Please educate me on slug guns?

[Marty S]

Im supposed to do a primitive hunt. Am considering buying a slug shooting shotgun. I have questions...

My understanding is rifled barrels are superb. What is the accuracy/range

Non-rifled barrels, what is the accurate range witha smooth bore.

What is the most economical shotgun with a rifled barrel. Id hate to blow a lot of money on a shotgun that I only shoot once in a purple moon. Of course I need a cheap option that shoots well. That I can scope

Is there a good/likely place to find a used rifled shotgun?

[huntinstuff]

I had a Marlin 512 and with Federal slugs I was less than 1" at 100 yds. I had a 3x9 Leupold on it.

If you can find one of those used, you would be happy.

[philintheblank]

I did lots of shotgun hunting for deer in Southern Ontario when i lived there. The longest shot on a deer that I witnessed was 180 yards. My buddies and I usually sighted in our shotguns at 100 yards. Having said that, the terrain I usually hunted was thick bush and a 50 yard shot was the norm.

If you hit a deer with a slug, they usually flop over and don't get up.

As for rifled vs. smoothbore, I knew a couple guys that had dedicated slug guns, and they didn't seem to kill deer any better at the ranges we were shooting.

I'm not even sure what the max range of a rifled slug gun would be, but I bet it could get out to 200 yards and still be very lethal for deer.

the Remington 870 used to have after market slug barrels

Looks like Mossberg has a slug barrel as well.

https://www.cabelas.ca/product/3962/...arrel-12-gauge


Hope that helps

[CranePete]

I’m not entirely certain of the definition of “primitive” in Alberta, but I’ve read of some folks using H&R HandiRifles. Single shot break action, about as simple as they get. I see several on Gunpost, 243 Winchester to 45-70 Gov’t for less than $800.00. I’d imagine that these would reach further, more accurately, than a slug gun.

[elkhunter11]

A shotgun is not considered a primitive firearm unless it is muzzle loader. However some areas allow muzzleloaders or shotguns.

[calgarychef]

I imagine this is for the 212 antlerless elk draw?

The first year I hunted elk I used my old CIL smoothbore with lead slugs.
I was surprised that I had a one shot kill on a nice big cow at 100 real yards, not Bubba yards. I hadn’t practised with it much and I now realize that 100 yard shot was blind luck. Smooth bores aren’t what you want for elk as the shots usually aren’t close like deer can be.

Couple years later I bought an H&R handi rifle in 12 gauge with the rifled barrel. Excellent accuracy with Remington copper top sabot slugs. I topped it with a Leupold muzzleloader/shotgun scope.

When I first bought the gun, it didn’t always fire, so I sent it to Gravel agencies and they fixed it. It fires every time now, no problems.

I fell in love with the handi rifle and I’ve got a 45-70 too. It’s accurate and fun!

I’ve shot 4 cow elk with slugs now. I’d much rather use a rifle if I had a choice,
Shotguns do leave a big hole but that knock down power just isn’t the same.

[Ruger.308]

Depending on how often you are going to be using the rifled bore SG, purchasing a new gun isn't necessarily required. I have done the 212 hunt with my smooth bore Benelli Supernova. Added a rifled choke to it and can stretch it out to 100y with ease. The choke is much cheaper then a new shot gun and you can still use the smooth bore for other uses. My .02

[Dick284]

Better check the rules around what primitive is, where you want to use this “slug gun”. I see Saskatoon mountain allows shotguns, but camp Wainwright does not(for big game)

If you can afford it or find one, get a fully rifled barrel, and find a saboted load that shoots well in your gun. Scope it with some sort of low to mid powered optics, and you’ll be capable of up to 200 yard shots.

[graybeard]

Double check the minimum slug round/weight for hunting in your area.

I think in Alberta, the minimum slug size is 1 oz although, retail outlets sell Winchester Magnum 7/8 oz Partition @ 2,000fps. (SSP123)
BTW this round is very accurate.

Good luck,

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by graybeard

Double check the minimum slug round/weight for hunting in your area.

I think in Alberta, the minimum slug size is 1 oz although, retail outlets sell Winchester Magnum 7/8 oz Partition @ 2,000fps. (SSP123)
BTW this round is very accurate.

Good luck,

Could you post the legislation that lists 1 oz as the minimum slug weight for big game in Alberta, as the only legislation that I can find , only states that you can't use a 410.

[Dean2]

I have shot a few of the Savage Slug guns, and they come in LH. They were accurate to 250. I never tried them farther than that but you definitely need a range finder for 100 to 250 and drop card or drop type reticle. Pretty Rainbow Trajectory.

I have a couple of smooth bore slug guns as well as have shot them out of my combo rifles and drillings. I would not try to shoot anything past 100 yards with them, even using the much more accurate Brenneke slugs. With the typical Fed, Winchester, maybe 80 yards.

[Dick284]

Originally Posted by graybeard

Double check the minimum slug round/weight for hunting in your area.

I think in Alberta, the minimum slug size is 1 oz although, retail outlets sell Winchester Magnum 7/8 oz Partition @ 2,000fps. (SSP123)
BTW this round is very accurate.

Good luck,

Incorrect!

There’s no such rule in Alberta, except no using .410 slugs on big game.

[graybeard]

Elkhunter11 and Dick284;

Well there you have it....

Thanks guys.