Slug Barrel Shooters

[Capt Gary]

I'd like to hear from anyone who shoots their Encore with a slug barrel.

I'm especially interested in the 20 ga. slug barrel. The ballistics look really good and this should make a really good outfit for shotgun only areas.

Any reports?

Thank

[scienceguy]

I have the 20 gauge model mounted with a Nikon 3X9 scope.  The recoil is definitely less than a 12.  I tested mine with five different brands of sabot slugs.  All shot into less than two inches at 100 yards, but the Remington Buckhammer load and the Winchester Supreme grouped into an inch or slightly less.  I have used the gun to take three deer at ranges from 30 yards out to 90 yards.  All were one shot kills, with the deer not traveling more than 20 yards.  Two dropped in their tracks.  I have killed over 40 deer with 12 gauge slugs here in Illinois, but saw little difference in the wound channel/tissue destruction compared to the 20 with these two loads.  I used the Winchester Supreme on two of the  deer, and the Buckhammer on the third.  I would not hesitate to use the 20 on deer with the modern sabot slug loads available.

[jwm]

I have the 12 gauge slug barrel.  I'm not in love with it.  Best group I've had so far is 3 inches, which is more than twice the size of the groups I can regularly get with my H&R Ultra Slug 12 gauge.  The fact that the Encore barrel alone cost more than the entire H&R gun doesn't sweeten the deal any either.

Also, why does that barrel need a different, and difficult-to-find (at least up here in Canuckistan) scope base?

I'm a big admirer of the Encore concept in general, but so far this particular combination isn't working for me.

John