20 ga slug barrel - which one

[hitech]

OK, I've done some research here, and there's not too much listed on this or any other forum about the Encore and the 20 ga slug barrel.  Yes, There's talk of people who have them, but I can't recall any of them saying if they have the ProHunter 28" barrel or the standard Encore 26" rifled barrel.

I have a friend who has a 24" 12 ga rifled barrel on his Encore.  What a beast!  He couldn't get it to group past 50 yds, and we also noticed how thin walled the barrel is.  He had to get the extended scope mount as well - due to the thin wall near the chamber.  Leupold VX-1 was mounted and 15 shots later (SST's), he wasn't too happy.  100 yard group, well, it stunk.  I've been wanting the 20 ga for quite some time, and after seeing what his 12 ga did at the range, I'll definitely be looking serious at the 20.

I personally don't care if it's SS or blued, but I'd like to stay below 28" (28" just seems to dang lonnnnggg), so if I go with the 26", it will have to be blued.  BTW, this will be used for deer.

So, my questions are:
For those of you who have the 20 ga rifled slug barrel, which barrel (length, finish) do you own?
Are you satisfied with the accuracy?
Which scope mount is required? (is it the same as the beastly 12 ga) or, which mount do you have?
And lastly, (if you have the 26" barrel) is there a specific forened for it?  I know there's a shotgun forend, but i'm not sure if thats for the smoothbore or rifled.

Thank you for all who take their time out to respond to posts like mine.
 

[nitehunter]

I have the 26" blue bbl, rifled, 6x Bushnell, TC Weaver style mount, Weaver rings, sabot 2 3/4" ammo, 2" groups at 50 yrds, 2 oneshot kills at 80 and 50 yards this last late winter doe hunt. Limbsaver pad on the buttstock, i use a m/l forearm as it's what i have. 50 cal  waspwaisted sabot projectiles are devastating! I like it. hope this helps.

[hitech]

Yes, that does help and thanks for the response.  2" at 50yds isn't too bad, but from what I've heard, it sounds like with the right ammo, people are getting that size group at 100yds.  My buddy's 12ga was getting that at 50yds with SST's, but at 100yds, it was all over the place.  It was very disappointing to see that, but then again, being such a lightweight package and shooting off a bench, I'm not that surprised.

Again, thanks.

[Qtip]

I have the 26" blued barrel with a Bushnell Banner 1.5x4.5 with Weaver mounts and rings. Shoots Lightfields into 3" at 100 yds. and is devastating on deer. Got an eight pointer with it this year. I'm a happy camper!

Qtip
Soli Deo Gloria!

[sportsman223]

  TC Custom shop barrel  26 inch long, Matte finish , bull barrel , Standard scope mount , TC 20g forened free floated
  Vari-X II 2X7 , Shoots SST's one ragged hole @ 100yd's.

[hitech]

Wow, very nice setup!  Of all the reading i've done so far, it seems that the 26" barrel is what people are buying, probably because the ProHunter 28" is still a little new.  It's a shame they don't offer the 26" is SS.  I've been in contact with T/C Custom Shop and they don't make 'em in 26" SS, so i guess blue it is.
Thanks for all of the responses.  I will be adding the 26" to my ProHunter frame.  This should be a tack driver with the weight of the laminate thumbhole and forend.

[encore58]

I am glad I read this thread because I WAS considering a 20 ga. Encore barrel but not now. My Remington 11-87 12 ga. with smooth barrel and Williams Firesights  groups 1.5" at 60 yards with Activ 3" slugs (Foster). I bought a case for about $1.50 a box a few years ago. Have plenty left.

[mbh78]

I have the Pro Hunter 28". I just got it last fall and haven't really played with it all that much. I am shooting the Rem Premier Core-lokt ultra and it'll shoot inside 3" at 100 yds. The biggest trouble I've had is with the scope base. I put a Leupold DD Encore base from another barrel and started shooting. Was getting decent groups and then it started spraying all over the place. Noticed the base was loose. Problem was screws were too long for depth barrel was drilled. Sheared 3 of the 4 screws off flush before I caught it(only about 8 or 9 shots). Took it to a gunsmith and he replace the screws and apoxied the base to the barrel. No problems so far since he did it.

[DropTheHammer]

I bought a gently used T/C custom shop (Hi Polish) 24" 12GA slug last year.   The previous owner was a gunsmith and had done alot of shooting experimenting with different brands of ammo in the year or so that he had it.  I was hoping it liked the SSTs as i had many boxes of them from when i was borrowing a friends Mossy. 

He told me to forget about any brand other than the Federal Premium with Barnes Ex.  Said that the barrel did really well with those, but did not favor the other common brands such as SST, Remingtons, Lightfields. 

Since i had these on hand, i checked him on this and he was correct!  Tried Remington, Hornady SST, and Lightfields and Couldn't get a decent group out of anything but the federals which shoot about 2.5 inches at 100yds.  I shoot alot of cloverleafs to this effect.  Can't get anywhere close to this result with the others.

In hindsight i may have gone with the 20Ga version.... but I do like the 12 with the Federals.

[hitech]

I am glad I read this thread because I WAS considering a 20 ga. Encore barrel but not now. My Remington 11-87 12 ga. with smooth barrel and Williams Firesights  groups 1.5" at 60 yards with Activ 3" slugs (Foster). I bought a case for about $1.50 a box a few years ago. Have plenty left.

I will say that just because one person is getting a 2" group at fifty yards doesn't mean the slug barrel can't do better.  I'm sure with testing different ammo he could achieve better groups.  If you are getting 1.5" groups at 60 yds, well, that's very nice for a smooth bore, it's probably smart as you state to just stay with what you've got.  However, i've spoken to people who have the 20 ga, and they are doing better than 2" at 100 yds, to me, it's worth changing over.  I had an 870 12 ga with the rifle/cantilever setup and I could get 3" at 100 yds, but, the trigger was horrible and the recoil was harsh, even with a SVL pad.  It's all in what works for you.  I'm definitely going with the 26" blued slug barrel.  Good luck with your setup, sounds like you're pretty accurate and comfortable with it.  Oh yeah, thanks for posting, i welcome any response and it does help to hear what other people are shooting.

[encore58]

I am glad I read this thread because I WAS considering a 20 ga. Encore barrel but not now. My Remington 11-87 12 ga. with smooth barrel and Williams Firesights  groups 1.5" at 60 yards with Activ 3" slugs (Foster). I bought a case for about $1.50 a box a few years ago. Have plenty left.

I will say that just because one person is getting a 2" group at fifty yards doesn't mean the slug barrel can't do better.  I'm sure with testing different ammo he could achieve better groups.  If you are getting 1.5" groups at 60 yds, well, that's very nice for a smooth bore, it's probably smart as you state to just stay with what you've got.  However, i've spoken to people who have the 20 ga, and they are doing better than 2" at 100 yds, to me, it's worth changing over.  I had an 870 12 ga with the rifle/cantilever setup and I could get 3" at 100 yds, but, the trigger was horrible and the recoil was harsh, even with a SVL pad.  It's all in what works for you.  I'm definitely going with the 26" blued slug barrel.  Good luck with your setup, sounds like you're pretty accurate and comfortable with it.  Oh yeah, thanks for posting, i welcome any response and it does help to hear what other people are shooting.

Actually, I am going to start hunting with my Knight Bighorn .50 cal next year. I just ordered a new thumb hole stock and Burris base. Going to mount a Redfield Golden 5 star 3x9. The big boys have been eluding me out to around 150 yards so I am going to go with some sabots and Triple 7 pellets and a scope. I will keep my 11-87 for a backup for does up close. Never a problem there. Rifled deer slugs at around $15.00 for 5 rounds just does make any sense. Way too high in my opinion. And, the Encore slug barrels really don't seem to offer any advantage from the reports I have been reading. Wish it were different because I would be all over a barrel if it would group 1" at 100 yards. There may be a few barrels that may make the grade but I am not going to risk the investment.

[kb]

Encore58,

Im all with you.  I have an 11-87 with a rifled choke, and really like it.  Out to 75 yards (my personal max with this gun) I have been very successful.  I was looking into:

1. Getting a rifled barrel for it, but its just too darned expensive.
2.  Picking up a 12 or 20 ga for my encore.  Again too expensive.
3.  Picking up a whole 'nother shotgun (NEF Handi, or a used Savage 210.  Still thinking about this.

The saboted SG rounds are too expensive.  I shoot wally-world fosters at $7 a box of 15.  Where I hunt 75 yards is the max you can see, but I do have one stand that I can see out to 300 yards.  When I hunt this stand, I take my Savage ML2, loaded with smokeless, at less than $.75 a shot (depending on the bullet).  So far my farthest shot is 30 yards...Doh!

Muzzleloading is the way to go for me.  For up close, if I'm not using my 11-87, its my .54 caliber flintlock.

Just something to think about, another option.

kb

[sportsman223]

hitech :  You have seen mine and I have two friends who have them and they all shoot great. With the right sabot mine likes SST's the other two like Rem copper solids all good shooter's all barrels came from custom shop. I would not make comments on something that I personally don't own or have tried. The 20 is a good choice in the Encore

[encore58]

Encore58,

Im all with you.  I have an 11-87 with a rifled choke, and really like it.  Out to 75 yards (my personal max with this gun) I have been very successful.  I was looking into:

1. Getting a rifled barrel for it, but its just too darned expensive.
2.  Picking up a 12 or 20 ga for my encore.  Again too expensive.
3.  Picking up a whole 'nother shotgun (NEF Handi, or a used Savage 210.  Still thinking about this.

The saboted SG rounds are too expensive.  I shoot wally-world fosters at $7 a box of 15.  Where I hunt 75 yards is the max you can see, but I do have one stand that I can see out to 300 yards.  When I hunt this stand, I take my Savage ML2, loaded with smokeless, at less than $.75 a shot (depending on the bullet).  So far my farthest shot is 30 yards...Doh!

Muzzleloading is the way to go for me.  For up close, if I'm not using my 11-87, its my .54 caliber flintlock.

Just something to think about, another option.

kb

I totally agree. My Knight is dead on at 100 yards. It will shoot under an inch with a scope. At less than a buck a shot it's hard to beat.
My 11-87 with Activ 3" rifled slugs (.30 cents a round and have a case) will group under 2" with rifled fiber optic sights off hand at 100 yards. I think I am all set. :-)

[hitech]

Sportsman223, thanks for the replies.  I will definitely be getting the 20ga slug barrel.  I'm looking at getting the standard 26" from eabco, however, the bull barrel from the Custom shop is also an option. 

I appreciate all the replies and i'll post some accuracy figures and pictures when i get mine.