Is it possible to use shotgun slugs in an unrifled shotgun barrel?
December 6th, 2009 by eranio
i was going to use my 410 or 12 gauge shotgun for deer hunting next year. is it possible to use an unrifled barrel,if so what kind of slug and should i take the choke off or should i use a choke at all?
Posted in used shotguns
December 6th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Yes it is possible, this is all i can use in southern minnesota and i have had great success. I would not suggest you use your .410 because it is just not enough power for deer. If you have a unrifled barrel you need to use rifled slugs. I prefer remington slugger 2 3/4 inch 1oz, but really any kind of rifled slug would work.
As for the choke you do not want to take it out this would ruin the threading at the end of the barrel. You can shoot slugs through any choke but for the best accuracy you should use the most open one, most likely improved cylinder.
Good Luck
December 6th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
only use rifled slugs in smooth bore barrels, and either use a improved cylinder, cylinder, or even take the whole choke tube out, because the slug can get sqashed if used in a tighter choke, causing it to work like a musket, not able to go farther then 25 yards without going off course..
saboted or slugs meant for rifled barrels won’t fly farther then 25 yards without tumbling, causing great inacurracy.
December 6th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Forget the 410 for deer. The 12 ga with slugs is the way to go. Don’t shoot slugs through extra full choke and slugs are not as accurate through full choke as they are in modified or cylinder bore chokes. Shooting any shotgun round through a barrel with the choke out can damage the threads on the inside of the barrel, if the barrel has external choke threads I still wouldn’t do it because with out the choke on that area is weaker and I don’t think it would be good for it.
All you need to do is screw in any choke smaller than full. Then try different slugs to see what works best. Sabot slugs are not made for smooth bore barrels but only rifled barrels.
Some smooth bore shotguns can shoot a 12 inch group or less at 100 yards but some smooth bores are good only out to 80 yards.
December 6th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
yes just use a rifled slug. The rifled slug makes up for the lack of rifling in the barrel. Good luck
December 6th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
YES
This is why slugs were developed…so people could hunt deer and bear and whatever with their duck guns.
To be on the safe side, don’t use the ‘full choke’ but otherwise go ahead and leave the choke in.
Any type of slug is fine. However, sabot slugs are designed to be used in rifled barrels. Using a sabot slug in a regular barrel will do no harm, but it will be a waste. ‘Regular’ slugs are often called ‘Foster’ slugs.
****NOTE**** I don’t believe a 410 shooting slugs delivers sufficent power to give you a clean kill. Stick with your 12 gauge. If it recoils to much you can buy ‘managed recoil’ slugs.
December 6th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Leave the choke in, but I wouldn’t use a .410 for deer though.
December 6th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Forget the .410, definitely use the 12. You will probably find that your 12 gauge will shoot the best using rifled slugs with either an improved cylinder choke tube or rifled choke tube if one is available for your gun.
A rifled choke tube puts enough spin on a rifled slug to make it quite a bit more accurate than no spin using an improved cyl. tube.
The "rifling" on a rifled slug does not make it spin in a smoothbore barrel. It is there so the lead slug can compress as it goes through your choke tube, up to and including full choke.
Sabots should NEVER be used in a smoothbore. They are made for fully rifled barrels only and you could do serious harm to your gun and yourself if you mistakenly shoot a sabot with a choke tube of any constriction over cylinder bore.
December 6th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
DON’T use the 410
December 6th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Yes you can. I shot a deer at around 80 yards or so with a side by side 20 gauge slug – non-rifled slug. The deer went right down. I do suggest not using the 410. I also suggest practicing long before next year to range your gun accuracy. Use lead slugs – not copper plated. Modified choke. However be aware that a 12 gauge slug will do a lot of damage to the meat so accuracy is a must if you care about the meat.
December 6th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
yes!