Author Topic: 20 ga. modified (Read 1889 times)

tscott · « **on:** April 30, 2004, 09:34:05 AM »

I have a chance to pick this up new for $75.I have read some time ago about converting this gun to a slug gun. As I recall some of you folks swear by it as a slug gun. What must I do to alter, if anything?
What slugs perform from this smoothbore? I need another gun like a hole in the head! Because of recoil, I guess I would set it up for my grandson!

MSP Ret · « **Reply #1 on:** April 30, 2004, 10:05:50 AM »

tscott, If you wanted a smoothbore 20 Gauge ( I have both a smoothbore and rifled 12 and like the smoothbore) the gun with a modified choke might be fine as is, just add sights. You could have it drilled and tapped for a scope rail from NEF and mount a red dot or low power scope. Or you might add open rifle sights or a peep sight. You might have to silver solder or otherwise add a rifle style ramp front sight. If you wanted a shorter barrel or found the modified choke was to tight for the slugs you chose to shoot you could cut and true the barrel to a shorter length. A new 20 gauge at Wal-Mart is only about $80.00 if I'm not mistaken, I have not bought one but I know they are not to expensive new...Hopefully someone here more conversant with the 20's can add to this for you....<><.... :grin: (the good thing about smoothbore shotguns for slugs is that you can shoot the much less expensive foster style slugs or the slightly more expensive but extremely accurate Brennekes out of them. If you get locked into a rifled shotgun barrel it shots great out to 125 yards or so but with the exception of some of the Brennekes (great slugs!!) you have to shoot the very expensive sabotted slugs, they work well but are EXPENSIVE...Also, with a shotgun, be it a 12 or a 20, I personally want to throw a slug the full diameter of the barrel, (again the Brennekes shine!!!)

VarmintController · « **Reply #2 on:** April 30, 2004, 10:20:04 AM »

cyl choked makes the best smoothbore slug gun. but mod chokes will work too. i would have the barrel cut down by about 4 inches, and that will remove the choke, and make it a cyl bore. drilling and tapping would give you a scope, or red dot. but i would not bother with open sights, if you want open sights on a slug gun, go buy a brand new tracker2 for $120-$150 depending on how much your dealer marks stuff up. of course it would be rifled, but my son's tracker2 20ga is a great slug gun. but if you want a smoothbore then go with a plain old pardner, chop the choke off, and put on a cheap scope. and you will have a nice little 20ga smoothbore. and you should be able to get 100yrds with good magnum slugs. my 12ga smoothbores have always been good for 100yrds. smoothbore's dont drive tacs like rifled barrels do, but with the right ammo, they will give you deer killing groups at 100 yrds.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #3 on:** April 30, 2004, 10:32:17 AM »

I agree with VC (with the exception of using the mag loads) and so does "Griz". Go over to the thread entitled "Tracker II Barrels" in this forum and read Griz's response which relates 20 gauge slugs and 20 gauge slug guns. I think that is what you are looking for and I think you learn something and be impressed ....<><.... :grin:

VarmintController · « **Reply #4 on:** April 30, 2004, 10:52:04 AM »

MSP<-------- you cant get 100 yrds out of a plain old 20ga slug, they drop off too soon, but the mags in a 20ga will do 100yrds w/o too much drop at 100 yrds. no it does not have to be a 3 inch mag, but it would have to be a "magnum" load to get 100 yrds. a plain old slug will do 70 yrds or so, but i would rather have the little extra. but for a 20ga i would really think about a tracker2 20ga. they send these sabots about flat to 100yrds, and will sure put a deer down good. matter a fact, i would use one on a black bear and not doubt it one bit. of course my sidearm would be with me in case i needed a quick follow up shot. but i have faith a tracker2 20ga would be fine on black bear. now i would not try one on anything any bigger then that. but then again that is what they make 12ga slug guns for :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: or i guess i would use my 30-06 and just get it over with. then i know the "power" is there :-D :-D :-D :-D well only my 2 cents.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #5 on:** April 30, 2004, 11:35:36 AM »

As usual VC, You are holding all the right answers and opinions. I bow to your expertise. As I said I do not have a 20 but have a couple of 12's. All this talk of 20's however has me itching (again) to get a 20 smoothbore barrel, cut the choke off, add a rail and either a scope or red dot, fuel it with some Brenneke slugs (not sabots). It may be because I hunt thick areas in the lovely and rough state of Maine but I have never shot a deer (in Maine) further than 40 yards, heck, most of the areas I hunt you can't see 40 yards. The 20 with Brennekes seems like it will do almost as well as the 12. Of course I don't need another barrel but for $39.00 why not, unless I can hopefully find a $40-$50 used 20 gauge :grin: :grin: :grin: ....<><....

VarmintController · « **Reply #6 on:** April 30, 2004, 11:53:15 AM »

MSP<----- in my 20+ years in these maine woods, i have only shot 3 deer over 60 yrds or so. matter a fact most of my deer are well under that. maybe thats why i like smooth bores. and with a NEF, you can change to birdshot real qiuck for the darn little red squirrel at the end of the day. or even throw in the old 3 inch 00 buckshot. there is on piece i hunt and i know for a fact there is atleast one trophy buck in it, that a 20yrd shot is about the longest you will be able to get. and for that i love 00 buck, and with my "NEW" nef tracker one smoothbore on its way to me as i type this, i will sure be ready for next fall, in my favorite fur grove that borders a ceder swamp. and maybe i will get that old grey buck this year. but dreaming aside, i find it very rare that i need anything more then a good 50 yrds or so. and if you hunt much up here, then you know what i mean, yes there are some big corn fields i hunt that my 30-06 goes with me to. but most of the time i will take a good 100yrd, light weight brush gun anyday over a hvy old field gun. well for deer that is, i still love my 243 for varmints, and i bet i will love my 22-250 if i can ever get it :evil: :evil: :evil:

MSP Ret · « **Reply #7 on:** April 30, 2004, 12:53:03 PM »

VC, Yes I do get to do some hunting in your fine state. I'm 59 and been coming to Maine for about, lets see, 59 years!!! Sounds like your hunting up at my camp in Bradford, fir groves that border a cedar swamp, thats part of it, of course it's bordered by some ridges with some big timber on them, then of course there are the old apple orchards, (volunteer" apple trees) and the couple of stands of Beeches. If you tire of that the old abandoned overgrown 100 acre farm across the road which is bordered by the BIG old cedar swamp and miles of woods behind it will keep you busy for a while...and by the way there are fiddleheads and small but native trout out by the back stream. I can't think of why I came back last week, guess I'll have to head up again in a week or 2....<><.... :grin:

VarmintController · « **Reply #8 on:** April 30, 2004, 01:44:33 PM »

MSP<----- i got to say, i would not have left that and gone back to mass. sorry not i. but what i nice sounding hunting area you have. maybe someday after the kids are all grown, mama and i have often that of moving up that way, and to hear you talk about it, makes me want to go now. but there is no work up there, and i got it way to good at LL Bean to ever give it up. well not for a very long time anyway. :grin: :grin: :grin: of course if there are too many deer, grouse, or even black bear up there for you to handle.................. i could get directions from you, and go thin them out for you :wink: :wink: :wink: :wink: :wink:

MSP Ret · « **Reply #9 on:** April 30, 2004, 03:28:54 PM »

I am always very agreeable to have good guys come up to camp. Perhaps later this summer or this fall or winter we can get together and get up there for some hunting. The invitation is out to a few here, like2hunt, the Montanan, Deadeye47 and a few others. I only spent a little while at my camp last week, I was a bit further north this trip, went up to the Millinocket area and spent a week coyote hunting and scouting. Did the Golden Road up towards Katadin and the West Sebois area. The smelt were running pretty good when we left Sunday morning and it snowed pretty good for a short while Saturday Morning. The good thing was it seems it wasn't much of a mud season this year and the ice is leaving pretty quickly, I even got in a few casts with my flyrod!!!....<><.... :grin:

gwhilikerz · « **Reply #10 on:** April 30, 2004, 04:15:48 PM »

I have a youth model 20 ga. with mod. choke. The barrel is already at 22"(I think that is right). I just put a slip on recoil pad on it to lengthen the stock a bit and it shoots plain old Winchester slugs really well out to about 70 yds. I have not shot it at any longer distances 'cause I don't get too many chances to shoot a deer past about 50 yds or so. So far this little gem of a gun has accounted for 4 deer in the last two seasons. No sights except for the bead up front and I don't guess it will ever see any sights. Just my 2 cents worth.

gwhilikerz · « **Reply #11 on:** April 30, 2004, 04:23:01 PM »

OOPS! I forgot that I did shoot a few shots at about 100 yds to see what would happen. I had a group of about 4" and but quite a bit low. I wouldn't shoot at a deer that far. I would have to hold over his back to hit home.

VarmintController · « **Reply #12 on:** May 01, 2004, 12:11:16 AM »

MSP<------- boy would it be nice to get a few of us guys together and do a hunting trip, of course only the good old boys. but your right, it would be a blast. and just think of all the NEFs there. how is the grouse hunting near your camp?? it sounds like a great place for those too. alot of birds hang around old apple trees. or i have sure killed my fair share hunting in over grown orchards. it would be kinda hard to set up, but it would be a good time. :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:

MSP Ret · « **Reply #13 on:** May 01, 2004, 04:01:50 AM »

Your right VC, It would be a blast, The Partridge hunting has not has been what it used to be the last few years, we have been blaming it on the coyotes but don't know for sure. The week I spent in Millinocket and north we did see more partridge than we ever have so early in the year, so perhaps that coupled with the lack of coyotes for the week might point to a good bird season this year. Did you see where the deer kill was down 21% overall this last year with the kill during firearms down 26%. The kill with bow and blackpowder was down less than 21% for the overall to equal -21%. The explanation I heard early in the season for not many deer around was the good summer with adequate rain to provide good feed all through the woods, therefore the deer did not have to come out to the roadways and fields for their "treats". The latest reason I read for the diminished deer kill was the wet rainy weather during most of the gun season. With the not to severe winter this past winter and the extra deer left over, plus the (hopefully) lower number of coyotes around this could be a banner year for deer and Partridge also. Now to make sure the "crazies" don't start to think of introducing wolves in Maine!!! Look what they did in the Yellowstone area.....<><.... :grin:

lik2hunt · « **Reply #14 on:** May 01, 2004, 04:32:37 AM »

I haven't forgotten about that invite either MSP. I'm still scfheming a way to get a plane ticket and all the extras for the trip. May just have to figure in a new barrel for the Ultra too......hmmmm, well I'll have to scheme a little more. It would be great if all of us you have invited could get together there at the same time for a week or two though wouldn't it? You could even join us.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #15 on:** May 01, 2004, 04:43:27 AM »

Thanks for the invite like2hunt, I may have a problem squeezing in the small camp with everyone else. Perhaps you guys might let me sleep in the wood shed or out in a tent? (I have been accused of snoring before)....<><.... :grin:

lik2hunt · « **Reply #16 on:** May 01, 2004, 04:47:34 AM »

It would probably be me that would wind up in the shed....I've woke myself up before

Went to a men's retreat one time and they moved all my stuff outside the cabin door while I was in the shower, just a joke tho they let me move back in, however I think it was reluctantly :-D

VarmintController · « **Reply #17 on:** May 02, 2004, 11:10:40 AM »

you know guys that would be sooooo!!!!!!!!!!! much fun. a few of us, a BUNCH of NEFs. and a week in the northern maine woods. and a few rounds of ammo :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: yep what a week that would be.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #18 on:** May 02, 2004, 11:41:18 AM »

I'll tell you what guys, the camp is rough, it has electricity and a regular gas stove and refridgerator, a great well with plenty of water and everyday someone has to empty the 5 gallon bucket that suffices as a "potty" but if some of you want to come up, as long as you don't smoke (I'm a non-repentant reformed smoker, quit about 25 years ago) your welcome to set something up. You know who you are that I have talked to about it, let me know....<><.... :grin: (who know we might be able to get some sort of "trip rotation" going here, 1 year in Maine, the next somewhere else at someone else's place and so on, sounds like it might work out great...)

VarmintController · « **Reply #19 on:** May 02, 2004, 11:53:03 AM »

MSP<-------- that sounds like a great place to me. and i quite smoking after 14 long years myself not too long ago. so no smoking would be even better :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: i bet we could get something together with some work. count me in, and let me know when the plans come together. or if you need any help setting it up.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #20 on:** May 02, 2004, 02:47:09 PM »

, OK VC, looking for lik2hunt, Deadeye47 and the Montanan as well as W NY Whitetailer, offhand 35 and inGobwetrust as well as a few more here, please don't be offended if I left you out, you are there, it's just my memory and your name that is missing... I'm getting old you know!!. I'd really like to get sourdough onto it also, his stories alone would make a trip worthwhile, heck he might even come out of it with another story or 2!!!....<><.... :grin: This might be more difficult to set up than it would seem though, sometimes just spur of the moment things work out also, but the good thing is we have time on our side... Heck I'm too much of a softy to exclude anyone, just have to set a few camp rules and may sure they are folllowed and just about everyone except extreme left wing liberals would be welcomed...:wink:

VarmintController · « **Reply #21 on:** May 03, 2004, 01:47:37 AM »

MSP<------- i got to agree, LEFT WINGERs not welcome. the out of towners could fly into boston, or the portland airport. i would be able to pick some people up, and take them up. even if i had to run down your way and grab a couple down there it would not be a big deal. :wink: :wink: :wink: i just got to have enough notice so i can get work to give me some time off, or i might become very "sick" if the notice was too short to get regular vacation time off. :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:

MSP Ret · « **Reply #22 on:** May 03, 2004, 02:03:54 AM »

VC, just a thought but if they flew into Bangor it would be easy to pick them up from the camp....<><.... :grin:

VarmintController · « **Reply #23 on:** May 03, 2004, 02:25:48 AM »

DUH......... can you tell i was on my first cup of coffee, that just makes much more sense. i always fly out of portland of boston for the better rates, but yes bangor would make alot more sense for this. and would be a much shorter ride to your camp. and if people let me know ahead of time about what they need for ammo and such, i can get a good discount on it. and i dont think you can fly with ammo anymore. is there an FFL up that way that people could ship the guns too??? if not i might have a spare or two around for bird hunting, deer season is a little harder as i dont have very many spare rifles, but we can work all that junk out later on.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #24 on:** May 03, 2004, 02:39:57 AM »

VC, I am pretty sure they can still take thier hunting guns on planes as long as they go as baggage. There is an FFL in Milo and one in Dover-Foxcroft that might oblige if it was neccessary. I am sure it could be done if we wanted to travel as far as Millinocket. By the way, I have responded and hope to be second in line behind you for the speed-feed stock set.... boy you have to be up early in the AM to get to the front of the line!! Congratulations, hope you get it, I'd like to have it but don't really need it and the funding is also in question....<><.... :grin:

VarmintController · « **Reply #25 on:** May 03, 2004, 02:50:28 AM »

maybe you can still fly hunting guns?

i heard that it was going to stop, and you would have to ship them to an FFL, and ship them back that way too. but i may very well be wrong, its happened before once or twice :wink: :wink: :wink: :wink: