Cant decide....................

[johnnybravoo77]

  Current setup is Rem 870 express 12g, synthetic stock, 20in imp cyl smoothbore slug barrel with a Truglo 2x red dot sight mounted on a b-square mount. Right now max range is about 65-75 yards using cheap win fosters, but.......... I got a 1.75-4 Bushnell Dusk till dawn 6in eye relief scope for Christmas. The truglo put me out of the woods 20 mins before hunting time ends, so I'm hoping the scope will keep me out a bit longer.
Where I currently hunt, 75yds was max, and I'm confident the scope will get me consistant at that range, then my buddy throws in a monkey wrench; wants me to hunt with him and his Dad on a bunch of farmland, wide open fields, a lot of deer(big bucks as well). Still shotgun only territory, with rifle distance shots.
So being limited to 75yds, and would like to double that,I'm now thinking of selling the smooth bore and getting a rifled barrel, or an h&r, or ................
So keeping in mind a budget of around 200-250max, keeping the current scope, which way should I go? I prefer having the extra shots of the pump, but love hearing about some great groups with the h&r. If I get a barrel for the 870, which one? And do I go with cantilever, or keep the b-square, shim or pin the barrel, etc, etc. I appreciate any suggestions.
By the way, weight and recoil do not bother me, accuracy and budget are my biggest concerns.

[cwlongshot]

I am about as staunch Rem 870 supporter as you will find. I have a bunch of them and even more barrels...
 
Years ago, when the barrels first came out, I spent nearly 300$ on that fancy cantalever rifled barrel. Only to get 2-3" 100 yard groups with 15$ a box ammo.... While at the the range a guy set up with a H&R shotgun... I watched him shoot into nearly one hole at both 50 and 100 yards. I started talking to him and he let me shoot it a bit. It was heavy, but the weight handled the recoil very well and man did it shoot!! Once he told me the price I was sold! I went directly to the gun store and I ordered one! about a week later I too had one. I mounted up a scope and headed to the range. Mine shot just as well as his did!!!! My buddie was with me and I passed on the "favor".. with in a month he had one too!!
Now I have two a 12 and a 20Ga and they both shoot great!
I sold off that rifled barrel and it paid for the rifle and most of the scope and mounts!!!
 

 
This one dosen't need 15 or 20$ a box shells to shoot knot holes either!!


GO FOR THE H&R ULTRA SLUG HUNTER!!
 
CW

[Foggy]

What  CW said   best dollar value for a slug gun
 
Foggy
 

[johnnybravoo77]

Thanks guys, this is the way I've been leaning. I can sell the smooth slug barrel (still have regular 28in bead barrel), and maybe the original wood stock set for 870 and finance at least half of an h&r. If I can hoard a little of my tax return, I could be shooting in a month or so.

[WNY_Whitetailer]

What  CW said   best dollar value for a slug

I agree...

Sent from my ADR8995 using Tapatalk

[LanceR]

Personally, I want a dedicated slug gun since I want centerfire rifle accuracy from it.  While I shoot a Savage 220 slug rifle the H&R is one heck of a value and I've never seen one that is not a great shooter. 

I'd recommend a 20 gauge gun.  Deer just don't need all that much killing.  There's a NIB 20 gauge Ultra-Slug on Gunbroker right now with a $199 buy-it-now.  That is one darn good value.

Good luck.

Lance

[Lon371]

 I agree with the Ultra Slug. But I am not so sure on 200 to 250 yard shot at a deer with a shotgun slug Consistanly. At least I don't know of anyone around our area that can do it.
 
Lonny

[blind ear]

for now you could just hunt hwere it is thick and the deer live. the range will be short. the fields have woods around them, squeezes and feeds. ear

[SHOOTALL]

if ya want accy and follow up shots think Savage 210 or the new 20 ga.

[tacklebury]

I like the H&R Slug guns, but if you need follow-up, these look pretty cool for a decent price also.  About $70 bucks under the synthetic savages. 
 
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/909/products_id/68535/Shotguns/Crickett+Firearms/CRICKETT%2016110%2020GA%20WALNUT%20FR%20BL/
 
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/973/products_id/64356/Shotguns/Savage-Stevens/Savage%20220%20SLUG%20GUN%2020GA%2022/quot;/
 

[johnnybravoo77]

I agree with the Ultra Slug. But I am not so sure on 200 to 250 yard shot at a deer with a shotgun slug Consistanly. At least I don't know of anyone around our area that can do it.
 
Lonny

Certainly wont be shooting these distances, just trying to get to the 125-150 mark.

[johnnybravoo77]

tac, the crickett looks interesting, their website said they have a smoothbore with interchangable choke tubes, and a rifled version. I think your link is the smoothbore, this is the link to the rifled version(bit more cash). I think the the H&R is my best bet, I'll still have the 870 for short yardage as well.

[tacklebury]

The smoothbore with multiple choke tubes might not be quite as tight on groups but quite practical for multiple things, but the rifled would probably be a better way to go for a dedicated slug gun. 

[cwlongshot]

I agree with the Ultra Slug. But I am not so sure on 200 to 250 yard shot at a deer with a shotgun slug Consistanly. At least I don't know of anyone around our area that can do it.
 
Lonny

Certainly wont be shooting these distances, just trying to get to the 125-150 mark.

The way my USH shoots I would not hesitate one second at a open 200 yard shot.
CW

[dannyfro]

CW how much difference in recoil do you notice between the 12 gauge and the 20 gauge?

Dan

[eye shot]

Get a Hastings rifled barrel for the 870 and epoxy it to the reciever and it will shoot just as good as any USH. Alot lighter, mutipul shots, and alot less felt recoil IMO. I have both and don't let anybody fool you the 870 or 1100 will shoot just as good if not better than an USH and the Rem's will fire every time. My USH has had several misfires.

[cwlongshot]

Get a Hastings rifled barrel for the 870 and epoxy it to the receiver and it will shoot just as good as any USH. Alot lighter, multiple shots, and alot less felt recoil IMO. I have both and don't let anybody fool you the 870 or 1100 will shoot just as good if not better than an USH and the Rem's will fire every time. My USH has had several misfires.

I have to say I likely have had more hands on experience than most with the a Remington 870. I love them, I stake my life, the lives of my family on them with out a thought. I currently own 6, 12g variants and have four (more) police models. As well as sporting models in 16, 20, 28 and a 410 models in a couple "flavors" IE Wing-masters, Express, Special field and Special purpose models. Cantilever rifled, rifled with sites smooth with sites smooth with screw ins and sites. I  also have used the hastings barrel. Epoxying it to the receiver is something I have not thought of... I did play around with screwing the barrel to the receiver on my of my Police setups. I cannot say it made any difference...
NOT one shooting every slug I could buy even came close to what my USH will do with any, yes any Rem slug designed for a rifled barrel. I am not blowing smoke, I do not work for Remington I do not get a dime in monetary compensation for these claims. I do really love my 870's.

BUT my USH's both shoot far and away better then the best 870/ barrel combo. The literally shoot in one hole.

FTF problems are unfortunate but are not the way a gun is designed to work. Have the gun repaired. I have a "few" as do many guys here. It happens but is easily repaired and NOT something you need to put up with or expect from and H&R product.

I know full well every gun is different and I am sure there are 870's out there that will shoot very well but it is not the norm. They are not designed for accuracy. They are designed for reliability. The USH IS designed to accurately deliver slugs on target and it continually does this. Right outta the box. It's simply the correct "tool" for the job.

So for protection of life and property, I'll take my sidearm and a Remington 12GA. But for Hunting slug gun hunting or accurate shooting I'll use my USH.

CW

I do not find either offensive recoil wise. But BOTH of mine wear Limb Saver pads. I also removed the weight form both butt stocks. The 20 GA is less recoil and likely all that will ever be needed to shoot a whitetail.

[dannyfro]

I live in a shotgun unit and have been eying one for awhile now. Was thinking the 20 gauge thanks for your insight.

Dan