Encore 12 or 20

[jrkrk]

H :grin: ey guys anyone have any experience with the encore slug guns whether it be 12 or 20 .

[sk330lc]

I have a 12ga slug barrel for my Encore and Love it . I have the best luck with the Hornady sst slugs . Best group @ 100yard was just over 1". Average group is about 2 to 2.5 " @ 100yards.  I took a Nice eight point this past season @ about 65yards dropped like a rock. could not be happier with the gun or the slugs ..  I must add recoil is very stiff. Go with a Simms recoil pad..  Or maybe the new pro hunter stock.  hope this helps

[oliverstacy]

I've never shot his 20 ga but he has taken several deer with it.  A very nice 8 pt last year went no more than 30 yards, amazing blood trail.  He uses Winchester Platinum Tips 3" magÂ’s.  Great accuracy and pleasant to shoot from what he says.   I just bought a SS 12 ga slug barrel and have not shot it yet but will within the next couple of weeks.  I originally wanted to buy the 20 ga version but Cabela's didn't have it that day and I went with the 12 ga.  I have a Sims recoil pad (installed last fall) which tamed the recoil of both me 375 Winchester and muzzleloader barrel.  I did shoot his 12 ga turkey barrel and it did pack a punch with 3" heavy shot turkey loads.  I'm assuming my slug gun will be approximately the same in recoil.  His didn't have a Sims pad though.  He is getting to be recoil sensitive lately, he is a paraplegic and hunts from his truck and can't role with the recoil like he use to.  So if he says it pleasant to shoot it probably is.

I have 12 boxes of slugs to try and will post results when I get a chance to send some lead down range.  

Loads I'm going to try:

Hornady SST 2-3/4"
Lightfields 3"
Winchester BRI
Winchester Platinum tips
Winchester Nosler Partitions
Remington Copper Solids


I'll post some results when I can.  Since I just got a Chronograph, can slugs safely be shot through them?  Worried about the sabots hitting the unit and causing damage.

Josh

[kb]

Hows it shooting?

kb

[oliverstacy]

Well I have to say I'm as sore as I've ever been after an afternoon of shooting.  I for some reason took the following:

Two Encore Frames, 12 gauge SST 24" slug barrel, 24" 375 Winchester and my 28" 9.3x74R to the range...this will be the first and last time I take this combo.  I'm not a small person and it took every ounce of my 290 lbs to not flinch towards the end of the session. 

Slugs as follows:

BRI's were mainly for sighting in with one three shot group at 1.195" CTC, most were much larger and this was at 50 yards.  I found this load to be pleasant to shoot but not as accurate as some of the others.

Winchester Platinum 2-3/4"...at 50 yards it shot a 5 shot 1.702" CTC group and was noticeably harder on the shoulder.  Did not shoot this at a hundred and will shot more in the future to see if it performs better with a cleaner gun.  I tried to keep it clean and cool but when you're in a small hurry because of the range time you do your best.

Lightfields at 50 yards weren't worth mentioning around 3.5" five shot group at 50 yards.  These didn't kick as bad as I thought they were going to.  Full 1 ounce slugs!!

Hornady SST's 300 grain sabots.  First let me say I see why they are going 1900 ft/sec. (this is what the box says) they kicked me more than anything else has.  But they are worth the punishment.  Groups at 100 yards were printing 4" higher than the others at 50 yards, you could tell the added velocity.  5 shot group at 100 yards was 2.093" and 4 of those were 1.716".  I ran out of shoulder at this point and switched to my 9.3X74R...not that this was much nicer to shoot.

I will shoot the Winchester Platinum tips at 100 yards along side the SST's to see what the difference is.  I'm leaning towards the SST's because they are faster and cheaper (which suprises me). I didn't get a chance to shoot the Winchester Partition Gold and the Remington copper solids but will in the future.

Hope this info helps. 

Josh