What slugs do you recommend for a smooth bore 12 gauge?

[BradCoPAHunter]

Money is tight, and I'm considering getting a used 12 gauge Remington 870.  It's an older one, no screw-in chokes.  The guy at the gun shop checked the barrel and said it measured either improved cylinder or modified/improved, I forget.  What type of slugs do you recommend for hunting deer?  Remington says their Buckhammer is designed for rifled barrels.  Do they work in smooth barrels too?  Also, the barrel has just a plain old bead at the end, not rifle sights.  Can I expect to get any type of accuracy with this, or should I just buy a seperate barrel for shooting slugs?

[RCL]

A lot depends on how far you think you might be shooting. Around 50 yards shouldn't be a problem with a plain barrel. That's how we all started out when I was a kid back in the 60's. However, you won't really know until you shoot it.
If you buy that gun what you will want is referred to as a "rifled slug". These aren't much more than a hunk of lead with fins cast into them. My smooth bore 870, with rifle sights, will put 5 into 2-3 inches at 50 yards off a bench with these. I've always had the best groups with the 2 3/4" Winchester version myself.
You can always buy and use the gun now, and get a barrel with sights on it later when funds allow.

[Ramrod]

I doubt the Buckhammers would shoot well in a smoothbore. Likewise any of the sabots. Like RCL said, the rifled slugs are what you need. The Remington and Winchester style are also known as "Foster type" slugs, after the designer. Nice thing about them is they are dirt cheap compared to the fancy stuff. There is also a German job that will work in smoothbores, the Brenneke, but it costs more.
You are really going to be limited by just a bead, and I mean like bow-hunting ranges. Also, I have seen a few pumps that shot about a foot high at 50 yards with just a bead. Get a barrel with sights as soon as you can.

[BradCoPAHunter]

Thanks for the tips.  I figured I'd be limited without rifle sights.  OK, another question.  How will rifled (Foster) slugs perform, accuracy wise, when shot from a rifled barrel?

[Ramrod]

My (one time) experiance with them in a rifled barrel was very good accurracy :grin: and then bad leading. :cry: so I just use sabots now.

[savageT]

Having been a smooth bore fan of some years, I'd recommend trying a couple boxes of Foster rifled slugs from each of the major American sources: Remington, Federal, and Winchester in 12 ga. 2-3/4 ".  The best is determined by your results???  You'll want to keep an eye on leading in the barrel though.  After a couple boxes, it's best to clean the barrel w/ a cleaning rod and bronze brush (I prefer to chuck the rod in my power drill to save time). Which bore cleaner doesn't make much difference as nothing I know will remove lead except a power brush.
Now, as to sights, time for a visit to your local outdoor store or gunsmith and bring the gun with you.  He will come up with sights to easily mount on your barrel and then you're all set for deer season. Shouldn't be very expensive either! Good Luck!!
Jim

[BradCoPAHunter]

I'm going to look at some smoothbore shotguns to day.  The older Remington 870's and a Winchester 120 with rifle sights.  Anyone have experience with the model 120?  I have found very little info on it.  All I remember is that it was a smoothbore and was not drilled for choke tubes.  Do you think I would have problems having the receivers of either the 870 or 120 drilled for scope mounts?  Is it pointless putting a scope on a smoothbore gun that will only be used out to 75 or 100 yards max?  Hmmm...I had more questions than I thought.

[Dand]

Just last week, I just experimented with my Mossberg 500, 18 in cyl bore barrel with bead front sight.  My main use is for a bear defense gun at camp but I had never practiced with the gun.

So to burn up some old ammo and learn a bit I set up a target at about 30 feet and one at 50 yards.  At the 30 ft I could keep all slugs, Remington  and Federal (foster type), one Win Sabot, one Win 400gr Platinum tip, and 2 Rem Buckhammers into about a 3 inch group.

I only shot a couple slugs at 50 yds just to see how I would do. I used a 25 yd slow fire pistol targed and managed to hit the top of the black with a 6 o'clock hold with the bead.  I was surprised I did so well with such crude sights and no previous practice.

I'm hoarding my last 3 buckhammers as I think they could be the best yet slug for grumpy bears.  I like the 1.25 oz flat point at 1550 fps idea.  They do hammer the shooter a bit too.  I'm hoping a friend can find me some more in Anchorage so I can test a little more.

I'd say follow Savage T's advise about getting a gunsmith to put on some sights for you.  Probably a lot more durable and affordable than a good scope and mount.  I'm looking at a tritium bead since I'm thinking defense only. Or shop hard for a second barrel with rifle sights - one thing, there are a lot of accessories and options with an 870 since there's millions out there.

[Busta]

For smooth bores, these are the best I have ever found. They have a harder lead than the soft Fosters and they actually cut a hole (BIG HOLE) with authority. You won't believe it till you see it. Just the standard 2-3/4" 1 oz MP slugs are plenty for whitetails, for big bears you might want the 3" 1-3/8 oz offering. They shoot to the same point of impact as the Winchester Foster slugs in our guns. You can check for a retailer near you in the box on the left margin. These are the Rottweil Brenneke Slugs, not to be confused with the Brenneke USA Slugs that are the same slug but loaded differently and not as accurate in our guns. Check them both out, you wont be sorry.

http://www.dnrws.com/rottweil.html

http://www.brennekeusa.com/

[fffffg]

reminton recomends  improoved cylinder for thier slugs.. testing with my sons 870  proved this to be true. tighter chokes did not shoot near as well..  id get a screw in choke gun and youl have a well rounded starter gun for slugs and whatever..  dave