Can you shoot a slug through a full choke?

Question

I have an 870 with a full choke, but I took apart a winchester slug and it went right through the barrel. Is is okay if I shoot that specific kind of slug through it? Will it affect the accuracy??

Answer 1

As others have stated do not shoot slugs through a full choke. You can do it; but it’s very dangerous. It increases the pressures to dangerous levels. And it also causes metal fatigue. In other words you may get away with it several times then BOOM!
A full choke its good for tight patterns with bird shot and buck shot.

The slug may fit in the muzzle from a dissembled shell but that means little. You see when that slug takes off with soft lead it expands, (albeit slightly) but that little bit helps seal it against the .72 cal / 12 ga bore. The restriction of the full choke (less than bore) applies extreme pressure at that point.

And as far as accuracy is concerned it will suck.



UPDATE; I did some research on this question today. And if you are using Foster type slugs you can shoot them out of ANY choke barrel; "according" to the slug manufactures. But I got different answers from a gun manufacture.
Here is what Mossberg says;
http://www.mossberg.com/content.asp?ID=508§ion=resources
“Can I shoot slugs or buckshot through a "smoothbore" field barrel with Accu-Choke™ tubes? (500/505/535/9200/88/930 models)
Yes, and with sabots or rifled slugs, the more "open" the choke tube, the better the accuracy ("Improved Cylinder" recommended.) The "full" or "modified" choke tubes are preferred for buckshot loads. Slugs, buckshot and steel shot loads are not recommended for use with an extra full "turkey tube" installed, due to the tube's tight constriction. Do not fire any load without a choke tube installed, doing so will damage the internal choke tube threads.
Can I fire slugs through my 935™ or 835® vent rib, Accu-Mag® choke tube barrel?
No, 935™ and 835® field barrels (those with a ventilated rib) are "overbored," and the extra inside diameter may cause the projectile to "wobble" producing unreliable accuracy. A projectile may wedge inside the barrel causing an obstruction. Obstructions of any kind can cause damage to the firearm resulting in damage to the barrel and/or personal injury to you or those around you. Dedicated fully rifled slug barrels are available for the 935™ and 835® models. Other 935™ and 835® Accu-Mag® choke tube notes: Buckshot and steel-shot loads are not recommended for use with an extra full turkey tube installed.
And this is what one slug manufacture has to say;
http://www.brennekeusa.com/web/text/faq.html
It seems some of their slugs can and some can not be shot thru a full choke.

And after searching the web; seems no one can agree on this.

Personally I will stick to not shooting slugs thru a full choke. Because years ago I watched a fellow shoot a slug through an old H&R Topper 12ga full choke and I could SEE the bulge of the slug travel down the barrel.
That was enough for me!

Answer 2

Slug Choke

Answer 3

If you have removable choke tubes, you need to use the improved cylinder tube for slugs. The Slug may damage the choke tube and threads. If the choke is fixed, like in many single shot shotguns, yes you can safely fire the foster style slugs through the full choke. I have an old H&R 20 ga. that is a factory full choke and has handled 100's of slugs without a problem. You may notice some heavier leadding at the muzzle though. But since most modern 870's have the choke tubes, either use the improved cylinder tube or purchase a slug barrell.

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Can you shoot a slug through a full choke?
I have an 870 with a full choke, but I took apart a winchester slug and it went right through the barrel. Is is okay if I shoot that specific kind of slug through it? Will it affect the accuracy??

Answer 5

Partially not true...
There are slug designs whereby thry are completely safe to shoot through full chokes: BRENNEKE designed his slug back in the 1890s' to shoot through ANY choke, including full.

* Go to the Brenneke web site and read their design history*.

Remember also that Foster style [hollow 'cup' shaped slugs] will bump up- expand- to full the diameter of the barrel by the time it goes 4"~6" down the barrel, long before it reaches the tightest portion of the choke.

Caveat #1: Do not shot through Extra Full, Turkey Full, Super Full, etc.

Caveat #2: Remember that full choke from the early 1900s' was tighter than full choke today. I have a couple doubles with F/M from 1910~1940 that are measurably tighter than full today, and I regularly shoot Brenneke slugs through both barrels.

Caveat #3: Al of the above factors in the presumption that you do not have an old Damascus barrel, the barrel(s) is/are not compromised, and the shotgun is completely safe to shoot.

Answer 6

Only slugs with soft lead and in emergency self defense or extreme survival situations just to be safe because if there is a weak spot from shooting slugs i would imagine that it would be at the period/area where it fully chokes off . People keep going back and fourth with weather this issue is dangerous or not, i do not trust it better safe than sorry and to have a gun v/r not having one is safer. 00 or 000 are all good rounds for defense or survival rounds you can use #4 bird shot also at close range max of 20 yards can ward an intruder off if your good. but slugs do penetrate a little further so if i were you i would not use that gun for target practice only for use with birdshot and buckshot only. They do sell soft slugs for all chokes you have to tell them you are shooting from a full choke and see what they say before doing anything.Not worth the worry or damage sorry!!! Just not worth it get one that shoots all if you can afford it.

Answer 7

Extra Full Choke

Answer 8

Many years ago I shot a slug thru my 20ga with full choke setting on Lyman Choke. Result: ruined choke. Gunsmith said I should have used Cyl or Imp Cyl setting. Expensive lesson.

Answer 9

Manufacturers recommend you only shoot rifled slugs using a improved cylinder Choke Only.* You will get maximum effective accuracy when doing so.*

Answer 10

dont shoot a rifled slug through a full choke unless you dont feel like having a face any more