Slug-gun question

[7075-T7]

Well, I just converted my Rem 870 express to a slug gun with the Shur-shot stock, 23" fully rifled barrel, and I put my Vortex Razor HD 1-4 on a saddle mount.

My question is, what's the best way to zero one... because with sabot ammo at $2ish a round, I can't go hittin' dirt.

[LongHairedRedneck]

Start off @ 25yds that'll get you on paper. Remember slug gun ballistics look like a rainbow, so adjust accordingly @ 25 before stepping out to 50 & 100.

I love my 870 with a rifled barrel, kicks like a mule but very fun

[7075-T7]

Thanks for the tip.

Maybe Elm Fork will be nice and let me start on the pistol range @25.

[RECIT]

Here some inspiration for you.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNTyCcip-ks" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[NcongruNt]

Well, I just converted my Rem 870 express to a slug gun with the Shur-shot stock, 23" fully rifled barrel, and I put my Vortex Razor HD 1-4 on a saddle mount.

My question is, what's the best way to zero one... because with sabot ammo at $2ish a round, I can't go hittin' dirt.

Maybe I'm missing something, but what's the point in building a slug gun?

The only reason I've known people to do so was because they had ridiculous state laws/regulation prohibiting the use of rifles for hunting game to deal with. Otherwise, it sounds like an awfully expensive way to throw lead downrange when a rifle could do an equal or better job with greater precision at distance and a much lower cost.

Can you enlighten me?

[7075-T7]

Not on the pistol range itself but you can shoot it in the Tactical range just to the right

Awesome, I forgot about those lanes. Thanks AndyC!!

Maybe I'm missing something, but what's the point in building a slug gun?

The only reason I've known people to do so was because they had ridiculous state laws/regulation prohibiting the use of rifles for hunting game to deal with. Otherwise, it sounds like an awfully expensive way to throw lead downrange when a rifle could do an equal or better job with greater precision at distance and a much lower cost.

Can you enlighten me?

TMG Syndrome. The boss has restricted my purchasing of firearms to 1 a year, and I'm not due for another one until Jan 1 2012 (because of a Glock 29 and Sig P556 purchase in 2010). But, buying parts for the ones I already have is outside that law. Plus the sabot rounds make real big holes in squishy things inside of 50 yards and keep going through other squishy things. TEOTWAWKI and zombies.

[MojoTexas]

Maybe I'm missing something, but what's the point in building a slug gun?

Can you enlighten me?

TMG Syndrome. The boss has restricted my purchasing of firearms to 1 a year, and I'm not due for another one until Jan 1 2012 (because of a Glock 29 and Sig P556 purchase in 2010). But, buying parts for the ones I already have is outside that law. Plus the sabot rounds make real big holes in squishy things inside of 50 yards and keep going through other squishy things. TEOTWAWKI and zombies.

That sounds like my logic.

When I got my shotgun last year, I was able to justify buying a plain-jane $279.99 Remington 870...not an expensive tactical shotgun, nor a higher-end hunting shotgun with camouflage stock, etc. However, after buying the shotgun, I bought a new Remington 18.5" barrel for home defense, a replacement Remington stock and foregrip in Mossy Oak breakup, and a replacement magazine cap that has a swivel that allows me to attach a sling. I now have a nice dual-purpose shotgun suitable for both hunting and self-defense, but the "new gun" portion was less than $300...the rest was just "parts".

MojoTexas

[puma guy]

Maybe I'm missing something, but what's the point in building a slug gun?

Can you enlighten me?

TMG Syndrome. The boss has restricted my purchasing of firearms to 1 a year, and I'm not due for another one until Jan 1 2012 (because of a Glock 29 and Sig P556 purchase in 2010). But, buying parts for the ones I already have is outside that law. Plus the sabot rounds make real big holes in squishy things inside of 50 yards and keep going through other squishy things. TEOTWAWKI and zombies.

That sounds like my logic.

When I got my shotgun last year, I was able to justify buying a plain-jane $279.99 Remington 870...not an expensive tactical shotgun, nor a higher-end hunting shotgun with camouflage stock, etc. However, after buying the shotgun, I bought a new Remington 18.5" barrel for home defense, a replacement Remington stock and foregrip in Mossy Oak breakup, and a replacement magazine cap that has a swivel that allows me to attach a sling. I now have a nice dual-purpose shotgun suitable for both hunting and self-defense, but the "new gun" portion was less than $300...the rest was just "parts".


MojoTexas

Perfect for shootin' Nutra (that's nutria). Academy is selling nutra shotguns!

[uthornsfan]

I am new to shotguns (just picked up my first 12 ga today)

Can you shoot slug rounds from a normal barrel? Do you need to remove the choke if you do that? Is there anything else to worry about?

[NcongruNt]

I am new to shotguns (just picked up my first 12 ga today)

Can you shoot slug rounds from a normal barrel? Do you need to remove the choke if you do that? Is there anything else to worry about?

You should get an open cylinder (no choke) choke insert if you want to fire slugs. Just removing the choke leaves the threads open to fouling and damage.

So yes, you can. But you should get an OC choke insert for the purpose.

[NcongruNt]

If you only have one long gun for whatever reason, slugs do expand the capabilities of a shotgun - not only in terms of what can be shot with it eg. deer but the distances involved, too. Also, you can switch from birdshot to buckshot to slugs right there and then, if you want to - can't do that with a rifle.

Besides, it's hard to argue against a 1oz / 430gr slug doing about 1,600 fps

Yes, but with a rifled barrel, your pattern with shot will be all messed up. A smoothbore shotgun switching between shot and rifled slugs, sure.

You can change out barrels, but that's going to cost nearly the price of the gun. I guess if that's how one justifies the expense as "parts" instead of a new gun, that will work. My better half wouldn't see it that way, if I'm spending the same amount either way. I'd sooner have a purpose-built gun instead of messing with the pain of swapping barrels and whatnot, and then we're back to using a rifle again.

Yes, a 1oz slug is devastating, but so is a 200gr 30-06 screaming downrange at 2600fps. A Remington 700 in that caliber can be had for less than you're going to put into building a slug gun with rifled barrel and everything else. Either one is going to be more than adequate (some would argue excessive) for any kind of game you're going to find anywhere in or near Texas.

[NcongruNt]

I'm not saying he can't do whatever he wants. I just don't understand the reasoning.

I'm just trying to wrap my mind around why someone would spend all that money to make a gun that, as I see it, functions less than optimally as both a shotgun and a rifle. I'm not trying to criticize his choice, I'm just trying to understand it. Maybe it's not meant for me to understand.