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Posted By: 10ring1 Most accurate slug gun? - 11/19/09
Hi, I'm new to using slug guns. Looking for a 12 ga. I was thinking the BPS. I have a 2.5-8 Leupold to put on it. WHat kinda accuracy can I expect? What do you guys recommend? Thanks much Dave
Posted By: dvdegeorge Re: Most accurate slug gun? - 11/19/09
If I was to buy a new slug gun base on current offerings it would be a Savage 210
Posted By: Ruger # 1 Re: Most accurate slug gun? - 11/21/09
For accuracy, you'll be hard pressed to beat the New England Ultra Slug Hunter.It ain't a pretty gun, but man they shoot.The mentioned Savage would be my next pick.
Posted By: passport Re: Most accurate slug gun? - 11/21/09
Originally Posted by dvdegeorge
If I was to buy a new slug gun base on current offerings it would be a Savage 210


Agreed, I owned one and it was a shooter, but had recoil that would stop a clock too.

As for "the most accurate slug gun" I would look at a Tat-Hunt bolt gun, very accurate and very expensive. I had the boys at Da-mar gunsmithing pin a Badger barrel on an 11-87 that would shoot an inch at 100 and not kick your azz in the process.

Look at the Savage 220 also, thats the 20 ga version of the 210, should be a great gun.
Posted By: tbear99 Re: Most accurate slug gun? - 11/22/09
my ole ithaca 37 12ga deerslayer puts 2 slugs touching at 70 yards that is accurate enough for me
Posted By: AndyG Re: Most accurate slug gun? - 11/22/09
I have a 12 ga. H&R Ultra Slug Hunter w/ thumbhole stock, Weaver 2-10x38mm scope, Weaver tactical rings, 3" Win. Part. Sup. slugs. It's sighted in 2" high @ 50 yds., which puts it about dead on at 150. so, I went over to our 200 yd. target range and dialed it in dead on @ 150 yds. It will shoot 2" groups (+/- a bit) at 150. This much accuracy combined with the slugs ballistics, makes this a 200 yd. slug gun, as long as I don't "aim out of the hair". I love this gun.
Posted By: federali Re: Most accurate slug gun? - 11/22/09
My Ithaca Deerslayer II will put modern saboted slugs into 2.5 inches at 100 yards. Although I have not yet tried them, the Hastings slugs have a reputation for extreme accuracy as the sabot stays with the slug, thus eliminating the chance of the sabot's release disturbing the slug.

An Ultra Slug Hunter in 20 gauge, combined with Hastings slugs, just might be the most accurate slug gun/sabot combo currently available.
Posted By: passport Re: Most accurate slug gun? - 11/22/09
Federali make a good point, Hastings slugs. They fly every bit as good as Lightfield's for about 2/3's the cost. There 9.99 or less at our Dunnams, where Lightfield's are 13 to 15 bucks.
Posted By: AndyG Re: Most accurate slug gun? - 11/23/09
Hastings and Lightfields are junk. I've used the 20 gauge Lightfields with terrible results on 3 different deer. If you go to their websites and look up their ballistics, you'll see that the slugs start out with great muzzle energy and velocity. But who shoots deer at the muzzle? The slugs are awfully un-aerodynamic and drop speed and energy incredibly fast. The Lightfield 3 1/2" slug has 4800 lbs of energy at the muzzle and is down to 3100 at only 50 yds!! and is down to only 2000 at 100. 4800 to 2000 in 100 yards....JUNK. Use either Winchester Part. Golds or Remington Ultra Core-Lokt. These are the best slugs on the market. Period.
The whole key is finding exactly what YOUR gun likes. I have seen same model guns with one shooting nice tight groups to the other shooting "patterns".

I would try the Hornady SST, Winchester Partitions and Rem in that order. All in the 2 3/4. The 3" will knock your eyeteeth out.

I would also recommend you look at the 20 instead of the 12. Super flat, hard hitting, accurate and not a slobber knocker. Savage just came out with a 20 gauge built on their 110 action that is a hammer.

BH
Posted By: wildfowl Re: Most accurate slug gun? - 11/24/09
The most accurate slug gun I have ever used is the Browning A-bolt with the fully rifled barrel. I have yet to see one that will not shoot!

Mine really like Winchester Supreme Platinums
Posted By: 28lx Re: Most accurate slug gun? - 11/25/09
I would recommend the BPS. I have the Deer Special with the cantilever scope mount barrel and it will put 3 Hornady SST under 2 inches almost everytime at 100 yards. I think the BPS is a bargain. I also have used Remington 11-87's and 870's as well as a Mossberg 500.The BPS has some nice features such as bottom ejection and a champhered washer to keep the barrel centered on the magazine tube for better accuracy and I love a tang safety.
Posted By: 28lx Re: Most accurate slug gun? - 11/25/09
I agree a 20 ga. gets the job done just fine also.
Posted By: NimrodRx Re: Most accurate slug gun? - 11/25/09
Originally Posted by wildfowl
The most accurate slug gun I have ever used is the Browning A-bolt with the fully rifled barrel. I have yet to see one that will not shoot!

Mine really like Winchester Supreme Platinums


Amen to that. Mine likes the Win Supreme Platinum Partition Gold High Velocity.
I own several designated slug guns and out to 50 yds. all will take deer cleanly and quickly. If you want a long range shooter without breaking the bank, I recommend the H&R UltraSlug in 12 ga. I have a Nikon 3x9 SlugHunter scope with the BDC reticule mounted on it and I believe it is the single most accurate slug gun I have ever seen for any distance beyond 50 yds. It is one heavy gun though. Since I hunt 100% of the time from a stand, this is not an issue for me. My gun will shoot either a single jagged hole or a cloverleaf at 100 yds every time from a sandbagged benchrest. I can't do as well standing freehand because I'm an old phart and shake a bit. I have a Mossberg 500 pump, a remington 11-87 semi-auto, and a Stevens 210 bolt. My second most accurate gun is the Stevens 210. My goto gun for deer is the H&R UltraSlug. I took a 310 lb bear in Canada with that gun 2 years ago and have taken several nice bucks with it as well. It is a shooter for sure!

You need to shoot a bunch of different sabot slugs through any DSG to see which your particular gun and barrel prefers. That can be a bit expensive if you don't find it's favorite pretty quickly. For example, I spent almost $80.00 in slugs before I found one that grouped under 2" at 50 yds. Once I did and fine-tuned my scope, I have a real tack-driver. I wouldn't trade it for anything! By the way, my UltraSlug seems to prefer the Federal Barnes Expander Hollow Point in 3". Yours may or may not prefer the same sabot as mine.
Savage 220f and 3" Federal Barnes Tipped or Remington AccuTips.
End search.
I've got three, an Ithaca deerslyer with the fixed barrel, a Browning A-Bolt with a fully rifled barrel, and a Bennelli Super Black Eagle with a fully rifled barrel. They are all super accurate. Each has its' plusses and minusses. If I am going to be in a treestand all day I almost always use the Browning. If I am going to be doing drives all day with a group I take the Bennelli unless I am in a rfle zone because you cannot use a semi in PA in a rifle zone. I always seem to grab the Ithaca if there is snow on the ground and I plan on walking through thick stuff. Mine is the carbine model with a 20" barrel and it swings real fast in the thick stuff.
Old post brought back from the dead but I'll put my $.02 in just in case. I shoot a Browning Gold Hunter 12 ga. and it loves Win. Partitions. Win. BRI's group second best followed by Remington Core Lokt's and Federal Barnes EXP's. I choose to shoot the BRI's because they are cheaper and work fine on whitetails. Anything bigger and I'd move up to the Partitions. The Remington Core Lokt's seem to have the most energy though. I only have one fired Core Lokt slug because the others went right through the packed newspaper target.
I currently own two DSG's. An Ithaca Deerslayer III and an H&R UltraSlug, both in 12 ga. If I am stillhunting I take the Ithaca because it is so light. If I am hunting from my treestand I take the UltraSlug because of it's long-range accuracy. I have a red-dot sight on the Ithaca for fast target acquisition and a 3x9 Nikon SlugHunter scope with the BDC reticule on the UltraSlug.

Here's a hint: you usually don't get more than one shot at deer so make that first shot count. Get an UltraSlug in 12 Ga. and try the untipped Federal Barnes Expander slugs in 3". Let the yahoo's try to impress their buddies about how fast they can empty their magazine while you are gutting your deer. I've taken 16 deer in my life and none needed more than one shot. The farthest any of them went after being hit was just about 15 feet. The only problem is that the UltraSlug is a heavy gun fully rigged and loaded. Great for stand hunting but you wouldn't want to lug it through the woods all day long. Laser accurate though!
I just bought a 20 gauge TC Prohunter slug barrel. Have not tried it yet though, but everyone that has them says good things. Will report later.
Shot the H&R ultra slug hunter 12ga for years. It really liked the Hornady SST slugs. Great long range stand gun. Only downside was the weight, I even removed the metal rod from the stock and it's still a boat anchor. if you're doing drives through the woods I'd look in a different direction.
One might consider it in a 20ga, could be a bit lighter.
I don't get/have to do slug hunting but a couple of times a year. So far I've tried a Rem 11-87 with cantilever rifled barrel, 1 H&R 20 ga ush, 1 H&R 20 ga ush chambered to 3 1/2" by Hastings, 1 Savage 220, 1 T/C Encore Pro Hunter in 20 ga., Mossberg 500 12 ga cantilever mount and an Ithaca Deerslayer II guide model 12 ga.

I've gotten rid of several of those. And have a couple for sale now...LOL.

My favorites are the Encore, Savage, and Ithaca. But favoritism is a very individual thing. What I like you may not like.

All have been capable of killing deer at 100 yards with slug they like. Triggers, for the most part, suck on slug guns. Exceptions are the Savage and the Encore.

Try as many as you can and buy the one that trips your trigger (pardon the pun).

Slug guns today are leaps and bounds ahead of what was available just a few years ago.

As for choices in slugs, your gun will tell you what it prefers. There are slugs that have gained reputations with me for being accurate in most guns. These include the Remington Buckhammer, Lightfields, Remington Copper Solids, Remington Accutips, and Federal Barnes Tipped Expanders.

My favorites of those are the Buckhammers and the Accutips.

With all that said, shooting a slug gun is different than shooting a deer rifle. Not controlling the jump of the shotgun during the recoil impulse but holding down and back on the forearm will cause you major problems. You can't lay a slug gun on a sandbag and expect the point of impact to be the same as when you are actually holding it correctly (i.e. the forearm).

I know a lot of guys think that last statement is hogwash. To each his own, but I've seen it happen way too many times to discount it. The slug hasn't exited the barrel by the time the recoil impulse acts upon the shotgun, thus, your groups are going to look like patterns.

Sorry for the long response. Have fun in your search.

Ken
My Dad shoots an 870 with Hastings that does well. My brother shoots an H&R USH and it shoots ragged holes. My issue with them is the 870 needs a better stock to get a good cheek weld and the USH kicks.

I bought a Savage 210 and did some work to it. I couldn't be happier. You can find them cheap and make them awesome with a few new parts and a little work.
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Posted By: 5sdad Re: Most accurate slug gun? - 11/13/11
I would echo tbear's thoughts on his old 37 Deerslayer. Mine shoots right with my rifled 1300 at 100 yards (both accurate enough to make any miss at that range strictly my fault). It also has the advantage of shooting the less expensive Fosters. As for rifled slugs and barrels, be prepared to spend a fair amount of money finding what combination works best. My 1300 favors Federal/Barnes, my son's Mossberg-barreled 870 likes most anything, and my hunting partners A-Bolt likes Hornady SSTs. We have shot quite a variety of brands in figuring this out. The expense has not been insignificant, but the entertainment from the sight of flying snot encircling the scope,receiver, and shooter's face have somewhat lessened the pain in the pocketbook. Speaking of pain, be sure and give the Remington Buckhammers a try if that is important to you. Also, after reading freak's post, I was reminded to recommend a leather lace-on cheek piece.
Posted By: Clarkm Re: Most accurate slug gun? - 11/13/11
The Rem 1100 or 11-87 with open adjustable sights makes the holes touch at 50 yards. The is with just the rifled screw in choke.

That was as shock. I didn't expect it to be that good.
I just put a Savage 220 together for a guy I work with and was really quite pleased with it. Unlike my 210 there is no need for a new trigger. It will also shoot twice as good with its favorite load (.75 vs 1.5MOA). It doesn't weigh as much or kick as hard. If I were to buy a second gun it would be a 220 in 20GA.
Posted By: Ghostman Re: Most accurate slug gun? - 11/15/11
Since I live in a Slug only county and the majority of the state is slug only I've owned or tried LOTS of slug guns over the years. These include Ithaca 37 DeerSlayers, Remington 870, 1100 and 11-87s with both Remington and Hastings barrels, several H&R Ultra Slughunters, Mossburg 695, Savage 220 and 2 Benelli M2s.

Most would shoot less than 2" 3 shot groups @ 100 yards with sabot slugs. The most consistently accurate I've owned have been the Benelli's and the Savage 220F. Both have faster twists than most barrels which I've found works better for premium type slugs like Accutips, Barnes Expanders etc. My Benelli's and Savage will shoot a ragged hole 100 yard group.
Posted By: nyskt100 Re: Most accurate slug gun? - 11/21/11
Originally Posted by 7mmfreak
I just put a Savage 220 together for a guy I work with and was really quite pleased with it. Unlike my 210 there is no need for a new trigger. It will also shoot twice as good with its favorite load (.75 vs 1.5MOA). It doesn't weigh as much or kick as hard. If I were to buy a second gun it would be a 220 in 20GA.


This. Put a 6x42 Leupold on there, and you would be in good shape...
Why do people keep prefacing with,"This." when they post a declarative statement? What does that mean?
Posted By: 5sdad Re: Most accurate slug gun? - 11/22/11
Confuses me as well. Near as I can tell, it would put the statement on the opposite side of the fence from "That", and quite some distance from "The Other Thing".
Posted By: nyskt100 Re: Most accurate slug gun? - 11/22/11
Originally Posted by 7mmfreak
Why do people keep prefacing with,"This." when they post a declarative statement? What does that mean?


Wow, just agreeing with you...guess that makes once...
Posted By: HawkI Re: Most accurate slug gun? - 11/22/11
The ammo usually has more limits than the guns themselves.

I wouldn't want to carry the slug gun that ate anything and everything...
nyskt100,

I get that you agreed; I wasn't bashing your post. I legitimately don't understand the use of, "This." THIS is a singular demonstrative which requires some frame of reference. Is the frame of reference the quote? I want to know why and how THIS is being used because I always come away from such posts unsure.
Posted By: coobie Re: Most accurate slug gun? - 11/22/11
My 20ga.Savage 220f with 3 inch federal barnes expanders & my browning 12 ga.A-bolt with 2 3/4 lightfield sabots.Deadly combo out to 150 yards.coobie
Posted By: NYH1 Re: Most accurate slug gun? - 11/25/11
We have two Remington 11-87's slug guns. One 12 ga. with a 21" rifled barrel, cantilever scope mount with a 2-7x33mm Leupold scope. And a 20 ga. with a 21" rifled barrel, cantilever scope mount with a Nikon 2-7x32mm scope (it's like carrying a rifle!). The 12 ga. is mine and the 20 ga. is my fathers. He hasn't hunted in years so I used either one, when ever I want.

I don't mind carrying the heavier 12 ga. but this year I'm using the 20 ga. I was using 2 3/4" Lightfields and it shot pretty well. For some reason I couldn't get them to shoot that well this year. So I tried the Hornady SST's and Federal Premium 3" Barnes Expander HP (1900 FPS) Slugs. I tried the 3" slugs because for some reason they didn't stock the 2 3/4" Barnes Expander HP (1600 FPS) Slugs. My friends daughter just wrecked a nice 8 point at about 50 yards with an 11-87 20 ga. shooting Federal Premium 2 3/4" Barnes Expander HP (1600 FPS) Slugs. It was a bang flop, hit in the heart/lung area, never took another step. He shot a little bigger deer with his 1100 12 ga. using 2 3/4" Winchester Partition Gold Slugs. It only went a few yards.

The SST's were real erratic. They'd shoot 2 1/2" groups, I'd let the barrel cool down, then they'd shoot a 4 to 5" group. The Federal's shot 2 1/2 to 3" groups, shooting the same three shot groups from a cold barrel. All at 100 yards. Going from the Lightfields to the SST's and Federal's I had to lower my scope 6" at 50 yards. The Lightfields were about 3" high at 50 yards to be zeroed at 100 yards, not a huge deal (about the same with the 12 ga.). The SST's and Federal's are about an 1 1/2" high at 50 yards while zeroed at 100 yards in the 20 ga.

About 90% of my deer hunting is with a rifle so I'm not a big slug gun hunter. In fact I don't like them but in my home county rifles aren't allowed. You have to go check out as many different guns as you can. Once you find the one you like, you have to find a slug it likes.

Good luck, NYH1! wink

Posted By: bman940 Re: Most accurate slug gun? - 11/26/11
I had the pleasure of shooting a Browning Silver 20 ga with a rifled barrel topped with a Nikon SlugHunter 3-9x40 BDC 200 dialed in for Winchester Supreme 260 grain Sabot's. Nikon held a shooting competition back in June and this was one of the shooting stations the almost 200 competitors had to shoot at. Competitors were shooting this rig at 2 deer sized targets with a 6 inch metal strike area where impact was needed to receive points. One target was 86 yards and the other 146 yards. Utilizing the BDC Reticle on the SlugHunter scope many of the competitors received max points taking their shots at the farthest target. I know may of the guys walked away from this station saying they never even thought about shooting a 20 ga. slug gun for deer hunting but they certainly are now. I was very impressed with the Browning Slug Gun and how it all worked so well with the Winchester's Sabot Ammo and Nikon's Scope.
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