break in

[emsemt911]

I have a 20 870 express slug rifle with a Nikon Prostaf scope.  I was trying the Winchester 2 3/4 inch platnium tip rounds.  They were having about a 4  inch grouping at 25 yds.  As I kept shooting the rounds, they seem to be grouping better.  The last four I shot were all touching each other.  During the day I even put two in almost the same hole.  I think that my barrel may have worked its way loose on me since it was the first time the gun was ever fired.  I was wondering on two questions:

First:  Does a remington 20 ga riffled barrel need a break in?

Second:  I do not understand how some slug barrels do not shoot some sabots?  To me since they are in the plastic case, it would not matter on what sabot is in the plastic casing.  Can someone explain this to me?

I have ten rounds left of the Winchester, if they are still not holding a grouping I will be tryin the Remington Premier core lock.

Thanks
 

[deerhunter10]

I've talked with Remington myself about these barrels, and according to them there is no break in on those barrels. I've spent over $400 on ammo and these barrels seem to really like Federal Barnes Expanders. I'm shooting 2 1/2 groups at 50 yards and 4-5 inch groups at 100, out of my 1100 12 ga and 870 20 ga. There is a difference from sabot to sabot because of the diameter of the bullet. They vary from company to company. I would also suggest shooting the maximum your gun can shoot. The 3 inch shoot much better than the 2 3/4 out of my 20 ga. The bullet takes up the whole chamber, no jumping. That info came from the bullet manufactures, and again tons of money spent on the range. I would also check 2 things on your 870, make sure the mounts are tight( my saddle mount loosened up), and that your forend is on straight, mine was crooked and touching the barrel and that changed the complete harmonics of my  barrel. My groups were 8 inches at 50 yards until I corrected the problem. Good luck.

[emsemt911]

I went back to the range today and shot the last few winchester rounds I had.  It is grouping about 3 inches at 25yds and all over the target.  I will be trying another ammo...remington core loct.  I have a gut feeling that my Nikon might have a problem.  i will try one more ammo, it it is all over the target as the Winchester I will send the Nikon off for them to look at.

[emsemt911]

Well, the Remingtons shot very well today.  I did find a problem why the other ammo must have shot all over the place.
I have a 870 20 ga slug gun.  I was using a vice to try to sight in the gun.  Well the foreend of the gun had too much movement in the vice.  I was getting 2 inch groups at 25 yards in the vice.  I took my gun from the vice and was able to shoot 3 rounds in the 1" bullseye touching each shot.  I was shocked, but I also learned something today.