BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

yankee.fan · Joined: 20 Sep 2002 Posts: 3

Just got stationed in Rhode Island. I guess I'll stow away my favorite
rifles. I've used my trusty M1 Garand and been lucky out to 300-350 yards.
I've only used my shotguns for waterfowl, so I'm a little confused. I am
getting ready to order various types of ammo to see what shoots the best out
of my old shotgun. Due to the high cost of a slug barrel for my Benelli, I
opted to fit my Mossberg 835.

My questions are concerning the various types of ammo. I've been told that
many use buckshot for the first shot and slugs for the second. The place
where I'm going to hunt will probably give me a fifty yard shot on average.
Is buckshot effective at that distance? If so, which size? 1, 2, or 3
Buck? The barrel is rifled, so do I get rifled slugs or sabot slugs? It
seems from the specs that the sabot shells shoot flatter and longer than the
rifled slugs. 100 yards is the max effective range? Thanks for any advice

maineguide · Joined: 03 Sep 2002 Posts: 241 Location: Downeast, ME USA

Hi Yankee.fan, I have used 00 buckshot for years and it works good for me. I use neck shots only.
Buckshot is good to about 30 yards after that it has a tendincy to rise so at 40 yards you can be a little high.

I have never used the sabot slugs, but people that I have talked to say it's the way to go.

bitmasher · Joined: 27 Feb 2002 Posts: 2599 Location: Colorado

I can't help you with your question (I have only used rifles). However why can't you use your favorite rifles? I didn't realize you couldn't use rifles in Rhode Island, sounds odd.

kgoody · Joined: 07 Sep 2002 Posts: 35 Location: wellsville,ny

I have never used buckshot, however here in NY, were limited to slugs, and, I've had good luck. As far as a brand to try? I used the Lightfield 2 years ago, and the results were good, except that all Lightfields are at least 11/4 oz. This made the downrange trajectory poor, so I switched to the Remington copper solid, so far, I have been very happy with the results. the only drawback, is the $10 bucks a box that they cost

[ This Message was edited by: kgoody on 2002-09-22 22:05 ]

y2kcrash · Joined: 18 Sep 2002 Posts: 4

I use the 2 3/4 " Remington Copper Solids, If you have a scope then I would advise you get a bore sighter. This way you will save over the long run. Your zero can be achieved easier and rehecked. the cost saved in rounds pays for the sighter in no time.
The copper solid is very effective and groups well. They come in I believe 20 gauge / 12 gauge 2 3/4 and 3"

yankee.fan · Joined: 20 Sep 2002 Posts: 3

Thanks for the responses. I am going to buy a bore-site. I used to bitch about the cost of some steel shots and all of the other waterfowl ammo, but this ammo for deer is much worse.

Rhode Island has NO rifle hunting. Connecticut only on private land. I do like that deer season is more than just a few days. Out West, many states only have a three-day season with modern rifle.

I will be a bow-hunter by next season and probably a muzzle-loader by this season.

Thanks again.

bitmasher · Joined: 27 Feb 2002 Posts: 2599 Location: Colorado

Thanks for the info yankee.fan. I didn't realize rifles were restricted in those states...

fishduckdog · Joined: 30 Oct 2002 Posts: 4 Location: Minnesota

If you have a rifled barrel and iron sights are using slugs. You should have no problem hitting a good shot group at 100yds. I use cheap 1 oz. Federal slugs every year and do great. Go to the range. A 12ga. slug will roll about any deer. Southern Minnesota has always been a shotgun zone too.

fire6469 · Joined: 11 Oct 2002 Posts: 15 Location: pennsylvania

In pa we are allowed to use rifle but there are days when I will use a 12 gauge Ithaca Deer Slayer to hunt with. I have gotten some good results with it. I have used sabot slugs and rifled. I personally like the Federal hollow point sabots the best.

scrimmy · Joined: 09 Nov 2002 Posts: 12 Location: Wayne J. Scrimshaw

Welcome to the world of close in deer hunting yankee.fan. I live in Southern Ontario and hunt with bow, blackpowder and rifled barrel shotgun. In answer to your question I will not use buckshot and since they came out with sabot slugs for shotguns I no longer use plain or rifled slugs but use sabots exclusivley. So far this season I have shot 3 deer. two with my Horton xbow and my last one with my T/C 50 cal blackpowder. My sons use my rem 870's with rifled slug barrels shooting federal sabots. These things are awsome and in the hands of someone who can shot will drop deer in their tracks at 150+ yards. Almost as far as my smokepole. I use the same 240 grain bullets in my shotguns as well as my T/C and rem 700ml. Hope this helps.

maineguide · Joined: 03 Sep 2002 Posts: 241 Location: Downeast, ME USA

My son just shot his first deer useing a Rem 870 and a slug. Blew that baby right off of her feet.

Switzerland Co · Joined: 23 Jun 2003 Posts: 4 Location: Indiana

Indiana is a Bow, Black powder, pistol, or shotgun only state. I hunted with a 12 gage for years. I would never take a 100 yard shot with a slug, too much drop. Most of our shots are 70 yards or less. If you get good at 25/50/75 yards with a 12 gage and a slug you will have no problems.

I know the feeling when it comes to rifles and long distance shots, I shot in the Marines for years and was a PMI instructor for a while. The thrill of called in buck from 25 yards is much greater than a silent kill from 200 yards to me any day.

Hope you enjoy your shotgun days,
If they have muzzleloader season there check into some of the new inlines. They can reach out a little further also.

Rod

butler1850 · Joined: 08 Jul 2003 Posts: 13

it's a density thing. In most (all?) of Mass, it's Bows and Shotguns only. In NH (my home state), it's shotguns and bows only in the south eastern parts, and any firearm the more north and away from cities/density that you go. I'm sure other states are the same.

-Butler

helomech · Joined: 02 Aug 2003 Posts: 2 Location: jacksonville,nc

If your slug barrel is rifled you will want to use sabot slugs. Rifled slugs were typically made to shoot from a smoothbore. I hunt with a remington 1100 outfitted with a 22 inch rifled slug barrel and red dot scope (deadly combination). I use sabot type slugs exclusively and can keep it in the vitals easily out to 80 yards. Good luck this year, hope this helps you out.

expatriate · Joined: 26 Oct 2002 Posts: 1164 Location: Alaska

Ditto on what's being said here. I grew up in slug country. A slug will definitely put down a deer, although I wouldn't go smaller than 20 gauge. You don't get as much hydrostatic shock off of a slug due to slower velocities, but there's a lot of mass hitting and slugs make big holes.

I agree that barrel type makes a big difference. Sabot slugs are designed for rifled barrels, and I don't think you'll gain anything shooting them through a smoothbore. They're more expensive than rifled (foster) slugs and I doubt it's worth it. However, if you're serious enough to pay a few bucks for a rifled barrel, I'd definitely go with the sabots.