Hog Hunting with Slugs

[zweeterpan]

Hi all,
I want to finally start hunting some hogs, but really want to work with what I have to save money. I have an Harrington and Richardson 20 gauge single shot, and am thinking about getting a rifled slug barrel for it. Do you think a 20 gauge with slugs will be sufficient for hogs? Thanks in advance.

 

[Use_Enough_Gun]

Hi all,
I want to finally start hunting some hogs, but really want to work with what I have to save money. I have an Harrington and Richardson 20 gauge single shot, and am thinking about getting a rifled slug barrel for it. Do you think a 20 gauge with slugs will be sufficient for hogs? Thanks in advance.

In a word, NO.

You're talking stick and string range AT BEST if you decide to hunt hogs with a 20 gauge and will probably have much less of a chance of taking one cleanly IMHO.

Probably a better question than 'can I' is SHOULD I?

My question is why would you? I understand that money is an object--but where there's a will, there's a way. As an example, I found an old used but very clean Mossberg 500 a few years ago. Picked it up on the cheap and then bought a SCOPED rifled slug barrel from good old Wal-Mart. Took off the wood and put a Hogue over-molded stock on it (didn't really NEED to--just liked the look) .

I have about $350 in the whole rig and it shoots 'minute of pig'. Good enough.

In any case--back to your question of hunting hogs with a 20 gauge...

I think most successful and ethical hunters think beyond the first shot...and consider the 'what if's'. In this case (again just opinion) consider the outcomes if you take a less than optimum shot. I use the term 'optimum' loosely.

Compared to practically any big game rifle bullet, rifled slugs are not very accurate. They are a short range (100 yard or less) proposition at best.

If you hunt much in central California, you're going to limit yourself quite a bit in terms of 'engagements' with your prey.

The ballistic coefficient (BC) and sectional density of rifled slugs is pretty pitiful. The 20 gauge slug develops only 648 ft. lbs. of energy at 100 yards, and drops like a sack of quarters. I think it's about minus 4 inches at only 100 yard. MV is only around 1500 fps at best.

If possible, I always use a rifle in preference to a slug gun for any kind of big game hunting. In some cases you will be restricted to shotgun/bow/muzzle loader. In that case I take a TWELVE gauge with the best copper sabot I can find. If you look closely at MV/ME and 100 yard energy you'll have the approximate equivalent of a 45-70 shooting a 400 grain bullet.

No question--the adage to "Use enough gun" will provide you with much better odds of a favorable result.

With respect--especially since you're willing to ask what others might think.

Good on ya!

Cheers.

 

[k_rad]

What he said, I almost bought that exact same gun and for much the same reasons. But then I did alot more research and if you don't have to have the bells and whistles you can pick up an inline muzzleloader for around 200 bucks and increase your accuracy to at least 200 yds with some practice and the right load.

 

[k_rad]

Here it is a guy on here has five for sale one is under $200 you can't go wrong with either one of these as they both have the 1 in 32 " twist which will shoot sabots. (improves accuracy and allows you to shoot copper. FYI
http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums...on-700-mz-some-percussion-bpowder-rifles.html

 

[zweeterpan]

Thanks very much to the both of you. I appreciate the input!

 

[weekender21]

Inside of 50 yards, sure. If you're going to limit yourself that much, buy a bow.

 

[central cali fishin]

I agree as well. Try to find something else, roughly six months ago i decided i wanted a 7m so i went all over fresno looking for one cheap enough i could buy it, with out upseting the girlfriend. I found one at Herb bauer it was a remington not sure of the model, it had synthetic stock, and did not include a scope but brand they wanted 200 bucks for it on sale. It was a cheap piece of garbage and my pellet gun is built better than it and For that reason i did not buy it. My point is you can buy a rifle cheap i would not buy that one but maybe a savage 7m or 30-06 with a scope combo you wont spend more than 400 out the door. Also try pawn shops sometimes you will get a good deal it saves the guy at the pawn shop from having to list it online and deal with all the auction bs, sometimes the Dumba**es want more than it costs the buy the gun new

 

[zweeterpan]

so i went to the range a couple of days to shoot a friend's savage edge in 7mm-08. loved it! i can find one with a scope for around $300. I think i might go with that.

 

[DirtyDave]

Big5 has the Remington 770 rifle on sale right now for $299. with a scope. You can get it in either 7mag or 30-06. I would go with 30-06 if you are on a budget. Ammo will be a little cheaper and there is more options to choose from.
Big 5 Sporting Goods - Weekly Ad Specials

 

[zweeterpan]

again, thanks for the input everyone. i'll definitely check it out.

 

[w8_liftr]

For slug guns I purchased a Rem 870 with a rifled barrel. Since the discussion turned to rifles, for economy with quality, I would suggest the Weatherby Vanguard. I have been able to get .5 inch groups with barnes bullets at 100 yds.

As a suggestion, buy the best you can afford. Like my Pops told me, "Buy the best you can up front. If you buy junk, you will have to replace it."

 

[Frenimy]

I agree with most everyone in here but I will play devil's advocate and say that a CA DFG recomends a gun that is at a minimum of 1200 ft/lbs at 100 yards and a 20ga is capable of 1500 ft/lbs at 100 yards with a 260gr projectile and 1900 fps muzzel. But on the other hand I have a mossy 835 with rifled barrel for ceartain hunting areas but I mainly use a 30-06. A friend of mine has the cheap savage 30-06 scoped combo from big5 and it shoots MOA with anything you feed it. Just remember that if you shoose to use a shotgun you will spend a lot of money finding the correct slugs that you gun likes not to mention a whole bunch of pain in the sholder area. And you will need a good scope to stand up to the abuse. Shotguns can he shot at 100 yards without a scope but you will need a lot of practice to adjust to the recoil and the drop. Just my 2 cents.

Shotgun Slugs

 

[zweeterpan]

So I think I'm going to get the Savage, but I'm thinking I'm eventually going to get a rifled barrel for the shotgun just for areas with 'shotgun only' regulations.

 

[dthome]

I bought a Harrington and Richardson 12 gauge single shot two years ago. It cost me $170 new and came with a scope mount and rifled barrel. I bought a Tasco scope for $30 (I know, I skimped, but money was tight). For me, a 100 yard shot is no problem at the range, and many guys shoot tacks at 150-200 yards. I've never shot a pig with it, but harvested two deer so far, and they were both fast running shots. Using 2000 fps sabot slugs (over 1300 ft lbs at 200 yards), I knocked both deer straight to the ground. I love that gun. It's light, the barrel is short, and it's reliable. I plan to hunt pigs with it and have no doubt it will do the trick. It's not that hard to get a follow-up round in the chamber relatively quickly, too. A shotgun opens up a world of opportunity in California that you won't have with a rifle or even a muzzleloader in certain restricted areas.

 

[vincewarde]

20ga Slugs are not anything to snezze at, but.......

Let me say up front that I know a lot about firearms, and much, much less about hunting.

I actually have an H&R Handi-rifle with, among others, a 20ga and 45/70 barrel. The 20ga with Brenneke 2 3/4" KO slugs out kicks my 45/70 with a 450gr cast bullet at 1200fps by A LOT. Everything else is the same, so it's a good comparison. Out of a full choke, smooth bore barrel I get 3" groups at 50 yards. Not bad at all, accuracy wise.

A look at the following table reveals the problem: Slugs are anything but aerodynamic and as a result they lose energy quickly. At the muzzle, it has enough energy to stop most pigs. At 25 yards it has already lost 1/4 of that energy. By 75 yards it has lost over 50% of its' muzzle energy. Conventional 12ga slugs have exactly the same problem - they just start out with a lot more energy

Would I shoot a 200lb + pig with those slugs? Absolutely - if I could get within 25 yards. On Blacktail Deer (what this gun is set up for) I would limit my shots to 60 yards. Beyond that, I just would not be comfortable. Where and when legal, a rifle makes much more sense to me.

Just my $ .02 worth.

Distance (yds) ------------- Energy (ft lbs)

Muzzle -------------------- 1606
25 ------------------------ 1215
50 ------------------------- 950
75 ------------------------- 788
100 ------------------------ 683

 

[Caninelaw]

Let me say up front that I know a lot about firearms, and much, much less about hunting.

I actually have an H&R Handi-rifle with, among others, a 20ga and 45/70 barrel. The 20ga with Brenneke 2 3/4" KO slugs out kicks my 45/70 with a 450gr cast bullet at 1200fps by A LOT. Everything else is the same, so it's a good comparison. Out of a full choke, smooth bore barrel I get 3" groups at 50 yards. Not bad at all, accuracy wise.

A look at the following table reveals the problem: Slugs are anything but aerodynamic and as a result they lose energy quickly. At the muzzle, it has enough energy to stop most pigs. At 25 yards it has already lost 1/4 of that energy. By 75 yards it has lost over 50% of its' muzzle energy. Conventional 12ga slugs have exactly the same problem - they just start out with a lot more energy

Would I shoot a 200lb + pig with those slugs? Absolutely - if I could get within 25 yards. On Blacktail Deer (what this gun is set up for) I would limit my shots to 60 yards. Beyond that, I just would not be comfortable. Where and when legal, a rifle makes much more sense to me.

Just my $ .02 worth.

Distance (yds) ------------- Energy (ft lbs)

Muzzle -------------------- 1606
25 ------------------------ 1215
50 ------------------------- 950
75 ------------------------- 788
100 ------------------------ 683

Just as a comparison, I think most people would agree that a .44 mag is an adequate round out to about 50 yards for pigs. Here's the ballistics for a 240 gr Gold Dot Hollow Point...

Velocity(in feet per second)
Muzzle 50 yards 100 yards
1400 1253 1137

Energy (in foot pounds)
Muzzle 50 yards 100 yards
1044 837 689

So, it looks like a 20 gage slug would be comparable to a .44 mag out to 50 yards (50 yard energy being 950 for the 20 gage vs. 837 for the .44 mag).

 

[3056_HUNTER]

Hi all,
I want to finally start hunting some hogs, but really want to work with what I have to save money. I have an Harrington and Richardson 20 gauge single shot, and am thinking about getting a rifled slug barrel for it. Do you think a 20 gauge with slugs will be sufficient for hogs? Thanks in advance.

I disagree....I drop pigs in their tracks with a 20g slug! My last pig was shot at 60 yards. My dad used the same gun and slug when he shot a 300lb plus boar and dropped him in his tracks too. Then he filled his second tag and dropped a sow. slugs have alot of power and are low velocity which is good for hunting around areas where a highpower round can be dangerous. and they make a mess:chainsaw:......but in the areas i hunt, all of our shots are inside of 75yrds. if u wanna be a sniper, stick with a rifle.