Slugs

So I recently had to sell my rifle to pay some bills. Now all I have is a 22 magnum and two 12ga shotguns. I would like to know all of my options. One shotgun is an old 60's pump from sears. The other is a Remington 1187. Has anyone had any experience with shooting slugs? I would like to have my 1187 loaded with slugs and my pump loaded with shot. I have different chokes for the 1187. I don't hunt so this is self defence/ shooting range/ zombies. I have never shot a slug in my life. What do I need to know? Ammo suggestions? What choke? How straight does it shoot? Is it like a rifle or is it only good for close range?

 

http://www.theboxotruth.com/the-box-o-truth-46-shotgun-slugs-sabots-and-smooth-bore-barrels/
Good article.
I personally would only shoot slugs through a cylinder bore choke.

 

My 11-87 runs 00 Buckshot in the tube and I keep two slugs on a saddle on the port side. I know my spread/pattern well enough to know that if an engagement goes beyond about 20-25yds I'm dropping in a slug and can engage consistently to about triple digits. I consider myself to be proficient with a shotgun but one of my shotguns would likely be the last go to for a HD type situation. There are far better options and while a 12ga can be a devastating weapon in the right hands it's still harder to drive than other options and as such I'd suggest saving your allowance and buying an AR15 as you will likely learn with practice that it's just a better platform for most applications and especially if we're talking HD. With enough practice you can use a shotgun but I would suggest saving up your allowance and getting an AR15 again or maybe even using a handgun for HD situations. Before anyone says anything every single firearm type requires aiming and being away of your background when deployed for HD situations so let's not start that old urban legend debate.

 

My bedside gun is a 1911. I really just want different options. I shot trap in highschool so I am sure that I can hit a moving target with my shotgun. My rifle and 45 have only been used shooting paper. I really want a rifle too but it is just not happening for a while financially. Heck, I'd like several! Is your barrel rifled? I just looked and mine is not.

 

Good to know. I didn't even think about checking the BOT! I haven't looked at them in a year or two. Thanks for the reminder!

 

Run slugs through all 3, lots of fun.

 

My bedside it a Glock 17. I have over 30k+ rounds through that particular handgun so to say I know it well is an understatement. Personally, I feel like a handgun you're familiar with is the best possibly option for 99% of HD situations for various reasons. If there's a horde coming through my front door that 23rds of 9mm can't deter then I will fight to a rifle.. likely a shorty AR15 possibly my 300blk setup. Hitting a moving target with your 12ga (nobody in your house is going to be as small or fast as bluerock) isn't as important as knowing how to manipulate in stressful situations and, maybe more important, being able to use the thing in very tight situations. That's the largest negative to using a 12ga for HD IMHO and it's tough to make up for that one even with gobs of training. I get what you're saying about finances which is why I offered my opinion on making what you have as effective as possible in the meantime but meant what I said about saving up your allowance to get back to a more effective option when possible.

I don't own any rifled shotguns... all smooth bore.

 

Oh, I agree with you about home defence I live in an apartment so I wouldn't have room to manoeuvre. I just want options. More tools. Take a riot for example. My wife and kid and me run out the back door while they tear up my truck but I'm not bringing just my pistol. How would slugs be in a situation like that?

 

Again, the use of slugs is really only better than 00 when engaging to further distances. Knowing your particular shotgun's pattern at various distances will tell you at what distance the use of slugs is advantageous over 00.

 

Cool. I guess I will have to get some and try it out. That's what I was looking for was a farther effectiveness. Any brand recommendations?

 

Meh, not really. The problem is that the delivery system is still a shotgun which is a smooth bore tube of ham-fisted destruction. It's not a precision instrument and by nature uses 'accuracy by volume' as it's primary method of delivery. The minor differences from one projectile manufacturer to the next will largely be lost on all but the most experienced of shooters and rare would be the situation where it would actually make a measurable difference in final effect on target.

 

I run Slug, Buckshot, Slug, Buckshot, etc in my 870.

 

This is terrible advice.

 

https://youtu.be/t8fmhpy0z1U

 

Why may I ask? I'm not shooting Sabots. Should have been more specific.

 

...and queue the Dragon's Breath miracle ammo posts. ROFL

If you like turning your self defense weapon into a jamo-matic w/less effective stopping power then go right ahead.

Like I've said in other threads: there's no such thing as a magic round.

 

Why would you is the question?

 

You don't answer a question with another one...C'mon!!

I do it shooting at various targets...milk jugs, watermelons, stuff like that. Just for fun shooting shit up. Don't do it all the time.

 

You're the one with the 'outside the box thinking' so you should tell us what the purpose is.

If you're just shooting inanimate objects in your back yard you can shoot cut shells, rock salt, sectioned rattle snake hand carved to fit the bore just so.. I don't really give a shit. This thread, however, is about home defense specifically so just dropping a 'candy cane' or 'Dutch loads' reference w/o any context is dangerous to anyone reading who might think that's a wise approach to HD when it's anything but.

 

No mention of Home Defense by OP.

I know my guns & how they pattern intimately and am quite comfortable running this pattern in a home defense scenario. Your experiences may vary. We can agree to disagree.

I'm not recreating the Home Defense firearm thread here.