?
And can you prove the barrel wasn't plugged with mud so it was blamed on the slug load to mask stupidity?

rcmodel

 

[JShirley]

I've heard a few people on TFL or THR claim that they had bulged barrels, and I believe I've heard one person in the flesh claim to have ruined a barrel with slugs and full choke.

 

[Jeff F]

If your shotgun takes screw in tubes, get yourself one of the rifled choke tubes. They can really improve accuracy. They are not recommend for buck shot, very bad patterns. For a dedicated slug gun they are the next best thing to a fully rifled barrel.