Slug Barrel: Ported or Not

sparkysteve · July 12, 2006, 07:06 PM

I've always deer hunted in the Northern Michigan "rifle zone", but will also be hunting on a local friend's farm this fall. This is in the southern shotgun/muzzleloader zone. I'm considering buying a slug barrel for my my Browning BPS 12 ga. 3". I'd like a cantilever scope mount rifled slug barrel. Would getting a ported slug barrel be worth it? I'd like to save my shoulder but don't want the sound to be deafening. Or would I be better off with a recoil pad? They are hard to find for the BPS. I only miss my 870 when it comes to parts and accesories. Any input would be great.

skeeter1 · July 12, 2006, 08:02 PM

Just IMHO, get the recoil pad and forget about a ported barrel. One might work on a big-arsed handgun, but I don't think it's going to make diddly-difference on a shotgun.

Ruger4570 · July 12, 2006, 08:07 PM

This has been discussed forever in here. Most agree porting is a waste of money in a shotgun as there isn't enough pressure to counteract the recoil or muzzle flip more than an insignificient amount. If you care to do a little searching in here you will find pages of pro and con... mostly con

BUCKMARK · July 12, 2006, 09:30 PM

The ONLY reason I shoot ported barrels on my clay guns is because they came that way from the factory. For the noise they make compared to the recoil they reduce...I would NOT pay money for porting.

hoghunting · July 12, 2006, 11:10 PM

Get a good recoil pad and forget the porting. Take the pad off your BPS and measure the end of the stock. Check www.limbsaver.com to see if they have a fitted pad for your stock. If they don't, you can check the sizes of their pads to see which one comes closest to the size you need.

Eghad · July 12, 2006, 11:11 PM

recoil pad.......or a recoil reducer in the stock.

lefteye · July 14, 2006, 07:25 PM

I've hunted deer in Iowa with slugs for 30+ years. I first used a Rem 870 with smooth bore slug barrel & rifle sights; then used an external scope mount & bloodied my eye; then had the receiver drilled & tapped by a gunsmith & used a Weaver base for a scope. I got a Rem 870 Special Purpose with rifled barrel & cantilever scope mount when it was introduced; mounted a Leupold Shotgun 1 X 4 variable scope on it. Friends use a very similar setup or a Rem 11-87 with similar setup. We have been very successful with sabot slugs. You may pleasantly surprised by the accuracy of Rem 2 3/4" Copper Solids & Core Lokt Ultra sabot slugs. You may be unpleasantly surprised by the recoil of 3" versions of the same slugs, particularly in a pump gun. My buddies with 11-87s won't use 3" sabot slugs. I recommend no porting; testing several loads to find the best for your barrel; and a good recoil pad. The recoil pad is almost irrelevant while hunting, but can be important shooting at paper from a bench. Good luck.

July 12, 2006, 07:06 PM	#1
sparkysteve Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2005 Location: Byron Center, Michigan Posts: 418	Slug Barrel: Ported or Not I've always deer hunted in the Northern Michigan "rifle zone", but will also be hunting on a local friend's farm this fall. This is in the southern shotgun/muzzleloader zone. I'm considering buying a slug barrel for my my Browning BPS 12 ga. 3". I'd like a cantilever scope mount rifled slug barrel. Would getting a ported slug barrel be worth it? I'd like to save my shoulder but don't want the sound to be deafening. Or would I be better off with a recoil pad? They are hard to find for the BPS. I only miss my 870 when it comes to parts and accesories. Any input would be great. __________________ I have ADHD........Attention, Defficit, Hey there goes a squirrel! Dont tread on me.

July 12, 2006, 09:30 PM	#4
BUCKMARK Senior Member Join Date: July 19, 2004 Location: south central Pa. Posts: 299	The ONLY reason I shoot ported barrels on my clay guns is because they came that way from the factory. For the noise they make compared to the recoil they reduce...I would NOT pay money for porting. __________________ NRA-GOA Let's Roll!

July 12, 2006, 11:11 PM	#6
Eghad Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 6,231	recoil pad.......or a recoil reducer in the stock. __________________ Have a nice day at the range NRA Life Member

July 14, 2006, 07:25 PM	#7
lefteye Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2006 Posts: 1,433	slug barrel I've hunted deer in Iowa with slugs for 30+ years. I first used a Rem 870 with smooth bore slug barrel & rifle sights; then used an external scope mount & bloodied my eye; then had the receiver drilled & tapped by a gunsmith & used a Weaver base for a scope. I got a Rem 870 Special Purpose with rifled barrel & cantilever scope mount when it was introduced; mounted a Leupold Shotgun 1 X 4 variable scope on it. Friends use a very similar setup or a Rem 11-87 with similar setup. We have been very successful with sabot slugs. You may pleasantly surprised by the accuracy of Rem 2 3/4" Copper Solids & Core Lokt Ultra sabot slugs. You may be unpleasantly surprised by the recoil of 3" versions of the same slugs, particularly in a pump gun. My buddies with 11-87s won't use 3" sabot slugs. I recommend no porting; testing several loads to find the best for your barrel; and a good recoil pad. The recoil pad is almost irrelevant while hunting, but can be important shooting at paper from a bench. Good luck.

July 12, 2006, 08:02 PM	#2
skeeter1 Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2006 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 3,403	Just IMHO, get the recoil pad and forget about a ported barrel. One might work on a big-arsed handgun, but I don't think it's going to make diddly-difference on a shotgun.

July 12, 2006, 08:07 PM	#3
Ruger4570 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2005 Location: Rochester, New York Posts: 2,136	This has been discussed forever in here. Most agree porting is a waste of money in a shotgun as there isn't enough pressure to counteract the recoil or muzzle flip more than an insignificient amount. If you care to do a little searching in here you will find pages of pro and con... mostly con

July 12, 2006, 11:10 PM	#5
hoghunting Senior Member Join Date: March 27, 2006 Posts: 1,559	Get a good recoil pad and forget the porting. Take the pad off your BPS and measure the end of the stock. Check www.limbsaver.com to see if they have a fitted pad for your stock. If they don't, you can check the sizes of their pads to see which one comes closest to the size you need.