Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Quail/Javelina combo hunt... slugs?

Hoping someone can help out a newby....

I've got a javelina tag for southern New Mexico in Feb. Back in college I used to quail hunt (Gambels) in the area and know that on the same day, in the same place you might see either species. So, I'm considering taking my 870 for the quail and bringing some slugs along in case I see a javelina and can fill my tag.

My question..... I've never put a slug through a shotgun and am a little confused by the options. This is a smooth bore, 20 gauge. Do I need a rifled choke tube? Rifled slug? Any recommendations on slugs?

thanks!

I'll guess that a standard Foster-style slug would do the trick at close range and no sights. Not being a slug man by any means, I'm am not familiar with later generation slugs at all, I do know that the old fashioned lead slugs are sized to safely squeeze through most any type of choke. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

If it were me I wouldn't bother with slugs. I would strap a .45 or .357 on my hip instead.

Time to start looking for a nice Drilling.

Use a modified choke tube with rifled slugs and you should be fine. Don't shoot sabots with a smooth bore...they likely be inconsistent. My dad has an 870 and he shoots federal rifled slugs and it is nuts on. I had an 870 as a kid and it was awful with slugs. Your just gonna have to shoot it and see what you've got. Good luck.

Thanks to everyone for the replies.

Yes, a handgun and/or drilling would be the ticket, but sadly neither is in the future for me right now. I'll give the Federal slugs a try and see how they shoot.

thanks again

There is also buck shot; I like #1 buck for coyotes out to about 40 yards; works great on coyotes and "pigs" are not much tougher.

yeah, in thick brush country, and given how iffy slugs are with no sights at ranges past 40 yards anyway, I'd be tempted to use small buck shot. javelinas aren't hard to kill.