I am looking to get a new slug barrel for my 870. I currently have a 26" VR, and am looking to get a 20" slug barrel. I see that there are fixed choke barrels and some that take tubes (both are rifle sighted slug barrels). Beyond the ability of using sabots w/ a rifled choke, is there any advantage/disadvantage to using either barrel? All shots will be 50 yards or less, so rifled slugs will most likely be the ammunition of choice.
Thanks,
Steve
870 slug barrel question
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James Gates
I think Ole Dixie Slugs will slip in here on this one, if you don't mind!
I have three barrels set up for my swamp gun....Remington 870 Express.
The first barrel is a standard 28" VR with Rem-Chokes. The next is a Remington 20" smoothbore slug gun with Tru-Glo sights. I sent this barrel up to Mike Orlen, who does all of our barrel work, and had it threaded for Rem-Choke tube. And the last is a special order 20" Hastings rifled barrel. Besides using them in the swamp, I also test our products in them.
Now........If the shots are in around 50 yards or so, the smoothbore barrel has a lot going for it. I use two of our loads in it.....the Predator II (.727"-600 gr truncated cone hollow base) and the Tri-Ball II (3- .600" hard cast round balls in a heavy duty plastic wad & buffer). This last load with a Rem, Turket tube (.665")
For situations where a shot might be taken out to 125 (outside) yards, I use the Hasting rifled barrel with the Predator II of the Terminator (.730"-730 gr hard cast heat treated solid @ 1200'/").
I do not use any of the Foster type slugs......period! They are made from swaged pure lead and don't penetrate that well in large and/or dangerous game........besides they lead the barrel something terrible!
The only factory slug, other than Dixie's, that I even consider is the Brenneke, but only in the smoothbore. While Sabot slugs are popular up North in shotgun only states, I am not impressed with them. I want a full size slug!........Of course, these are just thoughts from an ole' swamp hunter!........James@Dixie Slugs
I have three barrels set up for my swamp gun....Remington 870 Express.
The first barrel is a standard 28" VR with Rem-Chokes. The next is a Remington 20" smoothbore slug gun with Tru-Glo sights. I sent this barrel up to Mike Orlen, who does all of our barrel work, and had it threaded for Rem-Choke tube. And the last is a special order 20" Hastings rifled barrel. Besides using them in the swamp, I also test our products in them.
Now........If the shots are in around 50 yards or so, the smoothbore barrel has a lot going for it. I use two of our loads in it.....the Predator II (.727"-600 gr truncated cone hollow base) and the Tri-Ball II (3- .600" hard cast round balls in a heavy duty plastic wad & buffer). This last load with a Rem, Turket tube (.665")
For situations where a shot might be taken out to 125 (outside) yards, I use the Hasting rifled barrel with the Predator II of the Terminator (.730"-730 gr hard cast heat treated solid @ 1200'/").
I do not use any of the Foster type slugs......period! They are made from swaged pure lead and don't penetrate that well in large and/or dangerous game........besides they lead the barrel something terrible!
The only factory slug, other than Dixie's, that I even consider is the Brenneke, but only in the smoothbore. While Sabot slugs are popular up North in shotgun only states, I am not impressed with them. I want a full size slug!........Of course, these are just thoughts from an ole' swamp hunter!........James@Dixie Slugs
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tbfmaine
870 slug barrel
shooter - Hastings makes a rifled 20" slug barrel that is available in a matte finish that matches the standard modern 870. With Brenneke Gold 2 3/4' slugs, mine does one hole (clover leaf shape) groups at 50 yards. Worth a look, maybe.