I recently purchased Remington 11-87 in 12 gauge.  The gun has a 21 inch rifled barrel.  I was looking for a recommendation for sabot slugs.  I know that guns shoot differently, but I am looking for a start.  I am mainly using it for deer, but may use it for bear.

Thank you for your help

I am no expert by any stretch of the imagination (do not even own a slug gun with rifled barrel), but if rifled barrels on shotguns are like any other gun (including smooth bores) different guns like different loads.

Therefore, I suggest you go to your ammo supplier and by two or three boxes of each kind they have. Go to the range and shoot for groups. That means shoot from the bench with a solid rest. You are not trying to practice for field conditions, you are only trying to see what the gun and ammo combination is capable of. IMO you need to shoot at least two 3 shot groups with each kind of ammo and then evaluate the results. The one that shoots the tightest groups would be the best or the one that shoots good enough groups for the type of ranges you will be hunting at a reasonable price may be the best for you.

Do not waste your time "sighting" it in until you find the ammo that gives you the best group or the one that is good enough for the price of the ammo. Then sight the gun in for that ammo and field positions.

BTW this thread may take on a life of its own over how many groups you need and how many shots per group. I recommend the six shots in two 3 shot groups because slug guns tend to kick hard and are not "fun" to shoot at the range.

jack

Don't know about the 11-87 but I have a 870 slug gun that love's 3in Remington copper solids shoots under 2in. at 100 yards

My 930 like Hornady SST but I like the Brenneke KO sabots the best. You,ve got to try a few out. Wifes family all like Winchester partition golds I think is what they are.

First before you start fooling around with $$$$$$ sabots try Super X 1oz foster slugs. They are cheap and can be as accurate as a sabot. Another advantage is lead fouling cleans out easier than plastic. I can hit a bowling pin consistantly at 100yds. Pretty much blows them to splinters. When rifled shotgun barrels first hit the scene there weren't any saboted slugs so we shot what we got and plenty of deer were not happy with the results!

gutpile I have known guys to do shoot foster slugs out of rifled barrel, but I can't figure out how lead fouling is easier to clean then plastic. I usually have my rifled barrel cleaned with about 10 patches when shooting sabots. When I shoot foster slugs in a smooth bore I sometime go thru 80 patches and still not happy and that is using a stainless tornado brush. If you have a easy way that you use to clean this I would love to know.

Thank you everyone.

Jack,

At what distance would you start shooting.  I normally start at 25 years to make sure I hit the paper.  Is that too close to test the grouping?


Ed