Bountyhunter

What kind of accuracy can I expect from slugs? Will these things reach out further than the #4 shot and be accurate? Would a slug be better than buck shot on deer?

Johngoboom

A slug would most definitively be better for deer. A slug in a smooth bore should be capable of 80-100 yard accuracy. Remember in hunting an 8" group is acceptable for whitetails. Just keeping moving back, as long as you can keep it in a pie plate, a 1 oz slug is going to have enough energy to do the job when it gets there.

While 00 buck does work for deer, it's really not all that great at any distance over 20 yards. It just looses to much steam to fast to really put them down fast. Yotes are a lot smaller, so don't worry about that though.

XLCH

I do believe you should change that Turkey choke if you are going to use slugs.

tx gun runner

Your mouser gun is 5 x better that a shotgun for yotes or deer . Your Redhawk is far better at slug range and more accurate too boot .

Johngoboom

TN, I can tell you don't live in a shotgun only area for deer season. A 12 gauge with a one ounce slug at a 100 yards in a not that big of deal. For a .45 Redhawk that is really starting to push things, and you better be darn good with handgun.

BH, but Danny is right on the money, don't be shooting slugs with a turkey choke. Mod is about at tight at you want to go with a slug.

Bountyhunter

Where's a good place to get chokes? Are they universal or do I shop by brand?

That #4 shot will be fine for coyotes out to probably 40 yards. I shot it at 30 and it did some damage to the target. I didn't like the 00 buck shot. I think it's iffy at 30 yards, and doubt it would be any good further than that. I'm thinking red dot and slugs for deer.


Gunrunner, my Redhawk has a 3.5" barrel and no scope. I doubt very much that it would be better than a shot gun with slug. I can't use a center fire rifle in a few of the areas I hunt, so it's shot gun or bow for me.

Johngoboom

You can get chokes at just about any good sized shooting store. Make sure the choke is correct for gauge, and also that it is a compatible with Mossberg / Winchester/ or Weatherby as they all use the same style of chokes.

The extended choke tubes are worth the extra money BTW as they help protect the threads and the relatively thin steel at the end of the barrel from getting dinged, they also pattern a little bit better as well, because the choke is more parallel than a shorter tube.

If you're going to get just one, Modified is a good choice. You might actually have better results with your OO and a more open choke as sometimes those big pellets of buck don't like to get squished down to much in the choke. Generally you can tighten down the smaller bird shot and extend your range with more choke, but not with buck.

Johngoboom

Hey, I just did some more looking in the cabela's book. It looks like the Mossberg 835/935 are not compatible with the Mossberg 500 chokes. The 500 chokes are the ones that are compatible with win and weatherby.

I think you can order chokes right through Mossberg too.

Bountyhunter

Thanks for the info, John. I'll have to look for a modified for the slugs. I'll try the 00 thru it too.

JOHNNY WACKO

My ass hole friend that I'm fighting with,took my moss 500 and hit a coke can 3 times off hand at 200 yards 3 out of 3.It had a 2 1/2 by 4 scope on it.But i was shocked.I did 1 of 3 o shot 2.They were The cheapest slugs wally world had on stock + on sale too..Forgot the name..

Bountyhunter

That's the brand I'll be using, Johnny. Cheap.

tx gun runner

Your right I never lived in a shotgun only area . I got 6 boxes of slugs left and deer are safe over 50 yds in all 3 of my shotguns . I shot pistol silhouette for over 10 yrs and 200 yds with a wheel gun is a piece of cake on deer , our rams at 200 yds are 1/2 the size of a deer .

Johngoboom

You might be able to hit them at 200 yards, but how much energy do they still have when those bullets get there. A cheap Winchester slug leaves the barrel at 1600 fps and weighs 437.5 grains. That's heavier than almost any revolver bullet out there. The .500 smith can beat it, but not to many can. Certainly it wouldn't be ethical to hunt with a .45 LC at 200 yards. After all, knocking down a ram isn't the same a killing a deer.

Machinist

A heavy load in .45 Colt or .44 Magnum should go right through a deer at 200 yards if you can hit it. Elmer Keith killed a deer at 600 yards with a 4" .Mod 29.

And don't forget the great 700 yard outhouse shootup.

Shotgun slugs lose velocity fast. That is why they are mandated in those areas.

Johngoboom

1. Elmer Keith most shooters ain't.

2. Elmer loaded his rounds way hotter than SAMI specs. His favorite load for a .44 SPECIAL was 24 grains of 2400 behind a 240 grain bulllet.

3. I know a guy that poached a deer around here with a .17 HMR, the deer is dead, but that doesn't make it an ethical caliber for deer hunting.

4. A shotgun slug does loose velocity fast, compared to a centerfire RIFLE.

Machinist

1- I said "if you can hit it". I was discussing penetration. Marksmanship does not increase penetration.

2- I don't think his 4" at 600 yards was so much faster that a more moderate load would not do the same at 200 yards. Do you? The bullets went all the way through or lodged inside the skin of the far side.

3-A .44 magnum or .45 Colt is far removed from a .17 rimfire. What is the point?

4- 250 grain .44 vs 437 grain 12 gauge.

75% more weight

2.88 times the cross sectional area.

Think it might slow down faster?

--The old black powder .45 Colts and .44-40s killed a lot of men and horses at 200 yards and up.

Johngoboom

I had a great reply all laid out, but then I deleted it all. What's the point? You and TN both don't hunt.

Machinist

Wow! I'm just totally pwned. That is the kind of concise and conclusive argument that makes you such a feared opponent in a debate. Congratulations, Sir.

Johngoboom

I'm not going to, and nor do I want to debate with you Mac...I was trying to help Shawn. You two don't need help with deer hunting in areas where you can't use a center fire rifle...For one you don't live in those areas, and two you don't hunt. Enjoy your evening and get on with life.

tx gun runner

I got my deer last year with my 50 cal flinter , I post pic . My 44-40 Rossi has killed 3 deer here in Tn . My Marlin 39A has killed over 200 rats at the Philly dump and over 60 Jack's and can't guess how many ground squirrels in Ca . My 308 XP100 has killed over 30 yotes and most of them was over 300 yds . Dove hunting in the desert of El Central ca opening day a auto loader like 1100 Remy is a must , 50 dove is easy in a day . I do enjoy hunting , but shooting in any type of matches is my 1st love . I hate cleaning game and fish , so I don't keep fish or shoot anything eatable unless I give them to someone .