I recently bought a Remington 870 Express Magnum. A coworker told me that if I want to shoot deer slugs, I will have to get a different barrel from the stock barrel. Is this true?
2007-10-19 15:09:23 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Hunting
As a Gunsmith, I can tell you that it depends on which stock barrel you got when you purchased your 870 Express Magnum. If you bought one that came with a Rem choke package of 3 screw in chokes,including an Improved Cylinder choke you are OK..If not then YES, you will need a different barrel. Rifled Slugs can only be effectively shot from an Improved Cylinder choked Shotguns. To attempt to shoot slugs from any shotgun that uses screw in chokes is asking for trouble, if shot thru any other choke than Improved Cylinder. Screw in choke style barrels are subject to high lead build up that can be so severe, you won't be able to unscrew the choke that you have mounted on the shotgun barrel. In addition they can cause barrel bulge and damage your barrel beyond repair.
Remington makes a great selection of both "Fully Rifled" Rifle Slug barrels as well as Smooth Bore Slug barrels with rifle sights that will fit your 870 Express Magnum. Even Mossberg is now producing Slug Barrels for your 870 Express, that are actually less expensive than the Remington brand barrels.......
Rule of Thumb.....Fully rifled barrels are designed to shoot the more accurate Sabot Slugs..Smooth Bore Slug Barrels can shoot regular rifled slugs, but are not quite as accurate as the Sabots, but regular slugs will not damage your smooth bore Improved Cylinder Barrel.........
2007-10-19 16:04:26 · answer #1 · answered by JD 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Depending on what barrel you got with the gun, and what type of slug you wish to use, the answer will vary. Basically you can shoot rifled slugs through a smooth bore barrel with either no choke or an improved cylinder choke. If you want increased accuracy, get a rifled slug barrel, which will allow you to shoot sabots and other accurate slugs. Chances are you have a smooth bore barrel on your express. Mine came with an 18" barrel with rifle sights for slug shooting. I purchased additional barrels from midwayusa.com so I could have a 28" choked bird barrel and a rifled barrel as well. The express is a great gun and makes for a very flexible platform. Good Luck and Good Shooting.
2007-10-21 16:24:50 · answer #2 · answered by mkonops 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aaron and Fang are dead on right. JD is more technically correct, but I'd still say you probably have a smooth bore barrel, so just shoot all the deer slugs you feel like. For sabot slugs, you will want a rifled barrel.
2007-10-21 00:39:28 · answer #3 · answered by figgypower 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No. I shoot rifled slugs out of my stock barrels. Now sabot slugs are more accurate and shoot faster and will not perfrom well in a smooth barrel, so get a rifled barrel for sabot slugs.
2007-10-20 19:04:40 · answer #4 · answered by Aaron 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If your gun has a screw in choke as it probably does, it is not reccomended for slug use, if you want to shoot highly accurate 100 yrd slugs then you will need to purchase a rifled barrell and shot sabot style slugs.. Good Luck
2007-10-20 22:26:28 · answer #5 · answered by roger c 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No,you don't need to buy a different barrel. If you are using a barrel with a smooth bore,use rifled slugs.If you are using a rifled barrel,use sabot slugs. Rifled slugs work in rifled barrels,but sabot slugs are more accurate.
I have a 12 gauge Remington 870 Express also.I use it for deer and bird hunting.It's an awesome gun!
2007-10-19 23:58:51 · answer #6 · answered by Fang 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
You don't want to shoot express solid slugs
through a choked barrel.
Reduced diameter sabot rounds are ok.
That said, dedicated 20" slug barrels are
available and not too expensive.
The barrel switch is pretty simple.
2007-10-20 14:53:19 · answer #7 · answered by Irv S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes and No...does your current barrel have a choke?
If so change out your choke to a improved cylinder. You should be able to shot a slug thru that choke.
I have a berretta A390 semi auto with a 28" bird barrel. I would change out the choke and shoot slugs for deer. Cheaper than a $250.00 slug barrel.
Now all I use is a 50 cal.
2007-10-19 22:20:27 · answer #8 · answered by braindamageblue 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Deer slugs can be fired through any barrel that doesn't have a screw-in or adjustable choke, but a slug barrel is best. If you don't have a slug barrel, an Improved Cylinder is next best.
2007-10-20 00:06:16 · answer #9 · answered by Answer Master Dude 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Barrels have different choke.
Your weapon probably has the Remington modified choke. The purpose of the choke is to keeps the shot together for greater accuracy - a smaller group. If you shoot slugs through this barrel, you'll gradually reduce the amount of choke, making the gun far less accurate when shooting shot. Meanwhile, as you are shooting a bigger hole in the end of your barrel, your slugs are being deformed and are losing much of their energy.
If you get yourself a slug barrel, you'll have a substantially better weapon for shooting slugs. And if you ever decide to stop shooting deer slugs, you can revert to the original barrel and have a good weapon for firing shot.
So no, you don't *have* to get a different barrel - but it'd be a very smart move. That's not the most expensive weapon in the world, but it's still a nice piece of worksmanship, and you ought to care for it.
2007-10-19 22:16:56 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋