Setting up a smooth bore for slugs

Well, I am planning to deer hunt in MN 3B this year. I have hunted MN 1A all my life with a rifle so this year I am going to set up my shot gun (Beretta 391 Extrema) and have a few questions:
I am going to mount a scope using a B-Square mount. Is there another I should consider?

What scopes have you had success with that are at or under the $100 range?

Ammo, I plan to shoot my smooth bore. What is best scenario?
With my cylinder choke should I use a rifled slug? If so who make a good cartridge?
Should I use a rifled choke tube? If so who makes a good cartridge?

Thank you in advance for your input.

B-Square mounts move sometimes. They are not always the best solutions If you could get a cantiliver barrel. That way the barrel and the scope are together and it never can lose it’s zero.

As for scopes the 1.5-4.5 by 32 bushnell trophy is really nice for slug guns. They are about $70.

As for the slugs go to Fleet Farm, Gander, ect. Buy at least 5 different kinds and patteren all of them to find out which ones gives you the besst groups.

B-Square mounts move sometimes. They are not always the best solutions If you could get a cantiliver barrel. That way the barrel and the scope are together and it never can lose it’s zero.

As for scopes the 1.5-4.5 by 32 bushnell trophy is really nice for slug guns. They are about $70.

As for the slugs go to Fleet Farm, Gander, ect. Buy at least 5 different kinds and patteren all of them to find out which ones gives you the besst groups.

I would highly suggest buying a rifled barrel if you buy a cantilever barrel. I have a 11-87 with a remington rifled barrel that I use in Iowa and I love it. I tried the smooth barrel the first year and was disappointed with the groupings. I did not try several brands like HighCap suggested. I put a rifled barrel on and was very, very happy. I was shooting Federal Barnes Expanders and had some really good groupings. I know you can get a rifled barrel for around $200. A little expensive but well worth it in my book. Hope this helps.

I would highly suggest buying a rifled barrel if you buy a cantilever barrel. I have a 11-87 with a remington rifled barrel that I use in Iowa and I love it. I tried the smooth barrel the first year and was disappointed with the groupings. I did not try several brands like HighCap suggested. I put a rifled barrel on and was very, very happy. I was shooting Federal Barnes Expanders and had some really good groupings. I know you can get a rifled barrel for around $200. A little expensive but well worth it in my book. Hope this helps.

Yeah, I considered a new rifled barrel but is would cost $200+. If I were to invest on a barrel I might as well consider a new 870 slug gun. At this point I am just trying out a new area of the state I have never hunted and am not ready to commit to new/specialized equipment until I try it first.

Yeah, I considered a new rifled barrel but is would cost $200+. If I were to invest on a barrel I might as well consider a new 870 slug gun. At this point I am just trying out a new area of the state I have never hunted and am not ready to commit to new/specialized equipment until I try it first.

I hear you. I forgot to ask if this was going to be a annual thing. If you are not sure I would stick with the rifled slugs. If you choose to hunt down there every year I would go with a rifled barrel. Another thing, have you scouted this land? How long of a shot will you get. The poor thing about rifled slugs is they are pretty spread out at 100 yds. I think you will do just fine.

I hear you. I forgot to ask if this was going to be a annual thing. If you are not sure I would stick with the rifled slugs. If you choose to hunt down there every year I would go with a rifled barrel. Another thing, have you scouted this land? How long of a shot will you get. The poor thing about rifled slugs is they are pretty spread out at 100 yds. I think you will do just fine.

I have not slug hunted in about 7 years. However, my Ithaca worked best using regular Federal Rifled slugs. I do have a smooth bore slug barrel, so that might help.

Again, I haven’t slug hunted in years, so I’m best person to ask I guess. Good Luck!

I have not slug hunted in about 7 years. However, my Ithaca worked best using regular Federal Rifled slugs. I do have a smooth bore slug barrel, so that might help.

Again, I haven’t slug hunted in years, so I’m best person to ask I guess. Good Luck!

When I used to hunt with a “punkin’ thrower” I used to use Brenneke Slugs. They seemed to pattern the best for me. I could get a 4″ grouping at 100yds out of my 12ga Mossberg 500. The other slugs that are more affordable if you sling a lot of lead are the Federal or Winchester Rifled slugs. I would never EVER use Remington slugs…they were wortless out past 30yds.

When I used to hunt with a “punkin’ thrower” I used to use Brenneke Slugs. They seemed to pattern the best for me. I could get a 4″ grouping at 100yds out of my 12ga Mossberg 500. The other slugs that are more affordable if you sling a lot of lead are the Federal or Winchester Rifled slugs. I would never EVER use Remington slugs…they were wortless out past 30yds.

I bought a B-Square mount last year for my Winchester, and I didn’t have any troubles with it moving on me. Just make sure the screws are snug and then check them to make sure they haven’t started to unscrew and you wont have any troubles with it. I checked mine everyday and they never once loosened on me and the mount stayed right where it was supposed to. For the scope, I got a Bushnell Trophy red dot scope. I sighted it in at 50 yards because I rarely have any shot over that.

I have a smoothbore and shoot Remington Slugger rifled slugs. At 50 yards from a rest, I can shoot tight groups without any trouble.

I dropped 4 deer with that set-up last year and would recommend going that route to anyone that doesn’t want to commit to a new barrel. (I looked into a cantilever barrel, but was too spendy. Maybe someday)

Good luck with your decision

I bought a B-Square mount last year for my Winchester, and I didn’t have any troubles with it moving on me. Just make sure the screws are snug and then check them to make sure they haven’t started to unscrew and you wont have any troubles with it. I checked mine everyday and they never once loosened on me and the mount stayed right where it was supposed to. For the scope, I got a Bushnell Trophy red dot scope. I sighted it in at 50 yards because I rarely have any shot over that.

I have a smoothbore and shoot Remington Slugger rifled slugs. At 50 yards from a rest, I can shoot tight groups without any trouble.

I dropped 4 deer with that set-up last year and would recommend going that route to anyone that doesn’t want to commit to a new barrel. (I looked into a cantilever barrel, but was too spendy. Maybe someday)

Good luck with your decision

It all depends on how good of a shot you are.

For example, my father of 82 years can take his old Model 12, with a single brass bead and drop a running doe @ 100 yards every time. His longest shot was 175 yards at a running buck. He don’t miss. He shoots Remington 3″ rifled slugs. Don’t ask me how he does it, but he has an unbelieveable eye for shooting.

I, with the same gun, struggle at 100 yards and I do consider myself an “above average” shooter with records to back it up.

I shoot an 870 Wingmaster with a Hastings Cantilever scope mount, 4x Simmons.

If you are going to restrict yourself to only shooting smooth bore, then focus your attention on Brenneke, Remington, Federal, Winchester slugs.

If you scope mount, I would zero at 50 yards. Your longest daring shot for the average shooter with rifled slugs shouldn’t be much more than 75 yards, with 100 yards pushing the limits. Again, for the average shooter.

My opinion is that since you will be limited on the rifled slugs, I would be a little hesitant dropping $100 to $150 in a scope and mount. Try shooting the slugs with the beads on the barrel and see how you do!!!

Especially if you are hunting woodland, most of your shots in the woods won’t be over 30 to 50 yards. You really don’t need a scope for it. If you are hunting field edges, then it can be a different story. Here, you may be left watching deer (even a super buck) walk away @ 150 yards or 200 yards because they are “out of range”. If you are hunting open land, then go with the scope and focus @ zeroing at 75 yards, if you are a good shot, focus @ 100 yards.

The old saying is that you should be able to hit a slug box @ 100 yards with a scope at the range.

As for which slug? In rifled slugs, each barrel performs a bit differently. Try the 4 manufactures I mentioned above in different slug sizes and see how they perform in your gun. I would probably rank Brenneke as one of the best in accuracy and distance performance over the rest.

It all depends on how good of a shot you are.

For example, my father of 82 years can take his old Model 12, with a single brass bead and drop a running doe @ 100 yards every time. His longest shot was 175 yards at a running buck. He don’t miss. He shoots Remington 3″ rifled slugs. Don’t ask me how he does it, but he has an unbelieveable eye for shooting.

I, with the same gun, struggle at 100 yards and I do consider myself an “above average” shooter with records to back it up.

I shoot an 870 Wingmaster with a Hastings Cantilever scope mount, 4x Simmons.

If you are going to restrict yourself to only shooting smooth bore, then focus your attention on Brenneke, Remington, Federal, Winchester slugs.

If you scope mount, I would zero at 50 yards. Your longest daring shot for the average shooter with rifled slugs shouldn’t be much more than 75 yards, with 100 yards pushing the limits. Again, for the average shooter.

My opinion is that since you will be limited on the rifled slugs, I would be a little hesitant dropping $100 to $150 in a scope and mount. Try shooting the slugs with the beads on the barrel and see how you do!!!

Especially if you are hunting woodland, most of your shots in the woods won’t be over 30 to 50 yards. You really don’t need a scope for it. If you are hunting field edges, then it can be a different story. Here, you may be left watching deer (even a super buck) walk away @ 150 yards or 200 yards because they are “out of range”. If you are hunting open land, then go with the scope and focus @ zeroing at 75 yards, if you are a good shot, focus @ 100 yards.

The old saying is that you should be able to hit a slug box @ 100 yards with a scope at the range.

As for which slug? In rifled slugs, each barrel performs a bit differently. Try the 4 manufactures I mentioned above in different slug sizes and see how they perform in your gun. I would probably rank Brenneke as one of the best in accuracy and distance performance over the rest.

Thanks for all of your input

Thanks for all of your input