Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Newbi slug questions...

I've been shooting for years, but I'm no shotgunner. I shoot SASS and other games with my Win. '97 and my Stoeger double using mostly 7 1/2 and 8 shot loads. My question is regarding slug use and barrel choke. My '97 has choke tubes and my double is an improved/modified combination. Do I need a true cyl bore to shoot slugs? If so, that would not allow me to shoot them in my double, yet I could get a cyl choke tube for my '97...right? What would the end result be if a slug was accidentally fired in non-cyl choked barrel?

Hope this question makes sense. I have the chance to hunt hogs in an area regulated to shotgun only and I'm considering my options. The ranger suggests 12ga slugs. Buckshot might be an option as well, don't know how well that would work.

Thanks for any input!

The standard lead shotgun slugs are made of very soft lead and will swage down through any choke without causing any problem. The shotgun slugs which are encased in a plastic sabot are to be shot only in the rifled barrels having no choke.

Shooting the cheap, Foster style slugs will be no problem in your guns. I too would stay away from Sabots.

Try the Breneke KO slug. They are the most accurate I have ever run across and will work in smooth bore shotguns. I use a Improve Cylinder and get less than 1" 50 yard groups in a Hatwan Escort pump. Midway sells them.

Tarheel

I am assuming your Win '97 is a repro with choke tubes, though stranger things have happened than to have a classic gun fitted with tubes. If so, I would pick that for the slug gun, as the regulation of shotgun barrels isn't likely to be exact enough to get good accuracy with slugs in a double gun. One barrel or the other perhaps, but not likely both. I have never tried it, simply a presumption. I would be interested if anyone has tried it and what results they got?

Yes this particular '97 that I'm referring to is one of the Norinco imports. Overall, I'm pretty pleased with it. It's been worked over a bit and some Winchester parts installed to make it run right. Of course the choke tubes were an addition as well due to its short barrel length. I couldn't see beating up my original 1904 Model '97, so I bought this one to play with. I really like the '97 where a pump shotgun is concerned. Thanks for all the input. I'll try the Foster style slugs. I'm understanding that's what the Winchester loads use.

A couple of things about Foster and Brenneke ( Sp ?) slugs. They often shoot way off, even at 50 yds., from where the sights look. The Ithaca "LAPD Specail" I have w/ rifle sights shot 12 inches to the left and another 12 inches high @ 50 yds. So some sort of adjustable sights are usually required.
Mine would regularly shoot 2.5 inch groups at 100 yds. once I got it sighted in. E