Basicly a bird gun with open sights (or just a bead)? I would not recomend even hunting unless you had put a few slugs through it. That way you know your effective range. Also like any other gun your gun may not like sluggers and you would get better performance out of a different brand. Is there someplace you can shoot near you before the weekend hunt?

what is the setup on the 870? do you have a bird barrell or slug barrell?

I have a bird barrel I was able to get out the day before the hunt and put a few slugs through it, and was supprisingly happy with my groups at fifty yards, at 100 yards the gun was just not what I would feel comferatable taking at shot with in the field, luckily where we were hunting shots are pretty much within fifty yards. I will definatley be buying the deerslayer barrel, this trip just came up very unexpectedly and I cant pass up time in the field. My buddy got a doe, I saw a nice buck but was not able to get a shot off. But I reserved another permit for the 22nd so hopefully I'll have somemore luck on that day.

Before I put the rifled barrel on my 870 I hunted with slugs for 12 to 15 years. It is very acurate with remington sluggers. I was very comfotable with it out to 80 yards (I've taken deer at that distance). The power of that big slug is amazing. One deer I shot at 80 yards rolled 360 degrees in the air and hit the ground and didn't flinch again! (spine shot small doe). I practiced with it every year and would consistantly have 3 or 4 inch groups, about 4 inches from the bullseye at 10 o-clock. (80 yards) Very consistant! If shooting at 50 yards (with bead only) I could get 3 inch groups around the bullseye. At 100 yards the slugs started tumbling and the acuracy dropped off quickly. Sometimes you can hit the paper and sometimes not(100yds). I was convinced this was too far when I found the profile image of one of the slugs I shot in the paper at 100yds.
If you practice with it and get the confidence the slugs deserve it is very effective deer medicine!

Well, the gun did the trick, nothing last week but yeterday I got a nice little button buck, should taste delicous.