Sidearms & Scatterguns Precision Slug Gun Options

[Gunner2590]

I’m considering getting a slug gun so that I can hunt deer without driving to a different county. I think I’m leaning more towards bolt action or single shot options as they seem to be more accurate in general. Also thinking 20 gauge is the way to go based on better trajectory and less recoil. My main concerns are accuracy and overall quality. I’m not willing to pay $3k for one of the custom bolt guns, but I’m a “buy once cry once” kind of guy so I’m not looking to cheap out on this either. Most shots in my terrain are short but I value precision so it would be nice to have a gun that I could comfortably shoot out to 200 repeatably.

I’ve read a bit about the savage 220 and it seems to have decent reviews. Savages are generally pretty accurate but also pretty rough around the edges. Also looked at the TC Encore but I’m only seeing 28 inch slug barrels so I would need to have that cut down. My preference would be around 20 inch barrel, I want the gun to be handy and don’t see much gain going long.

Anyone with experience please give me your opinions on anything I’ve listed or other options you recommend. Also any other considerations such as 20 vs 12 gauge or barrel length would be appreciated as well.

 

[diverdon]

When the only saboted slugs were Bernanke most rifles barrels shot them pretty well. Today's sabot slugs ( at $10 -15) per five do not have much accuracy in them. Hard to justify a premium slug gun if no premium ammo available.

I settled in on an 11-87.

 

[EN2722]

IMHO, the Savage 220 is great gun and is designed for exactly what you’re looking for.

A few close friends of mine hunt in shotgun only states and they run them with no issues or concerns. They consistently kill deer out to 150-ish yards.

 

[srt-4_uk]

Keep in mind a 28" Encore won't be much longer than a 20" Savage 220 since the length of the action is tiny in comparison. But yeah, nothing is gained going long.
Having shot a 220 with 3" Rem accutips, I wouldn't want to shoot a 12ga version. Slug guns are relatively light and that fucker kicks.

 

[...]

ive got the Savage 212....the 12g version of the 220.......i like it, its not a high end rifle.....but it also doesnt have a high end price tag.

threw it in a boyds stock and its a pretty classy little deer slayer.....and accurate enough out to 150yds

 

[Emmaandhaley]

When I was hunting in shotgun only areas my go to “slug gun” was a h&r ultra slug bull barrel slug gun for $250ish. The only downside it was a single shot crack barrel and weighed about 10lbs.

It would shoot Remington core lock ultra bonded sabot slugs or light field slugs in 3-4 inch groups at 200 yards. Very deadly on deer.

for those that say “200 yards with a slug yeah right” here is just one example of what slugs are capable of doing at 300 yards.

 

[Darayavaus]

I have a 220 and it shoots great for what it is. I'm a precision reloader kind of guy, and value good accuracy. I had the 12 ga version about 15 years ago and was utterly unimpressed. I've also tried the rifled pump shotguns and found them laughably inaccurate. The 220 is where it's at. I also dropped a boyds thumbhole stock on it because the tupperware handle it came with was cheap and felt like garbage.

 

[Mjt700p]

I used a 20 gauge encore for many years in Ohio. The federal barnes slugs were the most accurate in that barrel and I killed allot of deer with it.

 

[GH41]

200 yards with a slug of either gauge won't happen unless you like to miss or maim. 150 is a stretch. 100 is comfortable and less is better. The Savage is probably the best bang for the buck. Get a scope with as much eye relief as you can find. Maybe even a scout style scope.

 

[Bigfatcock]

I’d ask this question in the shotgun section of the CastBoolits forum.

 

[jbonnie]

You may want to check and see whether there is any hope where you are of straight walled cartridge center fire becoming permissible and look at .350 legend or .450 bushmaster. Have not shot those but was just getting ready to pull the trigger on a Savage 220 when I realized the rules had just changed where I am....

 

[theLBC]

what sort of ranges?
check out federal truball slugs. nothing fancy needed.

 

[tnichols]

ive got the Savage 212....the 12g version of the 220.......i like it, its not a high end rifle.....but it also doesnt have a high end price tag.

threw it in a boyds stock and its a pretty classy little deer slayer.....and accurate enough out to 150yds

View attachment 7512958

Just following along for fun, no advice to give. That looks nice, however, I would guess the recoil to be a bit sharp? Just curious.

 

[...]

Just following along for fun, no advice to give. That looks nice, however, I would guess the recoil to be a bit sharp? Just curious.

eh, i mean its about as much recoil any other 12G shooting slugs....not pleasant to shoot all day....but not the worst thing ive shot

 

[Spicerack]

Dropped a running WI whitetail at 200yds with a Savage 210 12ga with 3" Win Supreme Platinum Tip Sabot. Not pleasant to shoot in that light gun but they do the job. Slug recovered under offside shoulder skin after going through ribs, lungs, and offside shoulder blade.

 

[Vivacious Stallion]

My family lives in Iowa and the state allows the straightwall rounds like .450 bushmaster and .44mag for deer now. Might be an option?

 

[Gunner2590]

My family lives in Iowa and the state allows the straightwall rounds like .450 bushmaster and .44mag for deer now. Might be an option?

I wish, I would much prefer that over slugs, but it’s not an option as of now and I haven’t heard any talk about that becoming a thing.

 

[308pirate]

RBL - SxS, Professional, Sabot Slug Gun, 20ga. 24" Barrels. #34829

We make and sell the best shotguns in the world!

connecticutshotgun.co

 

[packratt]

Got a coworker who hunted with a Savage 20g most of the season using Hornady Custom Lite slugs. Most of his were around 125yds.

MY brother uses a Browning or Remington 1100 20g and Barnes copper solids. Wasn't bitching about missing any.

 

[1911hombre]

In Minnesota you can use an AR pistol in a shotgun zone.

 

[lordripon]

I've been done this road many times. The sad truth is that the most accuracy potential resides in the Savage 220F slug gun platform. But to get top accuracy, there is virtually nothing left of the gun but the action, bolt body, bolt head, and *maybe* the bottom metal.

Recipe looks like this:

New recoil lug
New Barrel nut
New tarhunt stainless fluted (integrated muzzlebrake) barrel
Boyd's laminate stock (or better)
Riflebasix trigger
Glades armory bolt knob
EGW Steel Pic Rail
Warne or Talley QD Rings
German optic
Kenton industries custom turret burned to the load
The load is the Remington 3" Accutip PRA20M

The labor includes lapping the lugs, truing the action, pillars, glass bad the recoil lug, free floating the barrel, polishing the raceways, etc.

The problems with the design are largely the terrible magazine that feeds poorly and wears out fast. (I'd like to do a 1-round blind magazine on my next build)

Net result with the above setup is a $3000-$4000 slug rifle that should be accurate out to 275 yards, which by coincidence is about one rotation of the turret (ideal) and its also the range where you hit 500 foot pounds of energy, the minimum for a perfect broadside shot.

 

[toader]

TarHunt Slug Guns

www.tarhunt.com

 

[knuckleballz]

I have had amazing accuracy using a remington 870 with a rifled 12 gauge barrel with the scope mount that is attached to the barrel shooting the hornady sst. that combination groups under an inch at 100 yards. I have taken down deer with one shot out to 250 yards. scope stays zeroed on the barrel when I switch back and forth with the bird barrel.

 

[afv338]

browning a bolt slug gun if you can find one but i dont think they made it in a 20ga

 

[Greg Langelius *]

I have had and hunted 3 separate 20gr rifled (or rifled choke; IMHO, no big difference.) with success in all cases. The 20ga makes the slug recoil a lot more bearable for me (three operations that opened up my sternum), and except for cheaper European slugs, they all shot at or within 3" at 100yd. Considering that I would count 150yd to be a reasonable longest terminally effective shot with that chambering; that's a hunting rifle in locales where rifles are not permitted (as it was when I first lived in Upstate NY).

The guns are: a Charles Daly 20 semi with rifled Rem-Choke, a Remington 20 11-87 with rifled Rem-Choke, and a hand-me-down (from Mom) Mossberg bolt rifled 20ga. The 20ga stayed in NY with my SIL when I moved here to SE AZ.

I would buy a Savage 220 in an NY Heartbeat if I could get my eyes and hands on one.

Back when I had and could shoot 12ga, my 870 rifled barrel with cantilever scope mount was like an Africa Rifle. Just WOW!

Since I'm in the setup stage of a 44 mag handloading project, I just acquired 100 44/50 sabots for my muzzle loader. I figure a pair of 50gr Hodgdon Triple Se7en will work fine with a lot of several hundred Hornady solid lead handgun bullets. Effective at M/L distances without devastating recoil, I'm reallly looking forward to sending a few downrange. I figure 75yd is a good distance for both accuracy and good terminal performance.

Greg

 

[oso1]

Mossberg 695, with winchester BRI sabot slugs. I have taken a lot of deer with that combo, tried the newer sabot slugs, light 300 gr. slugs, don't like them, too much deflection off of twigs. Once Ohio allowed straight wall rifle cartridges, I went with a rifle.

 

[Army First]

Ammo availability. Before you make a choice search for Ammo in 12 or 20. My 870 does not like Hornady slug ammo and a few others but it does like Lightfield slugs.

I don't search anymore but the last time I did 12ga Sabot ammo was scarce. I started reloading my own using slugs from HERE. Now 209 primers are hard to find and the powder I like is scarce.

I will repeat what was said more than once above my post, Straight Wall if allowed is probably your best bet or a quality MZ loader and go single shot.

 

[TheBigCountry]

Hastings used to? make some pretty good aftermarket barrels for the 870. I think they got discontinued. I do have one here I need to test, but finding sabots and not getting hosed on them is another problem.

If you can track down one of the old single-shot H&R 20s, get it. No need to take the punishment from a 12 when the 20 can do just as good.

 

[Ridgeback80]

You cant go wrong with the trusty ol 870 Express magnum, find your self an aftermarket slug barrel that fits your needs and hit the woods! I've been deer hunting with mine for 20 years and it has never failed me. My daughter is 13 and will be given her first 870 in 20g tomorrow for shotgun season the following week. I'm sure it wont fail her either! Good luck.

 

[Hoggr9]

My Savage 220 shoots Rem Accutip 2 3/4 into 2in groups all day long at 100ydw, have taken sevral deer out to 130ish, never tried any further. Have not been disappointed yet

 

[nockhunter]

Mossberg 695, with winchester BRI sabot slugs. I have taken a lot of deer with that combo, tried the newer sabot slugs, light 300 gr. slugs, don't like them, too much deflection off of twigs. Once Ohio allowed straight wall rifle cartridges, I went with a rifle.

I have the same gun (man that thing is UGLY) boy does it shoot with those same slugs. It will keep 5 shots inside a coffee cup at 100y.

Mike

Finding ammo sucks, paying for sabot slugs sucks even more! Most of NY is rifle now, if I hunt in a slug zone I use a handgun.