hastings slugs

[cgoff]

I finally got to the range w/ one of my 20 ush and put some rounds down range.  As most of you said the remingtons shot very well as did the hornady's.  I had also picked up some hastings laser accurate 2 3/4  mostly because thay were cheap.  They did not shoot as well as the remingtons but they consistently shot around 2" groups at 100 yds w/ the occasional flyer.  My question is are these slugs good for deer?  It just seems weird that they are hardly ever mentioned when they are alot cheaper than the others and are plenty accurate.

[Mikey]

I plan on using the Hastings slugs from my 12 guage Hastings barrel.  2" at 100 yds is an excellent group and will definately suffice for whitetail.  The 12 ga throws a 1.25 oz slug at 1550'/sec - you 20 ga is probably a bit lighter but definately whitetail material.  JMTCW.  Mikey.

[Muddyboots]

The Hastings slug is the commercial version of the Hammerhead which is still available for reloading from www.shotgunslugs.com. They have been very successful for me on deer for past 8 years or so. Good expansion and very accurate. I hunt very tight heavy cover and have shot through pie size openings in the swamp out to 75 yds. with confidence and killed some very nice bucks that ordinarily would not have been accessible. Terminal performance was good with nice pass through with nice expansion. Rich Knoster is designer of the slug and has been very helpful over the years in reloading.

2" group at 100 yds. is a very good group for any slug period. Easy to reload if interested. Shoot well out of both 870 with Hastings heavy or regular slug barrel plus pertty good out of TC Encore 12.
Craig

[cgoff]

Thanks for the reply craig

[Mikey]

Craig:  Interesting that you mentioned the 870 and the Hastings Heavy bbl - I picked one up that was used and on consignment.  I thought the added weight of the heavy bbl would help dampen recoil - nawwww!  I had also purchased a new ported Hasting bbl for the 870 and I'm trying that one this week - I have to remember to clean it after evey few rounds as this will be a break-in period. 

Accuracy was OK with the heavy bbl but I thought it should have been better with the Hastings bbl and the Hastings slugs.  I switched to scope, without removing the scope rings, to the new ported bbl and mounted it to the cantilever base but realized the old (heavy bbl) cantilever must have been 'off' somewhat as the scope was canted to the left and down somewhat. 

I'll see how this new ported bbl shoots sometime this week, if it ever stops raining.......... Mikey.

[Muddyboots]

Mikey,
My heavy barrel has been best shooting slug gun I ever owned, hands down. BTW - I also put a Sims recoil pad on it but the weight of barrel really help tame it down. Then again, I am over 6'4" and 255 so I have a lot of mass to slow it down even off bench.  Bore doesn't sludge up with plastic either so either. I do periodically swab it out with JB's which really makes it slick. I have to wonder if barrel was on consignment due to something a bit amiss in cantilever. Anyway, I really like the heavy but will tell you it is a load to still hunt with. Great for off hand with barrel weight forward. I just tell myself no different than 54 Hawkins...
Craig