Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Slugs through an 870

I am looking at going bear hunting here in a few weeks, and I am thinking it wouldn't be a bad idea to have my trusty 870 next to me for back up, just in case. (although Ill also have my XD-40, so might be overkill).

I have the original 28" barrel, with screw in chokes. Currently I have an extended, super full on there for shooting coyotes with #4 buck.

My thought is if I took the choke out it would be ok? Would the slug going down the barrel cause damage to the threads? Obvously, my barrel is not rifled, but will a rifled slug prove some what accurate? Im not needing to shoot a gnat off a mosquitos ass, just accurate enough to hit black/brown fur if I A. Am lucky enough to call a bear in B. Don't kill it right then and there with my 300 wsm. C. Walk up on it till breathing.

rifled slugs are plenty accurate from an unrifled barrel.



I hunted that way for years in Michigan, basic remington slugs, a modified choke, or improved cylinder.

I don't think the lead will mess up the threads, but why take the chance? Do you have another non-full you can slide in there?

Why shoot through the threads? It probably won't be as accurate and is taking an unnecessary risk. Without a choke in there the threaded section of the barrel is very thin. A ding or knock there and it is no longer round and chokes won't screw in afterward. That is going to require a couple hundred bucks and some quality gunsmithing to set straight. Or scrap the barrel and buy a new one. Factory choke tubes are inexpensive and if nothing else provide a degree of strength and protection. I've found a lot of Foster type slugs shoot well through either IC or Mod choke constrictions.

Screw in IC or mod or something dont shoot the threads it will puck em up. My 1100 shoots foster slugs into dam near 1 hole at 50. I bet its way more accurate than you expect.

You must have the only Rem 1100 that will shoot one hole groups.

Doc

Don't shoot it without a tube screwed in!
Another option is to pick up a shorter barrel. Lots of 870 barrels out there, both new and used. You can get 20" barrels (smooth, smooth with choke tubes or rifled) with rifle style sights that will make it a little handier to haul around. Just watch to make sure the barrel chamber matches your receiver (2and3/4 or 3 inch). Find a gun show this weekend or next and you'll probably see dozens of choices.

Find a cheap 870 barrel over on EBay. A 20" Cylinder choked barrel will be plenty accurate for what you want to do, and much handier to carry in the woods.

This is the type of info I was looking for, I think i have my original Mod choke. I was unsure if screwing it in would squeeze the slug causing issues or not. Only time Ive ever shot slugs (which I have shot my fair share of) has been through shotguns of which do not belong to me.

Always have a choke tube in the barrel when shooting. The threads will be toast in no time otherwise.

Slugs GENERALLY shoot best with an Improved Cylinder choke (yes, there are guns that will do differently, but less choke is better -- GENERALLY).

In the bear woods, you might not feel comfortable thrashing around with a 28" barrel.... Your best bet (read cheapest too) is to look into something like this: http://www.cdnnsports.com/870-12-20-3-cyl-target.html#.Vc3yz_kVgYk

Your modified choke tube isn't going to be damaged by FOSTER type soft lead slugs. Most of them are so undersized that the hollow based skirt can't expand enough to fill a 12 gauge bore anyway. Often a Foster slug is rattling down a standard 12 gauge barrel, even with a bit of constriction. Brenneke and sabot slugs are a different story.

No! I had another they was just as good Doc. Plain old Rem slug barrels with open sights. Deadly at 50.

Load it with Remington BuckHammer slugs, then hand it to the bear, and have him shoot it. After his shoulder blades quit bouncing off each other and he wipes the snot from his face, he will have lost all interest in you.

I tried slugs out of my 870 just for the heck of it.. The 28 in. mod. choke would make killing shots on deer or bear to probably 100 yds.. The special field with an IC would be ok at 50 but a hit at 100 would have just been luck..

A Foster slug might not damage the bare choke-tube threads, but I'd guess shooting any number of them that way will leave a lot of lead and soot in the threads