Author Topic: Rifled Choke Tubes? (Read 2706 times)

Gitzit · « **on:** February 23, 2004, 06:07:51 AM »

I have a 12 gauge turkey barrel for my Encore which will be arriving soon. TC also makes a rifled choke tube for this barrel to allow the barrel to double as a slug barrel. Does anyone have any experience with the rifled choke tubes? I'm interested in what type of 100 yard groups can be expected with a rifled choke tube on a smoothbore barrel? Thanks.

Will_C · « **Reply #1 on:** February 23, 2004, 02:48:47 PM »

I can't claim experience with a T/C set up, but I used a rifled choke on a Remington 11-87 for several years. I could get arond 4-5" three shot groups at 100 yards, using either Lightfield or the old Winchester Supreme slugs. I only switched to the fully rifled barrel to get the cantilever scope mount.
If you go the rifled tube route, be aware that most of the higher priced "super slugs" won't shoot well with only a few inches of rifling.
Will

WNY_Whitetailer · « **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2004, 06:58:08 AM »

Git...My experience is similar to Will C's. I used to shoot 3" Rem Sluggers through a rifled choke in my Rem 870. This gun was a workhorse and it would pull similar groups to Will's with a 4x Simmons Pro Diamond Scope using an ATV as a rest. It may have been able to shoot better if I had used a better rest. I also opted for a cantilever scope mount fully rifled barrel so I no longer use that rifled choke setup. The good thing about using a rifled choke is that you can use the cheaper foster style slugs and you do not have to invest big bucks in sabot slugs.

I would go for the rifled choke tube and give it a whirl...Slugs are relatively cheap especially now that the seasons are closed and some places are looking to unload some extra inventory.

Bob_K · « **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2004, 12:03:21 PM »

My experience is about the same: 3-4" groups at 100 yards. I did find that the extended rifled tube was a bit more accurate than the flush fitted rifled tube (in Remington 11-87's). The real answer is to get the rifled choke then try a bunch of different slugs to see what shoots best. You may be surprised. My smoothbore/extended rifled barrel likes the Fiocchi slug that I got on sale for $2.25 a box. It produces 1.5 inches at 50 yards, the typical whitetail engagement range in my neck of the woods. If I want to go to 100 yards, I use my fully rifled barrel and Feberal sabot slugs.

Big · « **Reply #4 on:** April 20, 2004, 06:44:09 PM »

Can you use Foster type rifled slugs in a fully rifled barrel?

Bob_K · « **Reply #5 on:** April 21, 2004, 06:34:47 AM »

Big · « **Reply #6 on:** April 21, 2004, 06:03:25 PM »

But I'm guessing they don't fly as well as sabot slugs?

And thanks for answering, Bob; I tend to put stock in what you say.

Bob_K · « **Reply #7 on:** April 22, 2004, 02:01:11 PM »

Big...
I would not hazzard a guess before I tried them. The thing that surprises me the most is the size of the groups of rifled slugs out of a specific barrel. Matching up the right slug with the right barrel can produce amaizing groups. They can be the equal or better of sabot slugs out of fully rifled barrels. The main difference is I only have confidence in the rifle slugs to 50 yards, where I feel confident to 100 yards with sabot slugs and fully rifled barrels. If you are hunting in the East, 35-50 yards are the norm, so you have to ask, "Why am I paying more per shot?"

Bullseye · « **Reply #8 on:** April 22, 2004, 05:57:49 PM »

I am not paying more. I sold both my fully rifled barrels and bought back smoothbores. Bob is right, smoothbore barrels can be very accurate with the right load. Rifled barrels are picky also but it gets very expensive trying different sabot loads.

I did try rifled slugs in my fully rifled barrels before I sold them. They shot about the same as the rifled slugs in a smoothbore. That was with my particular gun anyway.

Big · « **Reply #9 on:** April 24, 2004, 06:02:45 PM »

Thanks, guys. You're right about rifled slugs and smooth bore barrels: my 870 (smoothbore, leupold scope, b-square saddle mount) shoots tight groups at 50 yards, but not very tight at 100 yards. Great in the woods, but not on the edge of a field. Want to be fair to the deer, but hate to pass up an otherwise easy 80 yard shot, so thinking of putting a rifled Hastings barrel on my 11-87. Either that, or buy an H&R slug hunter (single shot) for less than the cost of the hastings (or remington) barrel. Thoughts?

Bullseye · « **Reply #10 on:** April 27, 2004, 01:45:08 PM »

I would go with a slug barrel for the Remington myself. The H&R are pretty light and kick like a mule. The guy I know that had one could only make it shoot wih the 3" mags which made the kick that much worse.

Besides that, I love them Remingtons. :grin: