Author Topic: 12 gauge slug ? (Read 750 times)

BIGBOREFAN · « **on:** September 01, 2004, 02:44:08 AM »

Has anybody tried the regular rifled slugs made for smooth bores in their Tracker 2's. I wondered what kind of accuracy you would get. Do not plan on shooting them all the time and will not be shooting past 75 yards. As long as I can get 3 inch groups at that range I'll be satisfied. This will be a walking gun as it is very light. It came with synthetic stock and forearm and weights about 5 lbs. I may use it out of my ladder stand for deer and bear also, but the range will be around 50 yards. I want to try the Remington Buckhammer slugs but was wondering about the cheap foster slugs. Any help would be appreciated.

BBF

Brett · « **Reply #1 on:** September 01, 2004, 04:38:02 AM »

This question has been kicked around before. If I recall the biggest draw back is cleaning the leading out of the Tracker's rifled barrel. You may want to try the search function to get the whole scoop.

Markus · « **Reply #2 on:** September 01, 2004, 11:52:22 AM »

From what I remember it will shoot ok for a while until the leading get severe then it quits grouping at all and the leading is a real bear to get out. If it's not gonna be shot that much walking around then why worry about using the cheap slugs.

scruffy · « **Reply #3 on:** September 02, 2004, 08:54:38 AM »

BBF, two years ago when finances were non existant I used a bunch of winchester rifled slugs I had and resighted my Rem 870 rifled slug barrel. I must have had over 50 of those old slugs (given to me from a friend) and I ran 30 through it. I verified I was on the paper at 25 yards and then moved the target out to 50 yards. When I started shooting I got nice tight groups, I don't remember the measurement, but no bigger than an apple from a bench. After about 10 rounds things started to open up a little. By 20 rounds it had opened up alot. The outer target circle was 12" diameter and it was now putting them all over it. If memory serves slug 30, and I think slug 29 and 30, didn't even hit the paper.

When I got home I pulled off the barrel and started cleaning it. I had to use alot of solvent and elbow grease to get the lead out of the rifling, ALOT. I think it took a couple hours even. If I had it to do again I would have used a penetrating oil like pb blaster or something like that (maybe even wd45) that would penetrate between the lead and the rifling. I knew a guy that used penetrating oil and it loosened the lead right up and after setting wet over nigth the lead pushed right out. Very little elbow grease!!!

After I had the barrel clean I fired a few slugs threw it, grouped just fine. I cleaned the barrel out again, this time with only three slugs through it the barrel wasn't bad at all to clean. Given the accuracy I held my shots to 75 max yards. I'd only shot to 50, so I really didn't feel confident to 75, but given it's 50 yards accuracy I thought the slug should hold together to 75 yards. Around that distance I calculated it would be transitioning from super sonic to sub sonic velocities and if it didn't have the necessary rotation the slug would destabilize and began to tumble and gone who knows where.

That year I counted over 10 shot opportunities at deer 100 to 150 yards... I never fired a shot. Two weeks after season ended I ordered an Ultra slug 20, sold some other stuff to pay for it, and haven't looked back. But if something happened to my ultra slug 20 and I didn't have any 12 gauge sabots for my rifled 870 I'd grab a box of rifled slugs, a bottle of bore cleaner, pb blaster, and a target and get myself ready to fill the freezer.

Hope this helps!

later,
scruffy

BIGBOREFAN · « **Reply #4 on:** September 02, 2004, 09:44:36 AM »

Guys everything you said helped a bunch. I'll stick to sabot slugs. Going to try the new Remington Buckhammers first. Since I will not be shooting a lot I think I can live with the 2.00 per shot average of the good slugs. Thanks.

BBF

HuntenNut · « **Reply #5 on:** September 02, 2004, 01:20:43 PM »

BigBore,

If you like the Buckhammers, you may want to check out Sabot Technologies http://www.sabottechnologies.com/

Appears to be the same slug and would be much cheaper to reload and not that hard to do.

Of course, they only offer a 12ga, so Sruffy is out of luck and will have to pay $10 per box for his 20's

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #6 on:** September 03, 2004, 08:52:09 AM »

I am told that the leading problem with Foster type slugs can be cured or much reduced by setting the slugs upright, applying a couple of drops of Lee's Liquid Alox to the nose and allowing to dry. I can't vouch for this simply because I am unwilling to shoot my Tracker II enough to tell.

Normal cleaning takes care of the 5-10 shots I am willing to shoot at a session.