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Old October 4, 2013, 12:38 PM   #1
DarthNul
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Scope reccomendations for a 12 gauge slug gun?

I picked up a used Mossberg 500 with a 24" rifled barrel. It already has a rail for mounting a scope.

I'm looking for a low to mid price range (less than $200) optical or red-dot scope. I do have some reservations about using something that is useless without batteries, but I'm not ruling out the red-dot yet...

The gun won't get heavy use but I don't want anything that is questionable under 12 gauge recoil. Ideally, the reticle would be marked for slug drop at various ranges.

What are you using?
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Old October 4, 2013, 01:04 PM   #2
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Eye Relief

Assumption #1 - you have done a fair amount of research and so you must realize there are scopes made specifically for shotguns - look for ones that have a greater eye relief.

Assumption #2 - deer hunting with slugs - most of your prey will be at closer ranges, so you probably know you will not a need super high power scope (magnificaiton) and that a wider FOV might help you keep your gun on target for the follow up shot, if needed.
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Old October 4, 2013, 01:30 PM   #3
DarthNul
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*NOVA*: I do realize that there are scopes made for slug guns but so far I have not found the right search terms to filter out the bazillion "turkey scopes" out there along with everything else that "also works on shotguns", so, research is still in the early stages.

I'm not sure how the deer know to come closer when you only have a slug gun , but you're right about magnification. A 1x red dot would be ok but a 1.5 or 2x might be better? I don't know (yet). If the gun turns out to be accurate out to 150 yards though, I do want to have confidence in making the ethical shot when the situation can't be improved. I noticed Hornady includes ballistic data out to 200 yards on their sabot slug boxes: With a 150 yard zero, 200 yards is a 9 inch drop. Not quite as flat as my AR-15...
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Old October 4, 2013, 06:12 PM   #4
oldandslow
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dn, 10/5/13

I have a Remington 870 with a 26" rifled barrel that I use for pigs at close ranges (10-75 yards out) in thick brush. I use 770 grain full-bore cast lead slugs. I have a Leupold VX-3- 2x8 scope which I keep dialed down to the 2 power setting most times. It works great. The VX-3 runs about $399 so it may be a bit pricey for your needs but Leupold has the VX-1 and 2 and Redfield brands that run cheaper. Just make sure that you know your slugs accuracy potential because many become inaccurate over a hundred yards. So find a scope which fits your needs with a low power objective and you should be good to go.

best wishes- oldandslow
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Old October 5, 2013, 09:50 PM   #5
lefteye
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I have had excellent results with a Leupold 1 x 4 variable shotgun scope on my 870. The current model is the Leupold VX-1 1 x 4 and sells for about $200, a good value in my opinion.
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Old October 6, 2013, 03:18 PM   #6
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Keep the thought !!!

DarthNul
Are you going to be "Party-Hunting" or is such even allowed in Minnesota? This type of hunting, is legal, here, in Iowa. The shooting is fast and can get scary and I've found that the RedDot, fits the bill, rather well. Regardless, most of your shots are going to be under 60yds and again, the RedDot is good. I helped a guy, set up a slug-gun with a RedDot and he took a deer at 80yds. The rest of the hunting party could not believe the shot. ....

Be Safe !!!
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Old October 6, 2013, 04:17 PM   #7
Capt Rick Hiott
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I put a Nikon 3-9X50 Prostaff on my 870 Slugger. Great scope for 200.00



http://www.opticsplanet.com/nikon-3-...flescopes.html
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Old October 7, 2013, 08:54 PM   #8
johnwilliamson062
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Diamond reticle is best IMO. Cabelas rebrands one as a guide scope that will work well. Of course, I don't think scopes on shotguns work that well, at least on 12 gauges. I tried a couple and went back to iron sights. Shooting within 100 yards it just doesn't make sense to me.

Plus, recoil is ten times worse with a scope. That is if it doesn't hit you in the face.
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Old October 8, 2013, 03:06 AM   #9
Capt Rick Hiott
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,,,,,,,"Plus, recoil is ten times worse with a scope."

Really? Can you explain why.
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Old October 9, 2013, 07:16 PM   #10
lefteye
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Still waiting for an explanation of:
Quote:
Plus, recoil is ten times worse with a scope.
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Old October 9, 2013, 07:54 PM   #11
Andy Blozinski
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What are your guy's thoughts on a generation 1 or 2 night scope on a 12 gauge slug gun?
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Old October 9, 2013, 08:09 PM   #12
Nathan
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I think an EOTech would be ideal. In your price, maybe something like a Strikefire??
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Old October 9, 2013, 08:13 PM   #13
lefteye
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Iowa deer hunting is from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset. Laser sights are prohibited. Night scopes are unnecessary and may be prohibited.
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Old October 10, 2013, 12:34 AM   #14
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simple

If it were me, I'd put a Leupold 1-4x Variable, shotgun scope on that pump.
I'd consider a thick, chunky duplex, maybe even a German #1 from the custom shop.
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Old October 10, 2013, 03:07 AM   #15
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Nikon monarch 1-4x with german post reticle.
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Old October 10, 2013, 09:59 PM   #16
redneck
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I have a burris fullifield II that has proven to be very clear and dependable. Holds zero well.
Mine is a 3-9x40 and fits just fine on a mossberg 500. If you prefer something a little smaller/lower magnification they also make it in a 3-7x33 for about $150. The BDC reticle offers holdover points, and they include labels to mark your distances and put it on the stock.


Another mid range scope I am impressed with is the Redfield Revolution line. Made in the USA, nice and clear, and so far holds a zero well.
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Old October 11, 2013, 08:46 PM   #17
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For your use and the ranges you will be shooting, I'd consider a red dot.

On those misty, gloomy overcast days, a lot of crosshairs simply disappear.
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Old October 12, 2013, 04:42 PM   #18
Andy Blozinski
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"Iowa deer hunting is from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset. Laser sights are prohibited. Night scopes are unnecessary and may be prohibited. "

I'm not in Iowa and I'm not hunting deer. Feral hogs in Texas. I'm thinking a night scoped 12 gauge throwing slugs and if I'm really cool, get it silenced.
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Old October 12, 2013, 05:27 PM   #19
Capt Rick Hiott
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Dam,,,,I never thought about that! Cool idea! Do they sell those???
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Old October 12, 2013, 07:07 PM   #20
lefteye
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Andy, the first 3 posts in this thread indicated the scope/sight would be for a 12 gauge slug gun for deer hunting. I thought your post was addressing that subject so I responded that a laser sight is prohibited for deer hunting (at least in Iowa) and a night scope wasn't needed for deer hunting (at least in Iowa) because the legal shooting hours are a function of daylight which I explained. I know nothing about Texas laws/rules/regulations concerning hunting feral hogs but I'd bet the hunting is fun.
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Old October 12, 2013, 08:22 PM   #21
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Andy,
It might be easier if you posted up your own thread with your question about hunting hogs in Texas at night. That way there isn't two completely different discussions going on inside the same thread.
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Old October 14, 2013, 12:01 PM   #22
skoro
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Scope reccomendations for a 12 gauge slug gun?

Here's a good low cost option.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/774...-reticle-matte
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Old October 14, 2013, 03:40 PM   #23
Capt Rick Hiott
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I like the wide field of view objective that a 50mm gives you. I think its better for that"Second Shot"
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Old October 14, 2013, 07:41 PM   #24
lefteye
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Quote:
I like the wide field of view objective that a 50mm gives you. I think its better for that"Second Shot"
Who makes a 50mm objective lens shotgun scope? Unless I am mistaken, the 3 x 9 scope you mentioned in post #7 is a rifle scope.
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Old October 15, 2013, 03:01 AM   #25
Capt Rick Hiott
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,,,,,,why does it have to be a "Shotgun" scope?

You can use a regular rifle scope on a shotgun....
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