Smoothbore 870 express 28'' barrel with slugs?

[cullenw08]

I know the topic on chokes touches on this, but I feel like at this point I just want a few more opinions. I recently purchased the gun listed above and intend to use it mainly for waterfowl. I also deer hunt and can't afford a rifle at this particular time. I'm hunting deer all weekend and would like to know if shooting rifled slugs with an improved cylinder choke would be a feasable firearm for whitetail at 50 yards. No sights. And if it will cause any damage at all to the pattern of my shot when I return to shoot waterfowl or any damage to my firearm. From most of what I have read there aren't any problems with this scenario, but any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

[Big Rad]

Rifled slugs in a smothbore is usually a waste, however I shoot a smoothbore and use Brenneke slugs in the green box.  The accuracy out to 60 yards is awesome.  Sure the slugs cost about 2 bucks but IMHO you can't go wrong.  To be prudent though you should shoot a few different slugs to find which group best.

[cullenw08]

My other choice I just recently discovered was to shoot sabot slugs with a rifled or extended rifled choke tube. Anyone have experience with these?

[CrabDog]

I agree with Big Rad,  smoothbore shotgun sluggers aren't the best thing and shooting slugs through a normal shot barrel is something I would not do due to the much higher pressure of shooting deer slugs and mag loads.  slug barrels are much thicker in diameter and designed for the higher pressures whether rifled or smoothbore.  shooting slugs out of the regular shot barrel with a "slug" choke is not the best thing.  For an 870 express you can buy a rifled slug barrel for $150 or so and then you can shot sabots.  I use the winchester partition gold sabots on my rifled shotgun ( 870 mag ) and have a scope on it and I have killed deer at 150 yds....
even with just open sites that come on the rifled slug barrrel you should be able to kill a deer at 100 yds.  As for waterfowl and chokes I think a modified is the best all around choke to use gives you good spread at 30 yds or so.. I actually run a full choke on my 10 gauge... tighter spread, but better range.. I have killed geese at 60 yds and ducks at 75 plus...gotta get use to shooting a full choke and lead is much more critical.....  I would not opt for an IC choke shooting waterfowl,  just my personal preference.  regardless I would recommend you go shoot some trap, skeet , sporting clays a few times to get the swing and lead down...

[Mikie]

Before rifled barrels and rifled choke tubes what you are going to do was the only option available. You will be fine. If you're lucky, it will even be pretty accurate.

[CrabDog]

Before rifled barrels and rifled choke tubes what you are going to do was the only option available. You will be fine. If you're lucky, it will even be pretty accurate.

I agree that use to be the only choice was a rifled choke in a standard shotgun barrel.. but they also did not shot as powerful a loads for deer back then.... Now some of the sabot loads are running 1950 fps for a 2 3/4 inch sabot..... 3" mag sabots are over 2000 fps and the pressures created are much higher than back then....
if he just uses a rifle choke I would opt for a slug in the 1300 - 1450 fps range.. winchester X are good or the brennake's never had much luck shooting remingtons slugs in my remington 870... .also no need to shot 3 inch magnum slugs.. especially with a pump shotgun...unless you want to pound your shoulder off.. I shot the 2 3/4 inch sabots.... in an 870 pump.... and they don't kick as hard and have just as much range and killing power on a deer...

[Big Rad]

I also deer hunt and can't afford a rifle at this particular time. I'm hunting deer all weekend and would like to know if shooting rifled slugs with an improved cylinder choke would be a feasable firearm for whitetail at 50 yards. No sights.  From most of what I have read there aren't any problems with this scenario, but any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

I would recommend that you use a full choke when shooting slugs.

[rdbeard]

 i shoot a mosberg 500 pump,a gun that some peoplefrown on and say it's junk. i bought a fully rifled ported barrel with cateilever scope mount and it's VERY accurate. before the rifled barrel it came with a 24 in smoothbore with ic bore and rifle sights, i could break clay pigions at 50 yards, on the ground ofcorse.

[CrabDog]

i shoot a mosberg 500 pump,a gun that some peoplefrown on and say it's junk. i bought a fully rifled ported barrel with cateilever scope mount and it's VERY accurate. before the rifled barrel it came with a 24 in smoothbore with ic bore and rifle sights, i could break clay pigions at 50 yards, on the ground ofcorse.

I got a mossberg 835 the first year they came out.. got the 34 inch turkey model... It came with IC, mod, full, extra full chokes.. it is a great shooitng gun.... I have won turkey shoots with it... it is just a bit sloppy on th epump action and sometimes would drops shells out of the bottom unless you chambered it hard.  It was the first 12 gauge 3 1/2 inch super mag on the market.....took it a gunsmith and he tweak the action and she is real smooth and have not had a problem with it chambering rounds...
it is a great shooter... the newer ones are much better than the original...

[ACFISHERIES]

If you're only shooting 40-50yds., why not buckshot?

[Captain C]

I found that Remington Sluggers shoot great out of an improved cylinder choke. Those slugs hit HARD. Get one in the boiler room and it looks like a tank truck ran through the field with the valve open. Just my opinion and good luck on your season.

[thunderhawk]

cant use buckshot in maryland. . dont know about pa.

[jefftoleft]

No Buckshot in Pa. either 

[rivercrab]

cant use buckshot in maryland. . dont know about pa.

You can in Dorchester county..

[cullenw08]

Im in Wicomico. No buckshot... 

[CrabDog]

You can in Dorchester county..

I think that is mainly to shoot sika deer...... those little dudes bounce around the marsh like popcorn.. you almost have to use buck shot on em..

[CRABGUY]

I SHOOT A REM 870 EXP MAG 3"
I PUT THE MOD CHOKE IN WHEN SHOOTING SLUGS I LOVE THE BERNEKE SLUGS
IVE PUT 3 IN A 3X5 CARD @ 80 YARDS
ALTHOUGH THEY DID NOT PATERN AS WELL OUT OF MY 1100

[mdjohn]

it was a good

[anchor]

by the way jeff you  can shoot buckshot in pa. maybe just not in your area.

[BowMovements]

I got a mossberg 835 the first year they came out.. got the 34 inch turkey model... It came with IC, mod, full, extra full chokes.. it is a great shooitng gun.... I have won turkey shoots with it... it is just a bit sloppy on th epump action and sometimes would drops shells out of the bottom unless you chambered it hard.  It was the first 12 gauge 3 1/2 inch super mag on the market.....took it a gunsmith and he tweak the action and she is real smooth and have not had a problem with it chambering rounds...
it is a great shooter... the newer ones are much better than the original...

I had the auto in black.  jammed every time after the first three rounds of the day.  bought it cuz it shot 3 1/2. sold it cuz it wouldn't shoot.

[CrabDog]

I had the auto in black.  jammed every time after the first three rounds of the day.  bought it cuz it shot 3 1/2. sold it cuz it wouldn't shoot.

yeah the first round is fine but when you pumped the action you had to really slam it hard.... which then pulls your sight bead off of the birds and your loss time on follow up shots if it didn't jam......  That is why I run a  Browning BPS - 10 guage now.. only shots 3 1/2.....