Sabot's that 870's like?

[Roland]

Hello folks,

I have a remington 870 express slug gun (aka with the rifled barrel), 20 gauge, and I am trying to figure out which sabot to use.

I know it is different for most guns, but I wanted to know what works in your 870 (prefferably 20 gauge) best, and which ones shoot like you were just tossing rocks.

I do not have alot of money to try them all out (I am 15), I know this gun likes copper solids and lightfields, but those are not good long range sabots (guy at lightfield said 110yards max for an ethical shot).

Thanks guys,
Roland

PS, it has a scope as well, if I were using iron sights, I would just use one of the shorter range slugs.

[rooster52]

I own an 870 Express 12 gauge slug gun and it likes Winchester Super -X regular old foster type slugs .It has a rifled barrel and I know it should shoot sabots but it likes the plain old rifled slugs 2 3/4 inch.At 50 yards it groups one big hole,at 100 yards about 3 1/2 inchs.Good enough for any whitetail.

How far do you think you would like a slug gun to shoot?Most of my shots are under 100 yards.

[MikeNC]

My 20 guage 870 slug gun shoots the 3" Brenneke Rottweil rifled slugs the best. Good luck finding what your gun likes.

[citori]

110 yards with a 20 ga is a right far piece. The energy levels drop off rapidly with this gauge and I feel even at 100 yards he 20 ga is really pushing it. If your gun likes Lightfields and Copper Solids, then you have found what your gun likes. If money is a concern, "long range" shooting is not feasible for you as it take actually shooting to become proficient, not some brand of ammo.

[tddeangelo]

Copper Solids are a fine slug. I use them in my 12ga., and my dad his killed a (literal) truck load of deer with them from his 20ga.

If you're sporting a 20ga, plan on 100 yards being about the end of the line. If you want to shoot farther and can't use a rifle, look to an inline muzzleloader, as most shotgun-only areas permit muzzleloaders as well. With a good inline and a stout charge, you can reasonably expect to stretch to 150-200 yards, depending on what your specific load would be.

If you can legally use a rifle and want to shoot past 100 yards, then save your pennies and get a rifle. You'll pay less in the long run than trying to wring a few more yards out of a slug gun.

FWIW- the Copper Solids shoot very well in my 12ga Remington 870 (Hastings barrel), and I've yet to meet someone who's slug gun disliked them. Hornady makes a saboted slug with marginally acceptable energy at 200 yards, and that's from a 12ga. The 20ga in the same make/brand is not a 200 yard gun. I think, IIRC, that one ran out of steam by 125-150 yards (in my estimation, anyway).

If your gun likes Copper Solids, use 'em. Is it physically possible to shoot more than 100 yards where you hunt? If so, how often is a 100+ yard shot likely to present itself?

Even with a rifle, the percentage of deer I've taken beyond 100 yards is far smaller than the percentage I've shot under 100 yards. I've shot deer as close as 10 yards with a rifle (long story, and I won't do it again!!).

[Roland]

Copper Solids are a fine slug. I use them in my 12ga., and my dad his killed a (literal) truck load of deer with them from his 20ga.

If you're sporting a 20ga, plan on 100 yards being about the end of the line. If you want to shoot farther and can't use a rifle, look to an inline muzzleloader, as most shotgun-only areas permit muzzleloaders as well. With a good inline and a stout charge, you can reasonably expect to stretch to 150-200 yards, depending on what your specific load would be.

If you can legally use a rifle and want to shoot past 100 yards, then save your pennies and get a rifle. You'll pay less in the long run than trying to wring a few more yards out of a slug gun.

FWIW- the Copper Solids shoot very well in my 12ga Remington 870 (Hastings barrel), and I've yet to meet someone who's slug gun disliked them. Hornady makes a saboted slug with marginally acceptable energy at 200 yards, and that's from a 12ga. The 20ga in the same make/brand is not a 200 yard gun. I think, IIRC, that one ran out of steam by 125-150 yards (in my estimation, anyway).

If your gun likes Copper Solids, use 'em. Is it physically possible to shoot more than 100 yards where you hunt? If so, how often is a 100+ yard shot likely to present itself?

Even with a rifle, the percentage of deer I've taken beyond 100 yards is far smaller than the percentage I've shot under 100 yards. I've shot deer as close as 10 yards with a rifle (long story, and I won't do it again!!).

Unforchenetly, it is shotgun only, and if I had known better at the time, I would have either A: got a better slug gun, or B: got a muzzle loaders, since I can stick with one shot, thank you very much.

I have never been on the land I am going to hunt, so i could not speak personnely, but the fellow who is taking me, shoots the SST's out of his 20 gauge TC Encore, and last season he took a buck at 160 yards, and his longest shoot in his history with this sabot, is 197 yards. And he has never lost a deer with these sabots.

Now, that is not to say that still most shots are not close, he said most are within 80 yards, but farther is not uncommon.

Good news is, dicks sporting goods has sabots on sale this week, so I can try out a couple at least.

Oh, and as soon as I get the money, I am planning on getting either a 30-06, or .308, anyways, since there are a couple of countys that allow rifles, just not mine. Plus, either of those two are alot cheaper for goofing off at the range.

[huntinny]

I guess not everyon sticks to the "within reasonable range of 100yrds" with shotguns?

[tddeangelo]

Well, if a hunter is successful, I won't argue with it. I personally would turn down a shot past 150 yards with the 20ga, and I'd be REAL hesitant even at that distance.

I would suggest you look at Hornady's website and look at the ballistics on the 20ga SST slug. Looking at it just now, I'd be marginally ok with 150 yard shooting, and I wouldn't be comfortable at all with 200 yards. But that's my choice and my opinion only.

I know it stinks to bump into equipment limitations, but they are what they are. It is not an easy task to hit a whitetail in the vitals at 200 yards without the benefit of a rest. I can do it with a variety of firearms, but I've been shooting since I was 4 years old, and I'm about to turn 32. I've shot well over 1000 rounds this calendar year alone. That's not a lot to match shooters, but it's 20 years' worth for many hunters, and think what 1000 rounds of saboted slugs would cost! :eek:

My point is that you may not be ready to take 200 yard shots anyway (I don't know...I don't know how much practice you've had in your 15 years). If I were taking a newer hunter with me, I'd probably try to put them in places where shots will be closer, hopefully in the 50-100 yard range.

[Furtrapper69]

I have a Remington 870 Wingmaster 12 gauge 3'' and i shoot Remington Copper Sabots. Very nice shells along with accurate.

[Roland]

Well, if a hunter is successful, I won't argue with it. I personally would turn down a shot past 150 yards with the 20ga, and I'd be REAL hesitant even at that distance.

I would suggest you look at Hornady's website and look at the ballistics on the 20ga SST slug. Looking at it just now, I'd be marginally ok with 150 yard shooting, and I wouldn't be comfortable at all with 200 yards. But that's my choice and my opinion only.

I know it stinks to bump into equipment limitations, but they are what they are. It is not an easy task to hit a whitetail in the vitals at 200 yards without the benefit of a rest. I can do it with a variety of firearms, but I've been shooting since I was 4 years old, and I'm about to turn 32. I've shot well over 1000 rounds this calendar year alone. That's not a lot to match shooters, but it's 20 years' worth for many hunters, and think what 1000 rounds of saboted slugs would cost! :eek:

My point is that you may not be ready to take 200 yard shots anyway (I don't know...I don't know how much practice you've had in your 15 years). If I were taking a newer hunter with me, I'd probably try to put them in places where shots will be closer, hopefully in the 50-100 yard range.

Sorry for taking so long to get back to you mate.

1000 sabots would make anyone here go broke I think.

But anyways I hear what your saying.

Only the past couple of years I have had of shooting, I mean this is NY, they ask for ID at the range, not allowed under 12...

And my friend was shooting off of some type of rest (may have been a tripod or something), with a range finder, broadside, the perfect shot essentialy.

Roland

[tjen]

For 100yards and less no beating the berennki slugs, but for long range Hornady SST as mentioned.

[tddeangelo]

Sorry for taking so long to get back to you mate.

1000 sabots would make anyone here go broke I think.

But anyways I hear what your saying.

Only the past couple of years I have had of shooting, I mean this is NY, they ask for ID at the range, not allowed under 12...

And my friend was shooting off of some type of rest (may have been a tripod or something), with a range finder, broadside, the perfect shot essentialy.

Roland


You could try the Hornady SST slugs. They may shoot well for you, and then you would want to practice out to the ranges you'll potentially be shooting, if possible. I had an eye toward using them in my slug gun when I go to Illinois later this fall. When the slug gun declared a DISTINCT preference for Remington Copper Solids over the Hornadys, I stocked up on Copper Solids and never looked back.

As for limits on your shot distance, you have to make that descision, but I would suggest you hold it to no more than 100 yards. Being a newer hunter, you'll find that it gets tough to keep calm and focused when the time comes to put your sights to your buck. Hitting a pie-plate at 100 yards at the range over the summer is a different proposition than a whitetail buck at 100 yards in the woods in the fall. Just my advice....

That and 69 cents will get you a cup of McDonald's coffee. ;)

[citori]

I have to agree with the range limitations, equipment is only a small part of shooting at long range as it takes actual shooting at that range gain proficiency. Kind of like driving, you can stand behind an arcade game and drive all over but it is rather different when you get behind the wheel and go for a spin. You find out that speed is not necessarily easy to control and road conditions (ice, rain, snow, gravel) are not accounted for on a screen.
go out and practice as much as you can afford, that is the only way you can get better. Also, practice as you would in the field, you probably won't be carrying a bench and sandbags or rest around with you so do as you would while hunting. Do this and you will come to realize how difficult long shots really are and what your personal maximum distance is. Chances are it is a lot less than your equipment is capable of.