Slug question

Farmer Joe · November 27, 2007, 07:32 PM

What kind of slugs if any can i shoot in my Ithaca 37 with a modified choke, Remington 1100 with modified choke or Sears pump with cylinder bore, without causing damage to my shotgun.

hogdogs · November 28, 2007, 05:09 PM

Since the sabot slugs are best in a rifled barrel we are talking about the regular type slugs. I think any slug is safely fired thru any smooth barrel as long is NOT a full choke or tighter.
Brent

Gbro · November 28, 2007, 05:38 PM

BARRELS AND CHOKES
Shotgun and slug technology has advanced considerably since the 1980s. We now have
fully rifled shotgun barrels and the ability to mount optical sights on our shotguns.
Modern sabot slug ammunition requires the use of a rifled barrel, no exceptions. And
while most shotguns will still be sold with smoothbore barrels, a rifled barrel can deliver
accuracy gains from almost any slug. Slug barrels are heavier in design and come
equipped with rifle sights or a cantilever mount for a scope.
Barrel length has very little effect on slug velocity and accuracy, and with that in mind a
20 to 23 inch barrel with deliver the best velocity from any load. If you choose to use a
short 18 inch barrel, slug velocity will not suffer very much. Sighted slug barrels are
always short length barrels 18 to 23 inches in length.
Chokes are designed to modify a shot pattern by squeezing the shot column together to a
predetermined amount of compression before the shot leaves the barrel, slowing the
outward dispersal of the shot. Chokes for the most part are useless for slug applications.
A slug is a single projectile and too much choke will destroy slug accuracy. The only
chokes applicable to slugs are Improved Cylinder and the modern interchangeable
threaded insert with rifling in it called a rifled choke.
Chokes are located in the last few inches of your barrel, or are interchangeable threaded
inserts as found in modern barrels. Essentially, the choke compresses the shot column by
tapering down to a smaller size than your true bore diameter, squeezing the shot together
as it passes through this constriction. A choke will also compress a slug the same way,
but beyond a few thousandths of an inch compression will grossly deform the slug and
destroy accuracy.
Choking of a shotgun barrel presents definite problems for slugs, and is another area of
hunting big game with a shotgun which causes confusion. Most modern slugs can be
safely fired through any choke so don't worry about using a modern slug with your choke,
but it is best to use the more open chokes whenever possible. While it is highly unlikely
that a constrictive choke will enhance accuracy, only testing out different chokes in your
shotgun will tell, and this can only be accomplished in a barrel using interchangeable
choke inserts.

This is the site where i found this information.
http://www.starsandstripesammo.com/e...tgun_slugs.pdf

Farmer Joe · November 28, 2007, 07:38 PM

So I would probably be better off shooting slugs out of my Sears pump with a 24 inch cylinder bore barrel.

WeedWacker · November 28, 2007, 07:55 PM

Or the expensive route: get a slug barrel. Believe me they are worth it.

tplumeri · November 28, 2007, 08:01 PM

Bottom line; you can shoot any slug out of any barrell every now and then. If you plan to make a habit of it, get a slug barrell and enjoy!

November 27, 2007, 07:32 PM	#1
Farmer Joe Member Join Date: November 26, 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 19	Slug question What kind of slugs if any can i shoot in my Ithaca 37 with a modified choke, Remington 1100 with modified choke or Sears pump with cylinder bore, without causing damage to my shotgun.

November 28, 2007, 05:38 PM	#3
Gbro Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,084	BARRELS AND CHOKES Shotgun and slug technology has advanced considerably since the 1980s. We now have fully rifled shotgun barrels and the ability to mount optical sights on our shotguns. Modern sabot slug ammunition requires the use of a rifled barrel, no exceptions. And while most shotguns will still be sold with smoothbore barrels, a rifled barrel can deliver accuracy gains from almost any slug. Slug barrels are heavier in design and come equipped with rifle sights or a cantilever mount for a scope. Barrel length has very little effect on slug velocity and accuracy, and with that in mind a 20 to 23 inch barrel with deliver the best velocity from any load. If you choose to use a short 18 inch barrel, slug velocity will not suffer very much. Sighted slug barrels are always short length barrels 18 to 23 inches in length. Chokes are designed to modify a shot pattern by squeezing the shot column together to a predetermined amount of compression before the shot leaves the barrel, slowing the outward dispersal of the shot. Chokes for the most part are useless for slug applications. A slug is a single projectile and too much choke will destroy slug accuracy. The only chokes applicable to slugs are Improved Cylinder and the modern interchangeable threaded insert with rifling in it called a rifled choke. Chokes are located in the last few inches of your barrel, or are interchangeable threaded inserts as found in modern barrels. Essentially, the choke compresses the shot column by tapering down to a smaller size than your true bore diameter, squeezing the shot together as it passes through this constriction. A choke will also compress a slug the same way, but beyond a few thousandths of an inch compression will grossly deform the slug and destroy accuracy. Choking of a shotgun barrel presents definite problems for slugs, and is another area of hunting big game with a shotgun which causes confusion. Most modern slugs can be safely fired through any choke so don't worry about using a modern slug with your choke, but it is best to use the more open chokes whenever possible. While it is highly unlikely that a constrictive choke will enhance accuracy, only testing out different chokes in your shotgun will tell, and this can only be accomplished in a barrel using interchangeable choke inserts. This is the site where i found this information. http://www.starsandstripesammo.com/e...tgun_slugs.pdf __________________ Gbro CGVS For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, But to us who are being saved, It Is The Power Of God. 1Corinthians 1-18

November 28, 2007, 07:55 PM	#5
WeedWacker Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2006 Location: Body: Clarkston, Washington. Soul: LaCrosse, Wisconsin Posts: 1,591	Or the expensive route: get a slug barrel. Believe me they are worth it. __________________ - Jon Disequilibrium facilitates accommodation. 9mm vs .45 ACP? The answer is .429

November 28, 2007, 05:09 PM	#2
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	Since the sabot slugs are best in a rifled barrel we are talking about the regular type slugs. I think any slug is safely fired thru any smooth barrel as long is NOT a full choke or tighter. Brent

November 28, 2007, 07:38 PM	#4
Farmer Joe Member Join Date: November 26, 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 19	So I would probably be better off shooting slugs out of my Sears pump with a 24 inch cylinder bore barrel.

November 28, 2007, 08:01 PM	#6
tplumeri Junior member Join Date: September 26, 2007 Posts: 1,919	Bottom line; you can shoot any slug out of any barrell every now and then. If you plan to make a habit of it, get a slug barrell and enjoy!