Shotgun hunting & intro

[bjake21]

I am new to this forum but have been reading a lot of posts especially about public land hunts here on the central coast (CA), tons of good info. I am out of Santa Barbara and I am relitively new to hunting. I got my hunting liscence just in time for a couple of late season quail hunts in the Los Padres NF and I am really interested in wild pig hunting.

I own a Remington 870, 12ga and I plan to purchase a rifle in the next 3-4 months. Until then, I would like to take advantage of hunting in the cooler months, so my question is what are your thoughts on hunting wild pig with shotgun slugs & what do you reccomend.

I will be purchasing a rifled choke tube and I am a choosing between an extended rifled choke or the standard rifled choke, any comments on performances would be appreciated.

I am also looking at different slugs from standard rifled slugs to the copper sabot slugs. Should I be conserned about the knock-down power on a tuff animal like a wild pig and what factors should I look for in selecting a slug?

Hope to hear from you - Jake

 

[slowpoke]

bjake21,
I don’t have too much experience hunting pigs with slugs, but have shot a few while turkey hunting and 2 while quail hunting. I’ve only used the cheap Winchester slugs and they have worked well. The old style (foster?) slugs are nice since they are not a really tight fit in the barrel, which is good if you are shooting something tighter than improved cylinder choke. The accuracy typically is not as good as with the sabot slugs though. Knock down power is not a problem with slugs in my experience either. Even the 20 gauge slugs offered more than adequate penetration and knock down. I have never shot slugs using a rifled choke tube, but I woud imagine it would help with the accuracy. Slugs will by no means have the same range as a rifle, but are more than capable. Good luck

 

[inchr48]

My Ithaca with a smooth bore deer slayer barrel can shoot the Brenneke 1 1/8 oz. Foster (rifled) slugs into a 3 inch circle at 80 yards. Each gun is different, buy a few different brands and shoot at your expected hunting range. The slugs should give you enough knock down power if you put them where you're aiming. Good luck.

 

[Jagermeister]

Why not spring in for a fully rifled barrel? I have an 870 that does great with a 20" rifled slug barrel. You will have a chance to use that barrel later, even if you have a rifle. There is plenty of hunts that are "shotgun only".

Keep it with the harder bullets, don't go with a deer, all lead slug. Penetration is important on the pigs.

George

 

[Rancho Loco]

If you can hit a pie plate at 50 yards with a "regular" slug out of a smooth bore, you'll kill pigs very nicely.

 

[bjake21]

George - The reason I was looking at a rifled choke is the cost, much less than a rifled barrel. I am looking for a temporary solution to get me out in field while I save for a rifle. I am graduating college soon

and still a poor student, lol. Also like to save up for a guided hunt, but for now sticking to the Los Padres NF since it is so close to me and you can't beat the price.

I am thinking about getting one of those savage packages, seem pretty reasonably priced, not a lot of flash but have heard very good things about their accuracy.

Slowpoke - what kind of distances are you comfortable with taking a pig with your shotgun? I know you need to get close and it may be difficult, but right now I am not after filling my tag every weekend but instead just getting out there every weekend.

I plan on getting to the range on Saturday with some different slugs to test out their performance out of my 870.

 

[slowpoke]

bjake21,bjake21
The farthest I’ve shot a pig with slugs was around 50 to 60 yards. It was a 220 +/- lb sow running towards me. 1 20 gauge slug penetrated her full length and just knocked her down. This was with a open choke shot gun and no sights other than the little brass bead. This is about as far as I feel comfortable shooting with no sights. I tried to shoot a small boar crossing about the same distance and shot pretty far behind it. Much more lead is required than with a rifle. If money is tight I wouldn’t even really worry about getting a rifled choke, but that is just my opinion. Have fun

 

[bjake21]

Slowpoke - I just got back from a local gun shop and they said the same thing about a rifled choke. They said the difference between a rifled choke w/ a sabot type slug and a rifled slug with a smoth bore wouldn't be very noticable, plus the sabot slugs are much more $$.

I am going to go out early tomorrow, see what I can find as far as pigs, sign, or potential. I will also be keeping my eyes open for turkeys or sign since the spring season is close.

 

[wrhinehart]

This is a good discussion.

I'm a serious bird hunter.

I'm hunting for Turkeys and the properties are noted for hogs.
I can change ammo quickly.

I have a 12 gauge with several different sized choke tubes. It is a 30" smooth bore.

What do you suggest if I am Turkey hunting with a VERY TIGHT EXTENDED CHOKE TUBE?



Sabot?
00 buck?
Forget it with a .655?

 

[Speckmisser]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

What do you suggest if I am Turkey hunting with a VERY TIGHT EXTENDED CHOKE TUBE?



Sabot?
00 buck?
Forget it with a .655?[/b]

WR,

First of all.. forget the 00buck. As I found out, fortunately before the warden did, it ain't legal in CA except in specifically designated areas. Slugs only for big game.

Next, if you're shooting super tight choke, then get a pistol and forget about slugs. Most firearms and ammo manufacturers will recommend strongly against forcing a slug through a tightly choked barrel. I've shot them from a full-choked gun, and can't say I noticed any damage... but maybe I was lucky.

 

[Franklin3]

Ive taken a number of hogs with 12ga slugs out of my old remington side by side smooth bore with full choke. None of the newer sabot slugs although I have purchased a couple boxes to try out this year. My experience has been that I have never taken a shot greater than about 60yds with the majority coming in at 10 to 15yds. In these situations one shot has done the trick on all the game.
I really enjoy hunting hogs with a shotgun and I am certain you will too>
Welcome to JHO and good luck!

 

[Jagermeister]

I would just take a nice handgun and not try to force a slug through a turkey choke. The most I'd put a slug through would be a modified choke.

Here is your chance to take along a nice .357 and up. Actuall, for bigger porkers you are looking at a .44 mag or even a 454 Casull or a .50 caliber.

George

 

[Speckmisser]

Hey Franklin,

Those sabots are really made for performance out of a rifled barrel. Don't reckon it's gonna hurt your gun any, but if you're looking for performance improvement over rifled slugs in a smoothbore, you'll probably be disappointed. But heck... nobody ever learned except by trying something everyone else told them not to do. Let me know if it works out.

Like I said, I've shot slugs from full-choked smoothbores, including my old Stevens 311, and didn't see any firearm damage. But as I've gotten older, I tend to listen a little more to the 'smiths and engineers who say it's not a good idea. Kinda like hevi-shot through an older scattergun... I'm sure it'll be fine, but if the experts say, "no," then why take chances on ruining your favorite fowling piece?

No law against toting a sidearm when you're hunting birds or turkeys, especially if you have a pig tag in your pocket. That's always my choice.

 

[Franklin3]

Speckmisser:
I agree that's why I don't use this gun for birds.
I got a nice Benelli SBE for that. I've been looking for a rifled slug barrel for this gun on the web. (GunsAmerica/ GunBroker.com) Problem I found is there don't seem to be any available in anything but new condition and they run over 4bills just for the barrel. I've taken a dozen or more hogs with the smoothbore and I beleive my dad probably took at least that many with the gun before I got it through 40+ years of use it seems none the worse for the wear. Maybe them experts your talking to are really salesmen?

 

[Speckmisser]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

Maybe them experts your talking to are really salesmen?[/b]

That's always a possibility. Like I said, I'm no paragon of gun care virtue myself... but I've lately decided to err on the side of caution when it comes to taking chances with my favorite tools.

But anyway, in light of WR's original question, that .655" turkey choke is a heck of a lot tighter than the factory full on your old side-by-side, which means he'd really be pushing his luck by forcing a .73 or .72" hunk of lead or copper through it.

 

[Franklin3]

Point well made Speckmisser.