? about slug barrels

[waelkhntr]

I'm in the market for a slug barrel for one of my Remington 870's. I see that Remington, Hastings, and Mossberg all make replacement barrels for the 870 in both 18 an 24 inch models in both 2 3/4 and 3'' chamberings. Any advice in which one seems to perform best? Also retail outlets with the best prices.

Thanks in advance
Terry

[rebAL]

I have the short Rem. rifled barrel with cantilever scope mount.  It's designed for 2 3/4" shells in 2 3/4" chamber.  I was told that's due to short pumping action of my particular gun design.  Perhaps if your 870 has a 3" chamber the longer barrel matched to 3"shells would give you longer range.  I highly reccommend the cantilever mount regardless of your choice of barrel make.

[SDS-GEN]

Stay away from the Hastings barrells they have an undeserved reputation for quality.  I hunt with a fellow who did factory testing with the original Rem. copper solids and and Hastings 12ga barrel (problems with the slugs ruining Hastings barrels)
His team's conclusion was that the barrel was sub quality steel and craftsmanship (he said some weren't even straight when received  from the factory) and a slug design that was too hard for the barrels.  Hastings and Remington both redesigned their products, however the copper solid is still one of the best bargains for premium sabots the Hastings barrel is still much more expensive than the Mossberg barrel and slightly more expensive than the Rem. barrel, and isn't any better quality.

The problem with the copper solid was that Rem. left them work hardened and used a very hard sabot cup. Upon impact the slug broke apart and didn't penetrate well.  The new slugs work great I've recovered a couple of them and they definately expand and hold together.   

[GRIMJIM]

I have a remington 11-87 with a factory rifled barrel, with a cantilever scope mount. Believe it or not I couldn't get sabot slugs to group as well as the brenneke 1 1/8 ounce field short magnums. Three holes touching at 100 yards with a little practice. I personally would stick with the factory barrels.

I got it to replace a mossberg turkey gun I was using for deer. That gun shot three feet to the left at 50 yards using the sights on the vent rib, so I scoped it but wasn't very confident in the gun. Also with the 28" barrel it was like trying to carry a log through the woods. I also think the 18" is a little short. I'm rambling but my point is, I think the 24" would be a good compromise.

[Phoneman]

Mossberg is the best deal hands down. I use a 24" hastings and have no problems useing hornady or brenicky slugs. Haven't tried anything else since they both work great and kill deer. The only thing you get with a 3" slug is a sore shoulder. It has been proven to me too many times that 2 3/4 slugs are more accurate (could be because I know I'm not going to get a pounding everytime I pull the trigger) How much range do you need? How many of us shoot our slug guns enough to be confident at 200 yards? I have no problems with a 100 yard shot and open sights. I know I can do it and I know the gun will. anything farther and I like to get out the grunt call or my doe bleat.

[Ranger J]

I also have never understood the need for a three-inch slug, other than maybe being able to tell your friends that you shoot one.  I don’t believe the deer walks this earth that a properly aimed 2 ¾ inch slug won’t take down.  Then there is the recoil thing.  The object is to kill the deer, not your shoulder.  Admittedly most of us don’t feel recoil when we are shooting at a deer but we do when we sight the gun in.  I have a smooth bore rather short Mossberg barrel, it came with the gun back in the ‘80s, and after about two or three shots at paper I was flinching so badly I couldn’t hit anything.  I filled the stock bolt hole with #2 shot and that helped a lot but it was never ‘pleasant’ to sight in until bought a cantilevered rifled barrel for it.  Today I wouldn’t want to shoot 40 or 50 rounds at paper with it but 10 or 15 is no problem.  Eventually I got a Rem 11-87 with a rifled choke and it being an automatic was more pleasant to shoot.  Today I live in the Missouri Ozarks and the slug guns set in the safe and I shoot a 308 at deer.
RJ

[TribReady]

I got a Mossberg Cantilever for my 870 and love it......especially the price. It was hands-down alot cheaper than Hastings or Remington.
I have the 24" for slightly improved velocity. The 2 3/4" shells shoot better in my shotgun and although they kick, it's a little better than the 3", too.
Bought mine on ebay awhile back.

[Lawful Larry]

The problem with the copper solid was that Rem. left them work hardened and used a very hard sabot cup. Upon impact the slug broke apart and didn't penetrate well.  The new slugs work great I've recovered a couple of them and they definately expand and hold together.   

I never found that to be the case.  I never failed to get good penetration and expansion.  I have the short, fully rifled barrel.  The one with the open iron sights.  In your case I would suggest the cantilever style barrel.  As with any gun, you will have to run different slugs through it to find the one your gun will like.  In my case my Rem. 870 Express Magnum liked the Rem. Copper Solid.  These were the results:

Not sure if they let us post pictures of wounds, so I will insert a hyperlink:

 http://www.hunt101.com/img/472452.jpg
This is the entrance wound. 

http://www.hunt101.com/img/472454.jpg
This is the exit wound.  The copper solid did it's work well. 

[alsaqr]

"The problem with the copper solid was that Rem. left them work hardened and used a very hard sabot cup. Upon impact the slug broke apart and didn't penetrate well."

i've shot several hogs with the original 20 gauge Copper Solids that i picked up for $5.00 per box in WV.  They did not break up even when hitting heavy gristle and shoulder bone.   They are sure fire close range hog killers-up to 75 yards.  Unfortunately, the trajectory is like a rainbow. 

[shotgun31]

I've got a 20" open sighted barrel, plus a cantiliver barrel that I use on my 870, both are Hastings barrels;  they are accurate and very effective.  I've shot a bunch of different slugs on the range, and the most accurate in both of my Hastings Barrels are the Federal Premiums, I've settled on the 3" loads.

I've fired the cantliver barrel on the 200 yard line at our KD range, and I'm extremely impressed with the accuracy of the 870, Hastings barrel, Federal Premium's combination.  The drop was about 14 inches with a 100 dead on zero. Nice round holes so the slugs were nice and stable.

Copper solids & Hastings barrels had a problem last century, but according to the web sites it was a short term problem. 

I can't comment on any other after market barrel, but if I were to buy one tomorrow I'd buy the Hastings cantliver barrel  and make up my mind to shoot it on the range and determine which slugs performed the best. 

Invest in a good heavy duty scope.  The combination does kick!
Just my $.02
Shotgunman   

[SDS-GEN]

Guys, read my whole post.  The problems were with the original copper solids In 12 ga,  and the original Hastings rifled barrels.  If anyone wants to experiment with the copper solids the guy who did the testind had a couple of cases at one time, he may have some left.  His wife shot a doe with one at 30 yards this year, hit it in the shoulder and never recovered the deer, it isn't the first time it has happened to her.  As I said in my original post the newer copper solids are IMO unbeatable as far as terminal ballistics are concerned.  The problems were with the first year's production 12 ga slugs.

[eye shot]

          From what i've seen at the range I would recommend the Hastings barrel. I've had one for years and if it's bent I don't care because it prints nice little groups!

[S.B.]

Guys, read my whole post.  The problems were with the original copper solids In 12 ga,  and the original Hastings rifled barrels.  If anyone wants to experiment with the copper solids the guy who did the testind had a couple of cases at one time, he may have some left.  His wife shot a doe with one at 30 yards this year, hit it in the shoulder and never recovered the deer, it isn't the first time it has happened to her.  As I said in my original post the newer copper solids are IMO unbeatable as far as terminal ballistics are concerned.  The problems were with the first year's production 12 ga slugs.

How do you know she hit the shoulder if the deer wasn't recovered?

[Lawful Larry]

I don't understand all this talk about how bad the Remington Copper Solids are.  I have harvested two deer since I started to them.





AS the pictures show, it was a clean through in through shot.  this was at about 80 yards.  I will swear by them for sure.   

[Busta]

Larry,

I think you are talking about current production Rem copper solids? The original Copper Solid slug was a machined chunk of copper (work hardened as stated earlier) with an X pattern cut into the nose through the hollow point. The new production are very similar to the Barnes Bullets.

The difference is like night and day. The originals were very accurate, but were horrible performers on game. The current production are both very accurate and very good performers on game.

They should have gave the new slug a different name IMHO, because the old Copper Solid has a tarnished reputation in my neck of the woods.

[Lawful Larry]

Thanks Busta, I was begining to wonder what the heck.  Something didn't add up as to my experiences and what was being said here.  Now what you say makes more sense.