20 guage question

notjustair · Dec 31, 2013

I have my dad's Mossberg 20 guage shotgun. I've never even fired it. I don't have a whole lot of need for a shotgun.

I'd like to use it and have been looking at firing slugs in it. It has an adjustable choke on it. I have been reading that it will work just fine as long as you don't have it on full choke. They are suppose to be accurate to about 75 yards. It isn't rifled so I know it wouldn't be stellar at any more than about that distance. I was thinking about it in reference to my coyote post earlier. If I would turn it down to full choke I'm sure it would do fine with coyotes using game shot. I was just curious about slugs though. I'd like to fire dad's old gun once in a while.

Anyone fire slugs through an adjustable choke?

RESLLS · Dec 31, 2013

Slugs open choke all the way. Use rifled slugs, then no need for a rifled barrel. Coyote, suggest at least # 4. If #2 buckshot. Close the choke to about modified for buckshot. Maybe a little tighter. Shoot some paper with the different shot sizes at different yardage up to about 60 yards. Old rolls of Christmas wrap are great for this. Called a poly choke.

jm. · Dec 31, 2013

I have all ways been told slugs and chokes do not work. You will have a hard time getting close enough to the coyote to much harm with the 20 guage. For years we were required to deer hunt in Tennessee with shotgun/slugs. Folks got pretty good with shots up to 150 yds or so.

da.bees · Dec 31, 2013

I havn't fired slugs in a gun with adjustable choke. I don't think you should fire slugs in yours either. I wouldn't hesitate firing slugs through interchangable modified or improved cylinder chokes. 00 shot with choke set to full is how I would use your gun for coyotes.

GeneMO · Dec 31, 2013

You will be way better off with buckshot. I like #4 buckshot.
may be a little harder to find for a 20 ga.

If that is one of the old Poly chokes, or an add on deal, I would hesitate to fire slugs in it. might take the choke clean off.

Not worth the risk of damaging the gun.

If you can't get #4 buck, I know you can get straight #2 shot, and that will put the hurt on a coydog.

Gene

howdy1960 · Dec 31, 2013

My Dad had a Mossburg with adjustable choke. At about 40-50 yrs target pratice with slugs every time he fired the choke's setting changed and slug hit a differant part of target. He and my Gramps cut choke off reinstalled front site and was then able to hit same area of target within a 1/2 inch. Target was old 55G drum lid.

oldtanker · Dec 31, 2013

(quoted from post at 20:54:59 12/31/13) My Dad had a Mossburg with adjustable choke. At about 40-50 yrs target pratice with slugs every time he fired the choke's setting changed and slug hit a differant part of target. He and my Gramps cut choke off reinstalled front site and was then able to hit same area of target within a 1/2 inch. Target was old 55G drum lid.

Lot depends on who made the choke and how old it is. Dad and I both slug hunted with mid to late 60's era Poly chokes. They had a slug setting. Check and see what model the gun is. It may be new enough to a Mossberg slug barrel will fit.

Rick

Anonymous-0 · Dec 31, 2013

It is safe to fire slugs through a full choke. Xtremly unlikely you will hit a yotedog with a slug at any distance. That calls for BB's or larger or a rifle.

Hay hay hay · Jan 1, 2014

Is it the old bolt action mossberg? That had an external choke that screwed on the outside of the barrel. They came in sets and you should use the most Open one. However, my first choice for coyotes would be buckshot, if you can find it for a 20 gauge. Don't go crazy with power. That is an old gun so shoot normal loads if you can find them. An old farmer pal of mine carried a single barrel hammer gun in the cab of his tractor. He claimed "Them 2 balls" (#2 shot) would "kill them wolves".

MarkB_MI · Jan 1, 2014

Depends on your definition of "accurate". Choked or not, there's no rifling in the bore of your shotgun. Why not take it to the range and find out for yourself?

2badlybent · Jan 1, 2014

It is OK to use rifled slugs in you 20 gauge shotgun. My first new gun was a Mossburg 20 gauge that I bought new when I was 16 and I hunted and took deer with it many times. Pretty accurate out to about 60 yards. Use the open choke setting when using slugs and modified with buckshot.
These are nice handling little shot guns and very reliable, I wish I stll had mine.
I do have an Ithaca feather weight in 20 gauge that is a semi auto. I have yet to fire it.

teddy52food · Jan 1, 2014

Friend of mine forgot to turn his choke off of full. When he shot at a deer , the choke flew off.

Rick Kr · Jan 1, 2014

You have a fair amount of drop in a 20 gauge slug. Especially a foster style for smooth bores.

But I would sight it in and know your drop at 50, 75 and 100 yards and start shooting the coyotes.

Personally I have never shot a coyote with a slug, just because I typically have the gun loaded different. I am either still hunting long range - rifle, or running them with dogs - shotgun.

My favorite coyote loads.
12 gauge 3" mag with #2 or BBB.
30-.06 with 55 grain accelerators.

Both are deadly. The coyote I posted a few days ago was a 12 gauge.

Rick

Bryan inIowa · Jan 1, 2014

I would not do it .

JBMac · Jan 1, 2014

The "rifling" on a rifled slug imparts little if any spin on the projectile. Mostly it"s there so the slug can swage through various chokes. The reason these slugs fly relatively straight is the same reason a badminton or dart flies true: the weight is in the front with a hollow base. As far as chokes, I think the remington sluggers I use say they work with all chokes, but a modified is recommended. My benelli supernova with smooth bore will put them into a saucer sized area at 75 yds, all day long. Beyond that, they get pretty unreliable. Hope this helps.

Bill(Wis) · Jan 1, 2014

Can I shoot slugs or buckshot through a "smoothbore" field barrel with Accu-Choke tm tubes? (500/505/535/9200/88/930 models) Mossberg's ans: "Yes, and with sabots or rifled slugs the more 'open' the choke tube, the better the accuracy ('Improved Cylinder' recommended). The 'full' or 'modified' choke tubes are preferred for buckshot loads. Slugs, buckshot and steel shot loads are not recommended for use with an extra full 'turkey tube' installed, due to the tube's tight constriction. Do not fire any load without a choke tube installed, doing so will damage the internal choke tube threads."

D beatty · Jan 1, 2014

My brother in law bought a Mossberg 12 guage bolt action with choke new years ago. We use to shoot clays and after about 6 seasons of shooting clays he stopped useing it. It got so the bolt was sloppy and it started to split brass and he only shoot low brass through it. If I remember right Mossberg was the only company to manufacture a bolt action shotgun.

20 guage question

notjustair

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RESLLS

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jm.

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da.bees

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GeneMO

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howdy1960

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oldtanker

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Anonymous-0

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Hay hay hay

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MarkB_MI

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2badlybent

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teddy52food

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Rick Kr

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Bryan inIowa

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JBMac

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Bill(Wis)

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D beatty

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