Slugger vs pump shotgun

[buckshooter]

Hey guys I got a mossberg 535 shotgun. Which has okay patterns under 100 yards. I would like to try the specially rifled choke that Cabela's sells for about 40.00 dollars or so, has anyone used this before,if so what kind of patterns did you get. I have heard that the H@R ultra slugger is the best on the market of slug guns. Also how fast can you reload it? Also, are their any other type of slug guns out their that have good accuracy at 200 yards. Why because I would prefer a pump action slugger because you have that follow up shot just in case if you miss, and what kind of sabots do you use?

[Cookiemann]

I am not real "up" on rifled choke tubes, but I don't know anyone who has made a 200yd shot with one.  I'm not saying it can't or hasn't been done.  I just don't know anyone who has done it.  But, I do know there are accounts on this forum of many folks who have made shots near or at 200yds. with the Ultra Slug 12ga and a good scope.  If I were you, I would invest in the Ultra Slug.  You won't be sorry.  And really, at 200 yards, are you gonna get a "follow up" shot.  With a little practice, you will be reloading nearly as quick as rackin' another shell with a pump.  Really!

cookiemann

[mcwoodduck]

My Mossberg 835 says not to use slugs through the screw in chokes period.  It is one of the first production ones.  Dad is an avid Duck hunter and when the 3.5" guns first came out he had to have one and got me one too.
The rifled chokes do ok.  I have one for my 870 and they do fine for the 50 yard deer hunt with the upland shotgun.  That bead is not a sight.  If you are looking for tack driving then you need to go with a set up made for shooting slugs.  A fully rifled barrel for your 535 will cost as much as a dedicated slug gun. and the optics are the optics.
If I were going to hunt deer with a shotgun, other than the walk out of the swamp from wood duck hunting, I would go with a fully rifled gun designed just for launching a sabot slug.
Do you live/ hunt in one of those states like NJ that doesn't allow you to shoot slugs unless your so far off the ground and you need to be able to shoot buck as well?  Then I don't know how the fully rifled barrels shoot buck past the 20 yard mark.  I guess your best option then is to use scre in chokes on a deer hunting barrel.

[WNY_Whitetailer]

Hey Buckshooter...Pony up the dough and get an Ultra Slug Hunter...The only other slug guns on the market that will touch their accuracy are the Tar-Hunts and they are 5 times the price...

[buckshooter]

Thanks for your replies. Does anybody have a mossberg with a slug barrel on it, if so how good of accuracy did you get, and at what distinces. Why because my range is about 100 to 150 yards?
What type of sabots do you use.  Please reply

Buckshooter   

[MI.sabot]

www.rrarms.com/catalog.php?prod=GSB2980

A rifled slug barrel will probably cost you as much as an USH.
And in the end, I doubt you'll have a slug gun as accurate as the USH.
Don't worry about how fast you can reload it.... you probably won't have to!

[mcwoodduck]

You can keep up a pretty good rate of fire with a single shot.
I think of guns as golf clubs.
If you need a driver, you buy a driver.  You don't slap a gizmo on your putter that will make it into a driver.  Besides if you have two clubs two can play.

[dpastordan]

If you live in an area that is shotgun only but you hunt where 100 yard shots are possible - the NEF Slug guns are the way to go.  But the costs of them where I live have gone up.  They work and people keep buying them.  I live in a county where it is slug only.  But most shots are about 50 yards or less.  A few years ago I picked up a smooth bore Tracker in 20 gauge and with the foster slugs gives me 1" - 1 1/2" groups at 50 yards.  Not bad.  I've used the standard pump shotgun with Mod or full chokes and would get 4" - 6" groups at the same distance. 

I happen to have bid, and won, a Mossberg 500 slugster for $180 [cheaper the an NEF slug gun] and am waiting to go to the range when it opens again.  It has a ported barrel and is supposed to be choked for the foster slugs.  I'll let you know the results.  Only reason I went the smoothbore route is that my uncle sold his gun store and he gave me about 50 boxes of Winchester and Remington slugs (foster variety).  I'm set for life. 

[J. Plate]

My current slug gun is a Mossberg 935 toting the camo slug barrel with the cantilever mount. The barrel was $175 from Buds Gun Shop, online.  I haven't seen any USH for that price unless they were used.  It's very accurate with Remmy Buckhammers and Lightfield Hybrid-EXP's out to 100 yards.   Off the bench, they group very tightly.  I haven't really seen the need to go any further than that.       

The reason all Mossberg 835 and 935's say "no slugs" is because the typical barrels that come with these two models are overbored.   It has nothing to do with the chokes.   The bird barrels on these models are basically at 10 gauge specs and would be very inaccurate, not to mention potentially hazardous, with regular 12 ga single projectile ammunition.     You can, however, buy a slug barrel for either model, be it 835, 935, or even the new 930.  To my knowledge, the 535 is not overbored.    They have a variety of slug barrels available.....it's just a matter of picking the one that you want.   My advice would be, if you're using a scope....buy the cantilever mount.   It's going to be much more accurate than a scope mounted to the receiver. 

Edit:  I just did a search for the camo, cantilever mount 535 slug barrel (mossberg accessory barrel # 91315) and found many for around $160.   A brand new USH will cost you around $220.  (in my neck of the woods.)  FWIW, any Mossberg slug barrel that I have ever shot has been accurate, and I can name about 4 more guys that I know that hunt with either a 500 or 835. 

[buckshooter]

Thanks for your replies. I want to get the Ultra slugger made by H@R, and what about reloading the gun, when you pop open the action does the shell come flying out or do you pull it out? Where can I order this slug gun from a website with scope and all, and how much will it cost.

Please reply
Buckshooter   

[mcwoodduck]

Here in CA, I found it cheaper to go through a local shop for a new gun as the shop owners tack on $50-75 to transfer in the gun on top of the $25 CA background check.  At best I save $20 -30 by an Internet house after shipping and the 50 or 75 transfer makes it more.   But check around.  Also check out the classified ads here for a used one. 
I have only done a little shotgun big game hunting and it was with a smooth bore 1897 riot gun and buck shot.
Cabela's has a pretty good selection of shotgun scopes and is a good place to start and  see what is out there and what prices and options are.  They also have a customer service/  product  specialist that you can talk to.  They tell about what they personally have, what is the best seller and what has the most returns and why.  They will also go over features of optics (magnification) v.s sights (red dots)
www.cabelas.com

[MI.sabot]

Buckshooter:

To answer your first question, the shell ejects.  It does not need to be extracted.

I agree with mcwoodduck, go to a reputable local gun shop. 
You haven't clearly stated if your looking for an USH in either a 12 ga. or 20 ga.
Going to a gun shop will allow you to handle each of them.
I've had both, still have the 12 ga., and its one heavy beast.
You may find the 20 ga. more to your liking and style of hunting.

(Also if you've ever considered getting into muzzleloading, for around $125
a ML barrel can be purchased and fitted to the 20 ga. through H&R's barrel accessory program.)

I would never consider buying a gun pre-scoped.
Your choices in scopes are much greater than in choosing the firearm itself.
What do you want, a 4x fixed, 1.5-5x, 2-7x, 3-9x?
And for any power scope the choices run from those that are $150 all the way up to $400.
Whatever you decide, make sure it has adequate eye relief, especially if you choose the 12 ga.

You'll find your local gun dealer to be more helpful than any internet sight.
The few $$ you may pay extra will be worth it in the long run.

Good luck.