So, I’m thinking about........

[Hatchdog]

Putting together a dedicated slug semi-auto shotgun.

I have no experience shooting slugs and I am wondering if anybody here has some input to share. I’m thinking a semi-auto either magazine fed or extended tube and using a red-dot or open sights. I figured I would sight it in at 50 yards and call that good. My thought is if I no longer have access to semi-auto self defense rifles a fast shooting hard hitting shotgun might be a option. In my scenario this would be an outdoor in the country battle, not in the city.

The likelihood of this ever happening my my lifetime is unlikely but what the hell, it’s a good reason to develop a new gun and skill using it.

So, any slug shooters out there to offer advice?

[JEBar]

right up front, lets stay away from straying into political commentary and keep this an entertaining and educational discussion of slug guns


the finest slug gun I've ever owned was an Ithaca Model 37 Deer Slayer it was very accurate .... longest one shot deer taken was at 75-80 yards ... with its light weight and pump action it was also the hardest kicking shotgun I've ever fired .... if I wanted a slug gun today, all I'd do is first purchase a slug choke for our Remington 11-87 .... by doing so, a simple choke tube change would open the door for buckshot .... if a rifled tube didn't yield the level of performance I desired, I'd purchase a slug barrel .... extended tube magazines are available

[GunnyGene]

Have you given any thought to ammo? There's several different slug types. Foster, Sabot, Brenneke, and any number of oddball slugs. All depends on what you want the slug to do; some require a rifled barrel, some don't. Take a look at the Brenneke line:

https://www.brennekeusa.com/

I use Brenneke Green Lightening in my old Mossy pump gun.

[daytime dave]

I have usually hunted deer in an area that is shotgun only. That means slugs. I have a preference for smooth bore barrels with no choke. I do not like the rifled barrels. Like Gunny, I prefer to use Brenneke slugs if I have them. I prefer 20 ga over 12 ga. I just received a 12 ga vintage Remington 1100 last Christmas that was the deer hunter set up. It has a small Leupold scope tapped into it. I have shot it to 100 yds with great accuracy. I also have a 12 ga Mossberg 930 semi auto that is very accurate. It wears a smooth barrel with a door breaching end and an extended tube underneath. It was a Walmart model I saw on the Mossberg forum years ago. I added the tube extension.

Take a look at the Mossberg 930. See what Jerry Miculek can do with one. That might be what you are looking for.

(I usually hunt deer with a Remington 870 in 20 ga. The 1100 will get a try this season.)

[Achigan]

For reliable minute of torso at 50+ yards I’d go with a rifled barrel and sabots. I just hung up my 870 20 ga that I’ve taken dozens of Hoosier deer with. For me, any 12ga slug gun, even the reduced recoil rounds, is punishing and would take you way off target for a follow up shot. Both 1100s and 1187s have rifled barrels available, some with a cantilever mount for scopes.

[BrokenolMarine]

I attended an NRA shotgun class at Quantico, and the winner in accuracy was shooting a pump, peep sights, and put two five round groups at fifty yards on top of one another in a fist sized ragged hole in the x-ring of a B27 training target.

I forgot to mention he was a State Trooper from some New England State that wouldn't have tipped the scales above a buck fifty in full gear including body armor. Techniques and practice will allow shooting slugs and/or buck without pain or bruising. The NRA instructor taught one. Worked for me ever since. If you can find someone to shoot shotgun with, who has experience, it will make all the difference.

I carried a Mossberg 500 in various models. Then a 590 upgrade. Now the shockwave 12 rides in the ranger around the farm.

[Hatchdog]

Thanks for all the input and I welcome more. I’ve tabled my looking for now mostly due to lack of slugs available. I did buy two boxes of five Federal 12 ga 1 oz rifled slugs and I’m keeping my eye open for more. I wish I had decided to look into this a few months ago as a local guy had a 930 set up for three gun listed for sale. That would have been the perfect set up for me. There are some off brand semi’s available at my LGS with pistol grips and sights/rails but I’m kinda of a traditionalist and would prefer a more classic line gun.

[GFK]

Late to the party. But, this may help. I would go for a smooth barrel with rifled slugs as well. It seems more versatile. I prefer a HP slug for two legged threats, and a solid slug for your legged ones. I figured more energy and penetration is required for four legged ones.

https://gunpros.com/best-tactical-shotgun-home-defense/

[GunnyGene]

Late to the party. But, this may help. I would go for a smooth barrel with rifled slugs as well. It seems more versatile. I prefer a HP slug for two legged threats, and a solid slug for your legged ones. I figured more energy and penetration is required for four legged ones.

https://gunpros.com/best-tactical-shotgun-home-defense/

That's a pretty good run down of what's available in new guns. I wouldn't write off older designs tho, such as the old slam fire pumps, The Ithaca Model 37 for example, which among other things loaded and ejected from the bottom - good for lefties and righties.

[JEBar]

That's a pretty good run down of what's available in new guns. I wouldn't write off older designs tho, such as the old slam fire pumps, The Ithaca Model 37 for example, which among other things loaded and ejected from the bottom - good for lefties and righties.

I had an Ithaca Model 37 Featherweight pump slug gun .... out to 100 yards it grouped well firing Winchester 2 3/4" rifled slugs .... I let it go because it was the kicking long gun I've ever fired .... for manageable recoil, starting with a semi auto makes a great deal of sense .... our vintage Remington 11-87 performs well

[GunnyGene]

That's a pretty good run down of what's available in new guns. I wouldn't write off older designs tho, such as the old slam fire pumps, The Ithaca Model 37 for example, which among other things loaded and ejected from the bottom - good for lefties and righties.

I had an Ithaca Model 37 Featherweight pump slug gun .... out to 100 yards it grouped well firing Winchester 2 3/4" rifled slugs .... I let it go because it was the kicking long gun I've ever fired .... for manageable recoil, starting with a semi auto makes a great deal of sense .... our vintage Remington 11-87 performs well

Recoil is a problem for some folks. I think for some it's a technique issue. I've never had an issue with it in shotguns or other firearms, even as a kid.

[JEBar]

Recoil is a problem for some folks. I think for some it's a technique issue. I've never had an issue with it in shotguns or other firearms, even as a kid.

for me, it didn't used to be a problem with any long or short gun .... for big game hunting I used to carry a Ruger Redhawk 44 Mag, 300 WBY Mag, or Ithaca 12 ga slug gun .... all were and still are hard kickers .... after developing heart trouble and being on blood thinners that changed and the onset of arthritic joints added another level of discomfort .... any significant recoil resulted in pain and bruising .... I got rid of the Ithaca and still have the other tow .... on them I've spent considerably more in felt recoil reducing mods than they cost .... I've also developed low power loads which allow me to continue to fire them .... that is a process I'm just beginning with our Bond Roughneck derringer

[armycat]

I shoot quite a few slugs in 3 gun and such. I think if I was dedicating a shotgun for potential self defence I would use a pump shotgun with smooth bore 20" barrel with interchangeable chokes. Slugs can be fired through a few different chokes and the tighter chokes give more flexibility for putting meat on the table.

I would take a pump because semi autos are restricted to 5 rounds in Canada. I am fond of Mossberg 500 or 590 and Benelli Nova. I would stay away from any Remington 870 Express. I had the 870 Tactical and it let me down on several occasions during competition.

For sights I would go with rifle sights or ghost ring sights. I have had some bad luck wth red dots and the Vortex Spitfire prism scope on shotguns. The red dot would not turn off after a match. Repaired under warranty but a pain in the ass to deal with and you are screwed if you run out of batteries.

The Spitfire illuminated reticle would turn off during the recoil impulse. This is apparently due to the battery being inline with the bore and during recoil it compresses the spring and the breaks contact with the other terminal of the battery compartment. Putting a ball of tin foil under the spring will fix the problem. It has an etched reticle so you can still aim but I found shooting in shadows at targets in shadows (in the woods) the etched reticle is difficult to pick up quickly.

Bead sights don't give the required accuracy for longer shots. I have no problem hitting IPSC targets at 100m with XS Ghost ring sights.

I would like to try a ported barrel just to see the difference in recoil.

I normally use Score Competition Slugs and have no problems with feeding, extracting, etc. Accuracy is good and these are lighter recoil which allows for faster follow up shots. In a self defence scenario I might want a harder hitting slug.

[Hatchdog]

There’s a local guy selling a Stoeger M/3000 semi-auto with a 24” barrel and a 10 shot tube magazine. I’m somewhat tempted to take a look at this gun, not sure if it is drilled and tapped for a rail. The factory website shows it available with and without this feature.

armycat, thanks for the input on red dot sights and the recoil of a 12 ga shotgun, I hadn’t considered that.

[GFK]

Late to the party. But, this may help. I would go for a smooth barrel with rifled slugs as well. It seems more versatile. I prefer a HP slug for two legged threats, and a solid slug for your legged ones. I figured more energy and penetration is required for four legged ones.

https://gunpros.com/best-tactical-shotgun-home-defense/

Companion link:

https://www.gun-tests.com/ammo/slugs-fo ... ds-rock-3/

[Hatchdog]

Thanks for the link GFK. I’m a slug dummy so you’re info is appreciated.

Yesterday I found and bought two more boxes of slugs. Can’t remember off hand the brand (maybe Zero?) but they are 1 1/8 oz. So for now I have 14 Federal 1 oz and 10 of the 1 1/8 oz. I think I’ll keep trying to get some slugs and make a shotgun decision later.

[GFK]

Thanks for the link GFK. I’m a slug dummy so you’re info is appreciated.

You are welcome. Me too, I am still learning about shotgun shells. It is a wide range. The one thing that I find interesting is the sizes available (2 3/4", 3" and 3 1/2" shells). Each seems to have its purpose. Yet, I like looking at them as standard, magnum, and super magnum. I found a few of each. But, I think that I will get a couple more boxes of 2 3/4" slugs as well. 1 oz seems to be the more readily available than other weights. But lately, I came across a few 1 oz hollow points. Even with that, I found more 00 buck shells locally than slugs. Slugs go quickly around here.