Author Topic: Ultra Slug groups (Read 1065 times)

magbolt · « **on:** August 25, 2004, 03:15:58 AM »

I have the Ultra Slug in 12g and it wears a new Bushnell Trophy 1.75x4. I was sighting the new scope in and getting groups of 1" at 25 yards and 2 1/2" at 50 yards. That does not seem very good to me. I was using Lightfield Hybreds which grouped well for me in this gun last year. The scope is on securely and I am using a solid bench rest. Am I expecting too much or should my groups be much tigther at 50 yards? I will be back at the range this week to check my 100 yard groups. What kind of groups have others experienced with the Ultra 12g (and what sabbots).

MSP Ret · « **Reply #1 on:** August 25, 2004, 04:41:38 AM »

magbolt, those groups seem a bit large to me however a deer would never know the difference. On a good day I am getting 50 yard cloverleaf groups out of my 12 Gauge 24" smoothbore Handi with Brenneke 2 3/4" 1 oz slugs with a cylinder bore choke tube and a 30mm Simmons red dot. On a bad day at 50 yards I get 1 1/2" - 2" max. Just started shooting this combination but was able to get a 4 shot group of 3 1/2" at 100 yards yesterday...<><.... :grin:

magbolt · « **Reply #2 on:** August 25, 2004, 05:32:31 AM »

MSP Ret,
I was expecting to be getting clover leafs at 50 yards and 2 1/2" groups at 100. This is a fully rifled barrel and 4 power scope, I know it has to be able to do better. I have never used a copper cleaner for bore cleaning, just Hoppes #9 and until "clean" and then some Rem oil for rust control. Could copper build up be the culprit? She's only 1 year old with approx. 100 rounds thru her.

jeff223 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 25, 2004, 06:16:45 AM »

maybe you should try some other brands of slugs out of your gun.there are lots of 12ga sabot slugs out there and im sure you will find some that will shoot very good for you.you will get no copper build up in your barrel from a sabot slug.make sure your scope rings and the base are tight.i have shot some ragged hole groups at 50yds with my sluggun.my gun is set up with a 3-9 power scope and that sure helps when shooting for small groups

WNY_Whitetailer · « **Reply #4 on:** August 25, 2004, 06:52:50 AM »

Magbolt...You should be able to do a little better than those groups...Try some other brands of sabot slugs...My suggestions are:

scruffy · « **Reply #5 on:** August 25, 2004, 07:21:19 AM »

I get very good accuracy from Fed 3" mag 3/4 oz 1450fps barnes expanders, clover leafs at 50 yards when I do my part.

One thing that came to mind, you said that these grouped well last year. Are these the same slugs that you took hunting last year? Did they ride around in a truck or in your vest? Did they go in and out of the house? If so they could of drawn moisture cooling down and heating up over and over again. If so I'd get a new box and try them.

I buy 2 boxes, 10 rounds, a years. I put 5 rounds, one box, in the loops in my vest and the other in a zip lock bag in my vest. The following fall I shoot the 5 "loose" rounds to foul the barrel (get any oil out) and then use the "zip lock" 5 rounds to verify my scope's setting.

Technically I should buy 3 boxes a year, one to have in my vest loose, one in a ziplock, and one to test the scope so the box I test my scope on is the same "lot number" as the ones I'm shooting...

Anyway, slugs can draw moisture pretty easy, if you're shooting old slugs that might be your problem.

What was the old saying, "shoot straight and keep your powder dry."

later,
scruffy

MSP Ret · « **Reply #6 on:** August 25, 2004, 02:00:11 PM »

I agree, there is no reason other than loose sight mounts / bad scope that the same slugs would shoot worse this year. Sabots will not lead or copper coat your barrel because the sabot touches the lands not the projectile. Check for any obvoius plastic or rust build up in the barrel, check the scope and mounts, shoot carefully w/o flinching and try some different sabots. Forster style slugs may shoot ok from a rifled barrel but will lead some and the accuracy is not what can be attained with proper sabots, but sabots are expensive. Thats why I shoot a smoothbore, it's plenty accurate enough for me for where I hunt and at the ranges I can see and shoot at a deer....<><.... :grin:

Tom H. · « **Reply #7 on:** August 26, 2004, 05:17:15 AM »

I think that somebody posted it on the rifle forum, these guns are not easy to shoot.
I made a new foreend with a flat section for my trackerII 20 ga to help things out. As far as accuracy is concerned, the gun shoots Winchester platinum slugs into 1" at 50yds, although I have also gotten 4" groups at the same range. It wouldn't put the BRI style into less than 4" at the same range. These guns can promote a lot of operator error.
Keep playing around with it, I'm sure that the results should be much better.

Tom

WNY_Whitetailer · « **Reply #8 on:** August 26, 2004, 08:20:06 AM »

Another heads up for buying sabots is to go out shopping after the shotgun season is over...You can usually find stores trying to dump their excess sabot slugs for cheaper than you find before the season...That is how I purchase my Partition Golds...I can't see spending $12 per box when I can spend $8. I put that extra $4 into beer...Good investment to me.

magbolt · « **Reply #9 on:** August 27, 2004, 03:52:35 AM »

I thoroughly cleaned my barrel and then shot 3 boxes of Lightfield Hybreds. The last 3 shots were at 100 yards from a solid rest, they formed one cloverleaf (3/4" group) all touching the 1 1/2" bullseye.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #10 on:** August 27, 2004, 04:03:24 AM »

Great job Magbolt!!, thats better than most can do with a rifle, you make me proud!!!....<><.... :grin:

WNY_Whitetailer · « **Reply #11 on:** August 27, 2004, 08:30:06 AM »

Good group...Maybe that barrel is all broken in now...Maybe the groups will improve from here on out. Although I don't see how you can improve on that group with a slug gun.

Good luck...