Screw in choke question

[Muddy05]

Is it safe to shoot slugs through shotguns with screw-in chokes? I have a browning fusion 20ga. with an improved cyl. choke in it and an benelli auto 12ga. with improved cyl. I'd like to try to bag a deer with a slug and don't want to go buy a new slug gun if these will work just fine... Thanks.

[Graybeard]

Should be just fine with the IC choke tubes. Likely would be even better with a screw in rifled choke tube tho. You will find foster type slugs do OK but sabot slugs will not do so well for you even with the rifled choke tube added. For those you really do need a fully rifled barrel.

[hunt-m-up]

Some companies' manuals will tell you not to shoot slugs if the barrel is backbored. I'm guessing the Benelli is backbored. I've never tried it because I got used to sights or scopes on short bbl slug guns, but I would guess it's mostly CYA on their part.
 

[mcwoodduck]

As Hunt said some companies tell you not to shoot slugs through thier guns.  Mossberg 835 is one of them and I think Ruger is another.
Best way to find out is to look in the company website and see if they make a rifled choke tube for your gun.  If so I would safely say that you can shoot sluggs through those guns.
With foster type sluggs three of my short barrreled open choke shot guns send them right where I point them at the 100 yard mark.  None have sights only the bead and you can only point them and not really aim them.

[woodchukhntr]

I haven't had any problems with my Rem. 870.  Actually, I have seen no difference between the I.C. choke and the rifled choke.  Just be sure to screw the choke tube in well.  I had a buddy that was duck hunting and noticed something behind his last shot. Yup, it was the choke!  It wasn't screwed in tight and loostened up until it shot free.  It didn't hurt the gun, just ruined the hunt!

[vabowhntr]

With foster slugs, and IC choke should work ok out to 50 yards or so, maybe more if you are lucky.  I have shot Hastings and lightfield slugs with a rifled choke tube and shot sub 2.5" three shot groups at 75 yards. 

[jjas]

On the subject of overbored barrels, here's a bit of info from Mossberg:




Foster slug dangerous in overbore!

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Mossberg 835 overbore barrels are near 10 gauge in the overbore ahead of the chamber.

Foster slugs are hollow based pure lead nose heavy thimbles.

No wad is capable of expanding to seal such an extreme overbore. ( .775 vs .730 )

Gas blow by is normal for this shotgun and contributes to a lower felt recoil.

If propellant gas gets into the hollow base of a foster type slug, the expanding lead may blow through leaving a lead ring in the barrel.

Such a lead ring constitutes a barrel obstruction that can cause a burst barrel with the next shot fired!

Don't take the chance:

Mossberg makes both smoothbore and rifled barrels for the 835 with standard bore diameters for use with slugs.