Question:
The 870 is probably one of the less accurate rifled slug guns, even with sabots. The bolt action guns and the rifled single shots (H&R Ultra Slug Hunter) are much better in the accuracy department. I also have a personal preference for the 20 gauge: plenty of killing power without all the recoil. If you really want the feel of a rifle, get an H&R Ultra Slug Hunter or get the 20 gauge rifled barrel on a TC Encore. These are rifled slug guns built on single shot rifle actions. 1-2" accuracy at 100 yards is common. You can also have the triggers in these guns worked to a crisp 2-3 lbs. Much nicer than the 870 trigger. Accuracy is a crap shoot in the 870, and you’ll have to try several brands to find one that shoots well. Being that you want to extend the range a bit, you should try the Hornady H2K slug and the Winchester Partion Gold. Both have higher than normal velocities for a flatter trajectory. The Remington Copper Solid sabot load has given me good accuracy in some slug guns, as has the Lightfield. Michael Courtney Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
Dean, I have had very good luck with Lightfield Hybrid slugs. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text —— Original Message —– Newsgroups: rec.hunting Sent: Monday, July 23, 2001 1:49 PM > Just purchased a new Remington 870 slug gun (has rifled barrel) and would > like to hear your recommendation for which brand of sabot to shoot in it. > I’ve learned from shooting magnum rifles that different ammo brands shoot > differently so i’m assuming the same holds true for sabots. > I’ll be hunting whitetail deer. my major concern it tight groups at over > 100 yards. I would like to be able to get a heart shot at 125 yards and > even to 150 yards if there is enough energy and accuracy in the sabot to get > a one shot kill. > I’ve hunted for years with magnum rifles shooting out to 400 yards. where i > live now i’m restricted to shotguns so the only way i can get that rifle > feeling is by putting a scope on my 870 slug gun. I like one shot kills and > am a firm believer in shot placement. this is the first time that i’m a > better shot than my weapon is capable of delivering so i’m looking to tune > it to the ammo as much as possible. I’ll be hunting over fields with ranges > out to 300 yards. i’ve heard of people shooting out to 150 yards. > thanks, > Dean > Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: > http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/ Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
Just purchased a new Remington 870 slug gun (has rifled barrel) and would like to hear your recommendation for which brand of sabot to shoot in it. I’ve learned from shooting magnum rifles that different ammo brands shoot differently so i’m assuming the same holds true for sabots. I’ll be hunting whitetail deer. my major concern it tight groups at over 100 yards. I would like to be able to get a heart shot at 125 yards and even to 150 yards if there is enough energy and accuracy in the sabot to get a one shot kill. I’ve hunted for years with magnum rifles shooting out to 400 yards. where i live now i’m restricted to shotguns so the only way i can get that rifle feeling is by putting a scope on my 870 slug gun. I like one shot kills and am a firm believer in shot placement. this is the first time that i’m a better shot than my weapon is capable of delivering so i’m looking to tune it to the ammo as much as possible. I’ll be hunting over fields with ranges out to 300 yards. i’ve heard of people shooting out to 150 yards. thanks, Dean Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
>Just purchased a new Remington 870 slug gun (has rifled barrel) and would >like to hear your recommendation for which brand of sabot to shoot in it. >I’ve learned from shooting magnum rifles that different ammo brands shoot >differently so i’m assuming the same holds true for sabots.
After several years of sighting in my 870 prior to shotgun season, I’ve shot just about evey sabot out there through it and the Lightfields have consistently given me the tightest patterns (3 touching holes at 50 yds last year, and I am using the iron sights, not a scope). I haven’t tried to pattern it out farther than that because on the land I hunt, 50 yards is about as long a shot as you can responsibly take anyways. This year I might sight it in for 100 yards, just for shits and giggles to see how well it reaches out there. Tim Freedom of the Press DOES NOT mean the right to lie!! Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
> Just purchased a new Remington 870 slug gun (has rifled barrel) and would > like to hear your recommendation for which brand of sabot to shoot in it.
Personally, I would avoid the Remington Copper Solid Sabots for two reasons. Remington has a habit of redesigning these slugs without indicating that they have been redesigned, and their flight characteristics vary with each re-design. Secondly, they do not seem to expand well and only punch a pinky size hole in the deer, which in many cases allows the animal to run far with very little blood to follow. > I’ve learned from shooting magnum rifles that different ammo brands shoot > differently so i’m assuming the same holds true for sabots.
You bet your sweet bippie. > I’ll be hunting whitetail deer. my major concern it tight groups at over > 100 yards. I would like to be able to get a heart shot at 125 yards and > even to 150 yards if there is enough energy and accuracy in the sabot to get > a one shot kill.
I think you’re dreaming. The sabots I’ve used fall rapidly after 100 yards. I’d recommend Lightfield Sabots. They seem accurate, repeatable and punch a hole the size of your thumb. But they drop about 6 inches at 100 yards when zeroed in at 50 yards and probably hit the dirt before 150 yards. Lena Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
Accuracy is a crap shoot in the 870, and you’ll have to try several brands > to find one that shoots well. Being that you want to extend the range a > bit, you should try the Hornady H2K slug and the Winchester Partion Gold. > Both have higher than normal velocities for a flatter trajectory. The > Remington Copper Solid sabot load has given me good accuracy in some slug > guns, as has the Lightfield. > Michael Courtney
I second the 870 crap shoot concept. I gave up on mine as a slug gun. The barrel simply moves around in the receiver too much. Oh well. It’s a great bird gun but that’s about it. Last year I picked up my second Mossburg bolt action 12ga. (model 390 i think…) Rifled barrel, ported, scopes mount without a problem. Great groups out to 75+yds. Sweet little gun. Only problem is the safety is difficult to get to when a scope is mounted close to the barrel. Minor issue in my opinion for a gun priced just over 230 at Walmart. Remington Copper Solids seem to work out fine. I purchased a Mossberg 695 bolt-action about 4 years ago and have killed numerous deer with is since. I have a Pentax 2×8x30 scope on it and can shoot 1.5" groups at 100 yards using Federal Premium Sabot Slugs, and I don’t consider myself a very good shot. For the money, you’ll have a hard time beating the 695, but I’ll warn you in advance, it kicks really good 
The Barnes X-pander bullets are deadly by the way. Jim Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
Tim said – {"Just one thing about the 870 and consistant accurace with slugs. Since the 870 has a loose fit in the receiver as others have mentioned, a receiver mounted scope will not work, however, if you get a cantilever scope mount barrel for the gun, that problem goes away, since the scope is sighted to the barrel. Probably not an option as they cost an addtional $175.00 or so. You are probably better off with a different gun if you need to scope it. Like I said, where I hunt, you really can’t take a shot longer than 50 yds so I don’t need a scope, and I love the way the 870 feels." Woody say – - If you have an 870 with a ventilated rib on it you can intall a cantilever on it for about $50. Remington makes them and sells them.They fasten right onto the rib with a couple of set screws. You can take the cantilever/scope off and put it back on with it coming pretty close back to zero. Screw yourself in a rifled choke and you off to the races…. er, I mean off to the hunt. Woody Williams If you’re too busy to hunt, you’re too busy Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
>Tim, thanks for the response. Please let me know how your 100 yard effort >goes. >I purchased my son a 870 slug gun and I was going buy one myself… however >my neighbor purchased a Marlin model 512P Slugmaster that I really like the >looks of. It uses a bolt action and does not allow the barrel to be >removed… which should improve the accuracy… since the receiver and >barrel are integrated together (unlike the 870) it should shoot consistently >better with a scope. However, I just don’t like marlins much so I’m >hesitant. In fact, I’m fixing to post something on the newsgroup again to >ask others what they think. Thanks again… >Dean
Just one thing about the 870 and consistant accurace with slugs. Since the 870 has a loose fit in the receiver as others have mentioned, a receiver mounted scope will not work, however, if you get a cantilever scope mount barrel for the gun, that problem goes away, since the scope is sighted to the barrel. Probably not an option as they cost an addtional $175.00 or so. You are probably better off with a different gun if you need to scope it. Like I said, where I hunt, you really can’t take a shot longer than 50 yds so I don’t need a scope, and I love the way the 870 feels. Tim Freedom of the Press DOES NOT mean the right to lie!! Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
Thanks for the response… I purchased the 870 for my son and I was going to buy one myself but am now considering a bolt action. He’ll get a different barrel and use is as a bird gun also, but since I already have a shotgun I’m looking for a slug gun only setup. I have a budget of $350. My neighbor purchased a Marlin 512P Slugmaster which I really like the feel of but I’ve never even thought of Marlin as a gun I would own… always thought of them as cheap. Any experience with this one? I’ll research the H&R… any idea what it cost? Thanks again! Dean
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The 870 is probably one of the less accurate rifled slug guns, even with > sabots. The bolt action guns and the rifled single shots (H&R Ultra Slug > Hunter) are much better in the accuracy department. I also have a personal > preference for the 20 gauge: plenty of killing power without all the recoil. > If you really want the feel of a rifle, get an H&R Ultra Slug Hunter or get > the 20 gauge rifled barrel on a TC Encore. These are rifled slug guns built > on single shot rifle actions. 1-2" accuracy at 100 yards is common. You > can also have the triggers in these guns worked to a crisp 2-3 lbs. Much > nicer than the 870 trigger. > Accuracy is a crap shoot in the 870, and you’ll have to try several brands > to find one that shoots well. Being that you want to extend the range a > bit, you should try the Hornady H2K slug and the Winchester Partion Gold. > Both have higher than normal velocities for a flatter trajectory. The > Remington Copper Solid sabot load has given me good accuracy in some slug > guns, as has the Lightfield. > Michael Courtney > Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: > http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
My neighbor purchased a Marlin 512P Slugmaster which I really like the feel of but I’ve never even thought of Marlin as a gun I would own… always thought of them as cheap. Marlin is a fine gun company, i wouldn’t hesitate to buy one of their products…..just my 2 cents. Bill Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
Tim, thanks for the response. Please let me know how your 100 yard effort goes. I purchased my son a 870 slug gun and I was going buy one myself… however my neighbor purchased a Marlin model 512P Slugmaster that I really like the looks of. It uses a bolt action and does not allow the barrel to be removed… which should improve the accuracy… since the receiver and barrel are integrated together (unlike the 870) it should shoot consistently better with a scope. However, I just don’t like marlins much so I’m hesitant. In fact, I’m fixing to post something on the newsgroup again to ask others what they think. Thanks again… Dean
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Just purchased a new Remington 870 slug gun (has rifled barrel) and would >like to hear your recommendation for which brand of sabot to shoot in it. >I’ve learned from shooting magnum rifles that different ammo brands shoot >differently so i’m assuming the same holds true for sabots. > After several years of sighting in my 870 prior to shotgun season, I’ve shot > just about evey sabot out there through it and the Lightfields have > consistently given me the tightest patterns (3 touching holes at 50 yds last > year, and I am using the iron sights, not a scope). I haven’t tried to pattern > it out farther than that because on the land I hunt, 50 yards is about as long > a shot as you can responsibly take anyways. This year I might sight it in for > 100 yards, just for shits and giggles to see how well it reaches out there. > Tim > Freedom of the Press DOES NOT mean the right to lie!! > Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: > http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Thanks for the response… I purchased the 870 for my son and I was going to >buy one myself but am now considering a bolt action. He’ll get a different >barrel and use is as a bird gun also, but since I already have a shotgun I’m >looking for a slug gun only setup. I have a budget of $350. My neighbor >purchased a Marlin 512P Slugmaster which I really like the feel of but I’ve >never even thought of Marlin as a gun I would own… always thought of them >as cheap. Any experience with this one? I’ll research the H&R… any idea >what it cost? >Thanks again! >Dean > The 870 is probably one of the less accurate rifled slug guns, even with > sabots. The bolt action guns and the rifled single shots (H&R Ultra Slug > Hunter) are much better in the accuracy department. I also have a >personal > preference for the 20 gauge: plenty of killing power without all the >recoil. > If you really want the feel of a rifle, get an H&R Ultra Slug Hunter or >get > the 20 gauge rifled barrel on a TC Encore. These are rifled slug guns >built > on single shot rifle actions. 1-2" accuracy at 100 yards is common. You > can also have the triggers in these guns worked to a crisp 2-3 lbs. Much > nicer than the 870 trigger. > Accuracy is a crap shoot in the 870, and you’ll have to try several brands > to find one that shoots well. Being that you want to extend the range a > bit, you should try the Hornady H2K slug and the Winchester Partion Gold. > Both have higher than normal velocities for a flatter trajectory. The > Remington Copper Solid sabot load has given me good accuracy in some slug > guns, as has the Lightfield. > Michael Courtney
I second the 870 crap shoot concept. I gave up on mine as a slug gun. The barrel simply moves around in the receiver too much. Oh well. It’s a great bird gun but that’s about it. Last year I picked up my second Mossburg bolt action 12ga. (model 390 i think…) Rifled barrel, ported, scopes mount without a problem. Great groups out to 75+yds. Sweet little gun. Only problem is the safety is difficult to get to when a scope is mounted close to the barrel. Minor issue in my opinion for a gun priced just over 230 at Walmart. Remington Copper Solids seem to work out fine. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
WW Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/ 