200 yard slug gun?

[nkhunter]

I hesitate to even mention this--- I know I'll be flamed for taking what some consider a "unethical shot" I took a buck this year in Ohio with my bolt action rifled savage 12 gauge, topped with 2-7 leupold scope shooting 3" partitian golds at a confirmed 254 yards. We stepped it off at 256 and lasered at 254. This is the third whitetail and 2nd buck I've taken at 200+ yards with this gun/scope/combo with a standing calm target and a single shot. Very simple 3" high at 100 yards 6.5 low at 200 yards. I held on this last buck with "daylight" gap over the shoulder, squeezed, bang! scope comes back down and I watch the slug hit the buck in the heart. He does a little 15 yard circle death run and the show is over. FYI the 385 grain partitian penetrated completely and exited. Now on the other hand, my buddy has an identical setup gun/scope, but his HATES partitian gold slugs. Guess I got the luck of the draw. Every year when I partice at 300+ yards for my North Dakota rifle hunt, I drag out the slug gun and practice at 200 to 250 yards . This slug gun is a methodical machine. With a solid rest, unspooked game and perfect wind conditions it will perform at the EXTREME edge of slug shooting distances. And no, I'm sure that with a 870 or 11-87 others aren't experiencing this kind of accuracy or performance. You're comparing apples to oranges.  A Shotgun with a slug barrel screwed onto it vs a 12 Gauge slug shooting rifle platform, designed purely for shooting slugs. And it appears I bought the cream of the crop!

[kyelkhunter3006]

Good shot!  As for unethical, well, I don't think that it was.  Obviously, you've taken the time to gain skill and be proficient with your Savage.  I'd have no problem taking a shot like that with your set-up, provided that I've had the range/practice time that you've had.   As I've stated before, I don't see much difference between using a suitable slug gun/ammo and using a magnum muzzleloader for 200 yds shots, or even farther.  200 yard shots with slug guns is just the same as 400 yd shots with a rifle.  99% of  people have no reason to even try it, as they don't take the time to learn the gun and load, and how to be proficient with it.  It seems to me that you're in the 1% that do. 

[nkhunter]

Thanks for the compliment. I do take a lot of pride in my preparation and marksmanship. For the record I'm not some lead slinging slob gun hunter. I'm primarily a bowhunter that lays down my arrow slinger and enjoys the gun seasons also. FYI the Savage is one of the best values out there in slug gun technology. Very crisp tuneable trigger.  Very accurate barrels. And they are not just a medium or long range proposition. They shoulder and point incredibly naturally. Mine is literally an extension of my eye and hand. If I see a target still or running, I can shoulder the Savage and the leupold crosshairs are on the target. I shoot with both eyes open fyi. Nice little by product of having my left eye vision blurred a little by a detached retina surgery.

[kyelkhunter3006]

I shoot both eyes open too, also because of some damage to my left eye when I was probably 2-3 yrs old.  Not exactly sure how old I was.  Got a table fork in the eye, LONG story.  My eye can focus only on things that are really close, as in inches away.  Anything more than a foot away is blurry, not too much definition, but I can tell what it is.  I can correct the vision with glasses or contacts, but my right eye is so dominant that unless it's closed, I can't even tell the difference.  I do have glasses that I wear, but when I'm shooting, they don't seem to help much.  My buddies don't see how I can use a scope with both eyes open.

[usmc2111]

I think if you practice enough then anyone's range will increase. With my 870 I shot a doe at 165 lased. I think with a fixed barrel you can easily get out to 2-250 with a slug gun. I have Benelli smooth bores at work that will pattern 2-3in at 110 yards. And no nkhunter, that was not unethical. If I new my gun would do it then i would also.

[nkhunter]

My only complaint with that savage is the anemic recoil pad when shooting those a$$ kickin 3" partitian golds. I don't notice in the field, but man, from the bench, that's gotta be up there with a .416 or something?! Probably part of my detached retina problem I had.

[teddy12b]

Exactly why my 210F has a limbsaver on it.  With the new recoil pad it's tolerable, but it's still stout. 

[kyelkhunter3006]

According to a free recoil table I read, the 3" shells have the same or more free recoil as the bigger dangerous game rounds.  The "smallest" round that has the same recoil is a .416 Rigby , 400gr at 2400 fps in a 10 lb gun.  Then you are solidly into the hot .458 loads, and the Nitro Express rounds like the .470 and the .500/.465.  The heavy Weatherby loads have more recoil, but of course, their ammo is loaded to the gills too.  That's a lot of stompin' at both ends, for sure.  You could take the pad off the gun and load the butt of the stock with lead shot while you're shooting on the bench, more weight = less felt recoil.

[nkhunter]

Whew! I knew that thing kicked pretty healthy! As much as it beats me up at the bench, I'll never sell or trade it. However I am interested in which limbsaver pad did you put on it? For wood stocked? Fiberglassed? grind to fit?

[teddy12b]

I had a gunsmith put a limbsaver grind to fit on it.  I think just about any aftermarket recoil pad would work.  I've read good things about all of them but I have experience with limbsavers and they work well.  I shoot federal 3" barnes expanders out of my 210F and they pack a lot of recoil.

[kyelkhunter3006]

I had a limbsaver on a Winchester 1300 Turkey gun.  It weighed about 6.5lbs or so, and it kicked the snot out of you with 3" Mag turkey loads.  I could notice a big difference immediately between the limbsaver pad and the factory pad.

[ranchand99]

200yds is possible.I would not shoot that far,but it can be done.All you need is a fast twist (1:28) and a fast slug (1900-2100fps).The winchester 300gr XP3 is busting 2100fps...zeroed at 100yds it has 6.5" of drop at 175yds.If you sight it in 1.5-2" high at 100yds you will be in the money at 200yds.I know people who have to sight their gun in 2.5" high at 50yds just to hit 3" low at 125yds.They are shooting slow(1500fps),heavy slugs(1 1/4 oz),with 1:34 or 1:36 twist barrels.

With hunting restrictions being what they are now alot of guys that live in slug only states like Illinois are hunting big fields,and would like to know they can take a 200yd shot on a once in a lifetime buck.My omega can shoot 250yds with no problem,but I won't shoot it that far.I probably wouldn't take a shot over 150 with my slug gun,but that's me.

I am confused...I have heard people bragging about 4" at 100yds and now 4" at 200 is unacceptable?

[eye shot]

 200-yes and it's easy with the right combination of barrel, slug, and scope. I'm going to work on 300 next. I shot a couple hundred hand loaded slugs at 200 and ended up with 3-3 shot groups, 6"- 8"- 2 1/2" and all three had two rounds touching. Those being Lightfield Commander IDS 2 3/4- 1600fps with a 1 in 34 twist Hastings 1100 Rem. I used a Burris hand gun scope 2x7x32 BDC that mounts on the barrel not a cantilever. The BDC is key because once you find the right hash mark it's like shooting at 100. It's not how fast the twist is it's matching the right ammo to it. At 300 the range had I think a 2'x4' boiler plate and could wack it every time with the right hash mark. Would I shoot a deer at 200 you bet! By the way I had my USH there and was luckey to get them on paper at 200 but it probely was the scope. The circles on the Nikon Monarch don't seem to work as well as the hash marks on the Burris for me.