Author Topic: 12 gauge slug  (Read 1293 times)

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Offline NimrodRx

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12 gauge slug
« on: March 14, 2005, 12:58:28 PM »
Just curious what others are getting out of their slug guns.

I shot some Federal Premium 2 3/4 inch with the Barnes Expander Sabots yesterday.  The accuracy was awesome.  At 50 yds, all three holes were touching each other.  I was 1 inch above the bull.

To my surprise, when I moved out to 100 yds, I was 3 inches below the bull.  My groups were still great - about an inch and a half, but what a drop.  Four inches from 50 to 100 yds.  

Due to the great groupings, I'm inclined to just raise my zero so that I'm 2 inches high at 50 and 2 inches low at 100.  

Is a four inch drop to be expected with slugs at this range?  Anybody have a flatter shooting slug that works well for them?

Thanks.
"Make mine a double. Whether I'm ordering drinks or shotguns, it's always served me well!"  :toast:  :toast:

"It's been my experience that those who shoot most often, most often shoot well."  T. Roosevelt

Offline wink_man

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12 gauge slug
« Reply #1 on: March 14, 2005, 03:35:49 PM »
While I haven't used them yet, this link will give you the +/- for Remingtons ultra bonded sabot slug, with a 150 yard zero:

http://www.remington.com/ammo/shotshell/am_prsabotslug.htm

When Remington introduced this slug, I complained to them, that they produced a slug capable of killing a deer out to 200 yards, yet they didn't give rise & drop figures for the slug out to that range, below is the response they emailed back to me:

With a scope, sight it in at 150 yard zero.  You're less than 2 3/4
inches high at 75 and 100 yards and 2.6 low at 175.  
 
25        0.5
50        1.9
75        2.6
100      2.6
125      1.7
150        0
175     -2.6
200     -6.3

The slug you're using is very similar, velocity & weight wise, so you could use this as a general guideline. Hope this helps you.
Sincerely,
 Garry
Garry
'Life is to short to hang with an ugly woman, or hunt with an ugly gun' - Garry
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Offline Ramrod

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12 gauge slug
« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2005, 06:24:59 PM »
NimrodRx, what are you going to be hunting with these slugs Chipmunks?
+ or - 2 inches is excellent, and leaves you with no alibi if you miss the kill zone on a deer. Move your zero out to where you want it, and live with a few inches high at midrange. It won't matter. :D
"Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine." Patti Smith

Offline NimrodRx

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12 gauge slug
« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2005, 08:10:19 PM »
Yes, Ramrod, this is my super Chipmunk rig.  I'm using it on a guided hunt in Alaska for the elusive Spotted Snow Chipper. :)

Really, I'm using it on farm country whitetails here in Michigan.  A 100 yrd shot isn't entirely uncommon.  Believe me, I'm very impressed with the groups.  Accuracy reigns supreme with me, so I will probably do just as you said and raise my zero to 2 inches hight at 50 and see where that puts me at 100

I just wasn't expecting a 4 inch drop from 50 to 100 yrds.  My Copper Solids only drop about 2 inches.  Then again, I've never gotten groups like this with the Copper Solids.

Thanks Again!
"Make mine a double. Whether I'm ordering drinks or shotguns, it's always served me well!"  :toast:  :toast:

"It's been my experience that those who shoot most often, most often shoot well."  T. Roosevelt

Offline Carutht

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NimrodRx
« Reply #4 on: March 16, 2005, 11:37:22 AM »
Interesting,

I just finished testing the Federal 1 oz Barnes Expander in my 870 Wingmaster with a Hasting 24" rifled barrel today. Dead on at 50 ( one shot ) and 2" groups at 100. The 100 yard group was about 6" low so I used the post on my Leupold 3.5X10X40 Duplex set at 10X and found point of aim. I am good to go to 100 with a shotgun. Weighed the projo at 436.6 grains. I hunt in Georgia and my longest shot is usually 30 yards.
Thinking of becoming a shotgun hunter in Georgia.

TC

Offline NimrodRx

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12 gauge slug
« Reply #5 on: March 16, 2005, 08:16:04 PM »
Yah, I know what ya mean.  IMHO, it's just real tough to beat a 12 ga slug inside of 100 yrds.  Wicked deadly. :twisted:

In fact, my brother and I took our 12 gauges with us on a Canadian black bear hunt last year.  We were hunting over bait that was always between 50 to 80 yrds.  

More than a couple guys in camp had 300 WSMs and the rest were 30-06s.  Bear killing rounds to be sure, but we just kinda looked at each other and scratched our heads  :?  :?   We're talking inside 100 yrds here.  

Needless to say, the slugs performed flawlessly.  We're forced to use a shotgun here in Michigan, but ever since sabots and fully rifled barrels came to be, I've never viewed it as a limitation.  

One thing to consider, you mentioned that most of your shots are within 30 yrds.  Though you're using fine optics, I've found that lower power is real nice.  I always leave my slug gun set at 1.5.  If need be, I can go up to 4.5 for those 100 yrd pokes, but that's all I've ever wanted on a slugger.
"Make mine a double. Whether I'm ordering drinks or shotguns, it's always served me well!"  :toast:  :toast:

"It's been my experience that those who shoot most often, most often shoot well."  T. Roosevelt

Offline Masterblaster1

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12 gauge slug
« Reply #6 on: March 17, 2005, 06:31:00 AM »
My mossberg 500 with 20 inch hastings barrel and 3-9x40 Bushnell scope gets one hole groups at 50 yards using 23/4 inch Remington Buckhammers. Haven't tried it at any farther distances yet.

Offline MIdeerhunter

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12 gauge slug
« Reply #7 on: March 19, 2005, 04:48:54 PM »
I have a H&R Ultra Slug Hunter deluxe with bushnell 1.5-4.5x scope and i usually shoot winchester BRI sabots through it and i usually only shoot it at 50 yards and all 3 holes touch each other, I have also shot winchester premium sabots with the nosler hollow points and they shot well, I have been looking for the new Hornady SST sabot slugs, they look like the might work good and shoot flat since it isn't a hollowed point flat nosed bullet, im gonna get some and see how they shoot, has anyone else shot them yet?
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Offline NimrodRx

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12 gauge slug
« Reply #8 on: March 21, 2005, 12:34:21 PM »
Finally got back to the range today.  Gave another slug a try - the Winchester Supreme Partition Gold (12 ga, 2 ¾ inch, 385 grain, 1900 fps High Velocity).  The results - they grouped nearly as well as the Federal Premiums (1 inch @ 50 yards and 2-3 inches at 100 yards).  However, they really stood out in terms of trajectory.  

With a 100 yrd zero, I’m only 2 inches high at 50 yards.  I was 4 inches high at 50 with the Federal Premiums.  I have found my hunting slug! 8)

All that speed did come at a cost though.  The recoil is noticeably greater than the Federals.  Still manageable and worth it for the flat trajectory.  They actually hurt the pocket book even more - $12 for a box of 5.  The 20% off sale Gander is running now helped a little, but still - ouch :shock:   I’m real anxious to see what kind of a drop I’m getting at 125 and 150 yards.
"Make mine a double. Whether I'm ordering drinks or shotguns, it's always served me well!"  :toast:  :toast:

"It's been my experience that those who shoot most often, most often shoot well."  T. Roosevelt

Offline mec

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12 gauge slug
« Reply #9 on: March 24, 2005, 06:48:55 AM »
Pretty impressive groups with those rifled barrels/slugs/sabots.  All I have is an 870 with a spare 20 smoothbore "Deerstalker" Barrel.  Ive shot a few groups separated by quite a few years- sitting on the ground with my back rested- or not, depending on the terrain.  Every fifty yard group has been just about exactly 4" for five rounds.  the barrel will also pattern buckshot very well out to 25 yards so, making it an even more effective engine of distruction.

Elmer Keith mentioned that a lot of cylinder bore 12s would group the foster slugs in 3-5" at 50 yards and he considered this adequate for deer out to 60 yards.
Guns are like the vote. They work best when everybody has one
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Offline NimrodRx

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« Reply #10 on: March 24, 2005, 12:51:50 PM »
4" at 50 is pretty darned good for foster slugs.  I've tried them out of my 11-87 and my light twelve.  Never could get a slug to group worth a darned.  That's what lead me to my A-Bolt.  

The sabots are certainly superior in terms of range and accuracy.  They continue to amaze me.  Then again, at a little better than $2 a round, they should be amazing!
"Make mine a double. Whether I'm ordering drinks or shotguns, it's always served me well!"  :toast:  :toast:

"It's been my experience that those who shoot most often, most often shoot well."  T. Roosevelt

Offline mec

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12 gauge slug
« Reply #11 on: March 24, 2005, 01:35:33 PM »
I have a hard time suspending disbelief on my own slug shooting. I'm starting to trust those 4" groups though.
Guns are like the vote. They work best when everybody has one
Oliver Wendell Holmes