Problems with USH thumhole stock 12 gauge accuracy

[Byrddogwi]

I have problems with accuracy of my gun.  I have gone through 5 different slugs and can not get it to group well.  I have tried Winchester BRI, Winchester Supreme Elite, Lightfield Hybrid EXP, Hornady all in 2 3/4".  I also had used some Brenneke Black Magic Magnum 2 3/4" last year.  

I have a 1.5x5 Simmons Pro Diamond scope with Millet mounts and am shooting off of a bulls bag.  It seemed to be OK with the Brenneke's in the past but this year I was all over the paper at 25 and 50 yards.  I switched to the Sabots and it did not get much better. I even pulled a boresnake through after every shot and that did not make any difference either.  I could get 2 to be OK (maybe 1-2" group at 50 yards) and the 3rd would be off by 2-3".  I finally gave up after going through about $60 of ammo this year and still no better off than I was at the beginning.  This really sucks since I do not have much faith in the gun as I do with my Tikka 30-06. Unfortunately I can only hunt shotgun in MN.  I did not shoot at any deer in MN with it this year and don't know if I would have shot unless it was 10-20 yards away.

I know others have had good luck with the Hornady's and the Lightfields but I am getting frustrated and sometimes think I should sell it and just get a smoothbore.  My next step is to replace the scope and mounts.  Is that I could place to start?  Can the ammo be that inconsistent?  

The problem is I grew up hunting with rifles and getting 1" or less at 100 yards with my rifles and find it hard to believe that I can't group 2" at 50 yards with $3/shot ammo.

Any suggestions?

[Markus]

The barrel might have leading? These barrels are designed to shoot sabots. They will shoot cheap slugs ok for awhile but once the barrel gets leaded accuracy deteriorates.

[mspaci]

give that barrel a really good cleaning, I used some butch`s bore bright & a copper brush & was really surprised at what came out on the patches.  Mike

[Byrddogwi]

Thanks for the suggestions.  I am not that familiar with slugs in shotguns so I will try cleaning the barrel and lead out of the barrel.

The first ammo after I got it out the box was the Hornady sabots and they did not group well, about 2 inch group at 50 yards.  I was surprised since my rifle loves and deer hate Hornady SST ammo.

Also, when sighting in with sabots do I need to run the boresnake through after each shot to remove the plastic in the barrel or will those pieces not affect the accuracy?

[spikehorn]

+1 on giving it a good cleaning first, also try buck hammers

[Byrddogwi]

+1 on giving it a good cleaning first, also try buck hammers

If I use buck hammers do I need to clean the barrel more often because of lead buildup since they are not a sabots?  Do your have accuracy problems after shooting a couple of boxes?

[spikehorn]

Probably will have to clean more often, but its my understanding that they are a harder lead alloy. Maybe if MSP ret sees this post he can give you that answer. Ive only shot about two boxes out of my sons 20ga USH and haven't seen accuracy drop off yet.

[wreckhog]

I shoot cheap slugs out of my USH lami heavy barrel on a regular basis at the range. 15-20 shots at a sitting. The barrel gets quite leaded. I buy lead remover cloths (about $5 at many gun stores), cut pieces off, wrap them around a bore brush and floss my Ultragon rifling with a few pieces until it is nearly clean. I move the pieces around, reverse them, etc, to get the most out of them. Toxic smell and takes off blueing. Don't lick your fingers.

Remington Sluggers shoot patterns. Winchesters from Walmart (the same $10/15) shoot 3 shot groups that touch at 50 yards.

The gun is set up for the bench since it misfires. 20x scope, cheap rings, and a bipod.

I don't remember what sabots shoot like anymore.  The cheap stuff is fine for me.

[nimrodder]

Did you check your scope and mount? No offense but a dirt cheap scope and cheap mounts on a 12ga slug gun is asking for problems sooner or later.

[gcrank1]

I dont know of any deer that can measure the 2 or 3" group that killed it with the first shot in the boiler room.

[buckshooter]

I have heard from numerous post that the USH kicks so much that it can actually brake a cheap scope.  If you have the money, I would get the best quality shotgun scope you can afford, and Cabela's has in the last year come out with a shotgun scope that has reticule with it.  That is what I would do

[spikehorn]

I had a Rossi single shot 308 win and that was the most brutally recoiling gun I have ever owned. It ate scopes like they were a breakfast special. I but a bushnell Banner 3X9X40 on it and never had a problem with it,and you can get them for around $100