2 3/4" or 3" USH 12ga.

[st8tman]

I am on the brink of purchasing a Ultra Slug Hunter 12ga for Spring Black Bear Hunting. I realize each gun likes different loads, much like centerfire rifles, but was wondering whether the 2 3/4" or 3" saboted slugs are generally preferred by this weapon. I plan on obtaining as much of a variety of ammo as I can to determine what shoots best, but thought if I could narrow it down to size might save my wallet. Any help greatly appreciated.

[deerslayer79]

2 3/4 lightfields and remmy coppersolids are plenty and extremely accurate out of my USH.

[Myron_Holley]

   Remember every slug gun is like women, All are the same but each is a little different, Some are keepers and other's you need to stay clear of.  All are unpredictable.  I have all ways said if you have a combo that works good for you stay with it. Keeping that in Mind remember all so that I dont get along with Remington and Savage because of there Department for gun repair and specks. All though I have many friends who shoot them both and would not trade for the world.
  If your buying slugs there is a difference in ammo. Foster slugs, Rem is the smallest diam, Followed by Fed, Win, You need to try to find which your gun likes best. I have had the best luck with factory ammo in the Brenneke and Active foster slugs as wad is attached to the slug and goes down range with it. Like feathers on a arrow. Sabots even seam better. Personaly again I dont care for the Rem but have had folks do very well with them. Fact is Factorys load the 3 inch a little more powereful as there mostly new guns. So is a little safer for them to do.
  I reload and Manufacter slugs for me and family, etc. If you have a new shooots gun and it is quality made. You can up the psi but I dont go to max as thats too much danger in destroying a nice fire arm. The reloader all so can get the same ballistic's with a 2 and 1/2 as the 3 and 1/2 with the modern powders. In most cases the difference is in the length of the wad. Thats it. It has nothing to do with the case capacity or length. You just very the wad length. I load and shoot the 2 and 1/2 in reloads as It gives me two  more shots in the 3 inch tubes. and all so I can easyly I.D. the slugs as there the 2 and 1/2 length. I use star crimp on cast Sabot slugs,
    All so remember that any thing I have said goes out the window if your going to shoot shot with the same barrel. Thats a whole new ball game.

[MI.sabot]

The only 3" shells I have tried out of my 12 ga. USH have been the Federal Barnes Expanders (FBE).
In general, my USH likes the FBE's, followed by the Copper Solids (CS) which are similar in construction.

As the picture shows, I was not disappointed in the performance of the 3" FBE's.
Let's just say based on the limited amount of time and shells I had available, and only taking it out to 50 yds,
it seemed like my USH patterned slightly better wth the 3". 
But in all fairness, I'd need to go back to the range with a couple boxes of 2-3/4" and 3" FBE's and CS's
before making a definitive statement that the USH preferred one length over the other.

Personally, I don't think you will be disappointed in the performance of either.  That USH is on sweet slug gun!

[st8tman]

MiSabot,
            I appreciate the reply. Ordered my USH 12 Tuesday, supposed to be here next Wed. Went ahead and ordered an assortment of ammo to see what it likes. As you know kinda costly initially......but once I find the "medicine" I can concentrate my future purchases accordingly. Curious.....have you tried any of the Remington Buckhammers? I hope these will shoot in my new gun, as I believe based on ballistics they will be just the ticket for large Spring Bear? Thoughts?

[MI.sabot]

No...I've never tried the Buckhammers.  I understand they pack a whallop on game (and probably your shoulder too!).

I took some Lightfields, Copper Solids and the Federal Barnes Expanders on my initial range trip with the USH.
After shooting the FBE's there was no need for me to try anything else for my hunting situations.

Good luck.  Let us know if you bag one with your USH.

[carbineman]

If you find some rounds your USH likes, hustle down to the outlet you purchased them from and buy more of the same lot number.

[MSP Ret]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Remember every slug gun is like women, All are the same but each is a little different,
 Some are keepers and other's you need to stay clear of.  All are unpredictable."


I just read this and am still smileing!!!! I laughed out loud when I read it and wanted to tell my wife
what I was laughing about, however 38 years of married life has made me know (most of the time
at least) when to keep my mouth shut. Thanks for the laugh my friend, I needed it....<><....

[Myron_Holley]

 It is a good statement and very true, But like you I did not let the wife see it. I all so know when to keep things in the dark room. Some things all though true is best left unsaid. Wife encourges me to write a book but think maybe best not done. She would read it and then would be in really big trouble. Lots of experances with world travel and reloading, Etc. Think I will post on Grays and leave it at that.

[d_hiker]

Curious.....have you tried any of the Remington Buckhammers? I hope these will shoot in my new gun, as I believe based on ballistics they will be just the ticket for large Spring Bear? Thoughts?

I have a NEF Turkey barrel that I got through the barrelaccessoryy program.  For whitetail hunting I replaced the turkey choke tube with a rifled choke tube.  The only sight I had was a fiber optic front bead.  I tried a few different loads through it at 50 yards.  I had seen the ad for the BuckHammers and I decided I had to try them, not cheap though.  At 50 yards with nothing more than a front bead, I was able to group them at about 3 to 4 inches.  Then on the opening day of deer season I got a very nice 8 pointer at 50 yards.  He stumbled then ran about 25 yards and dropped.  Yes at the range the BuckHammers gave me a good thump on the shoulder.  But in the field, I never felt a thing.

I am thinking about the USH for this next year so that I can extend my range by adding some optics.

I hope that you had luck in your bear hunt this spring. 

[GLC]

I tried Buckhammers at the range last year.  I got 2" groups of five at 100 yards off the bench.  I would hunt with them except that they HURT really bad when I shot them.  My Coppersolids shoot as well but with less recoil.  The Buckhammers are full bore diameter lead slugs with a plastic tail attached to them.  Not sure how heavy they are but they are a real shoulder thumper. 

My 2 cents. 

[caddisbiot]

  I have a 20 ga  USH I shot alot of different slugs Mine shots 3 '' Hastings  I had 5 shots touching at 100 yds the slugs hit within the size of a slug box I went to the 20 ga because of the light recoil I have freinds who have the 20 g and they shoot winchester platimuns The gun is not as heavy as the 12 ga  Also the gun shoots 125yds with very little drop