HR slug gun vs. 870 new barrel vs. other?

[Bug Guy]

This will seem dumb since there was an HR thread brought up just recently, but I need to make the call. The bass pro hunting sale is starting which means the HR ultra delux single shot will be on sale for $279 minus $25 rebate, and then possibly minus %10 of that if I get someone to open an account and buy it for me or I use my points - so for around $230 or so. My best estimate is that a cantilever scope mount, fully riffled, Remington barrel for my 870 will cost about the same. You tell me, which should I do? Am I missing something? I need to stay in this price range. And yes, this is related to the scope thread.

Cheers,

bob

[Salmo trutta]

Black powder and a bow. Who needs a shot gun slug gun.

Okay, I'm in the same boat as you. Just really getting into hunting the last couple of years and now I'm excited as ever. I want a new bow, shotgun, muzzel loader...

I've hunted the HR slug gun. It kicks pretty well but once you get used to it is a great gun. But single shot.

[merogers]

I've got the regular slug barrel on my 870 and I love it. My brother got the cantilevered barrel with the scope attached, it's awesome. Once I even swapped out the barrel on his and went shooting sporting clays with the regular barrel, put the cantilevered barrel back on and let a friend hunt it without re-sighting it in. I was up in my stand wondering if it was still true when I heard him shoot. Yep, dead on at 75 yards, a neck shot too, it was all he could get a good shot on. If you're in an area where you can take a lot of deer, I'd go with the 870 barrel. We "double" on deer quite a bit where I hunt, especially early in the season. We'll knock one down and the others will stand around looking at their friend wondering what happened to Hal. Then we'll nail a doe too. BTW The cheaper lightfield 2 3/4 slugs shoot the best out of our guns. We all shoot the same ammo so everything is consistent. You don't notice when shooting deer, but sighting in can be painful, it kicks the bejesus out of you. I couldn't imagine shooting 3 inch loads through it.

[TAILWALKER]

Personally I think I would go for the 870 barrel. And whatever you decide on I would personally get the 12 gauge. I've hunted with 12 gauge slugs for about 20 years now and in my opinion are far better than the 20. I've got two of the H/R 20 ultra slugs and while they are ok for my kids for about 100.00 more you can get the Savage bolt action slug gun which is far better. Plus many on here are noting problems with the firing pins in the H/R. I've not noticed that in ours but I can tell you I'd be one hot SOB if my gun did not fire on some monster buck because of a firing pin malfunction.

[Rod Bender II]

Personally I would throw away ideas for both the H&R and the 870 barrel and buy yourself a decent inline blackpowder. These things are lethal now a days. You don't have to go all out for a TC Encore, CVA and Traditions have some real nice inlines that shoot just as accurate. It still is a single shot but hey "one shot one kill". That's just my opinion, and you can't use that H&R in muzzleloader season which is way better season than shotgun. But you can use muzzleloader in both seasons! Just something to think about. Everyone that I know that switched from a shotgun to a inline BP have never picked that shotgun up again until waterfowl season.

[hollywood9s]

I own both a H&R Ultra Slugger and a Remington 870 slug gun. The Remington is a nice shotgun, but it sits in the safe since i bought the H&R. The H&R with the heavy bull barrel is extremely accurate with the right slugs, me and some of my buddies have taken deer out to 150 yds with them. Alot of guys like the Barnes expanders, but i prefer the Hastings Laser sabots. I put three slugs through the same hole at 50 yds with the Hastings, and they are designed to have NO FLYERS, which is why i switched to them from Lightfields. The Hastings slugs are NAS-TEE through the H&R.
I also have not had to resight my scope in the three years i've been using the Hastings Laser Sabots, it seems that every lot shoots the same. In addition to that they leave a massive blood trail and all deer i've taken with them have dropped within 50 yds.
Get a 12 guage, i am a firm believe in the extra knockdown power of a 12 over a 20.

[Bug Guy]

Hey all,
Thanks for the advice. Keep it coming. A little more info:

- I have a bow, been a while since I hunted with it, needs to be updated for various reasons which I can get into if you want
- I have the 12 gauge 870 with a smooth bore slug barrel - works fine, but I'm looking for something with a bit more distance
- The reason I have the smooth bore is in SE PA where used to hunt, we didn't need anything to shoot more than 50 yards
- I'm thinking about an inline in addition - but for now, I'm gonna stick with my 50 cal flintlock - I'm all about making things tough on myself

[jkapl001]

I would go with the H&R. If you go the 870 route get as many buddies as you can find to help yo sight it in. Your gonna need them. That thing will rattle your teeth out of your head. Either way you will probably be happy, just my opinion. I have not heard of people switching the barrels and not sighting them in again. Maybe that is ok, I would be nervous to do that.

[Will S]

I have to agree with Rod Bender, when it comes to range and accuracy the Muzzle Loader beats a slug gun hands down. I have a TC Encore original model and with 2 Pyrodex Pellets and a 230 gr Dead Center Sabot it will shoot and honset 1" group @ 100 yds. And to be honest if your hands are not shaking to bad you can reload it almost as fast as a single shot slug gun. If you compare a slug gun and a muzzle loader to a rifle the slug gun will come in dead last for accuracy.

[TAILWALKER]

Granted on average the muzzleloader will be more accurate than most slug guns but there are some slug guns that shoot just as accurate. I've got a Browning A-bolt slug gun (no longer made) and it will shoot under a 1" group at 100 yards consistently. My buddy has the Savage and it will shoot around 1" groups and both will easily kill out to 150 yards with no problem. I've got several muzzloaders that will shoot bullet hole to bullet hole, however, when it comes to regular gun season and it is slug or muzzleloader only I am going to have my slug gun with me every time. If you hunt a lot like I do you don't want to have to load and unload and clean a muzzleloader after every hunt. It is a pain in the neck. To keep the gun loaded and bring it in and out of the house with temp changes is just not a reliable option either. Don't get me wrong, I love my muzzleloaders but only during muzzleloader season. Too much hassle cleaning after that. I've got a tack driving slug gun with 3 shots so why do I want to hunt with the muzzleloader? Granted, if the H/R was the only option then I probably would use my muzzleloader but that's not my only option.

[Bug Guy]

Interesting - almost sounds like I'd be better off saving for a better slug gun and/or muzzleloader and sticking with my smooth bore 870 slug gun and just accepting I'll be making shots at 50 yards and under...?

[Will S]

Tailwalker makes a good point cleaning a muzzle loader is a pain in the neck. Mine goes in the safe after muzzy season and the .270 come out. Hunting with a rifle just makes you hate shotguns. Those old Browning A-bolts are supposed to be great and they fetch big money used if you can find one.

[Rod Bender II]

Will S....Not all areas are legal to use rifles. With the modern day muzzle loaders that have a break-action and a simple breech to pull out cleaning a muzzleloader is no harder and requires the same work as a Slug Gun. Plus where I live you can't hunt on sundays so after hunting all day on saturday, sunday I whip out the cleaning stuff and watch football. Just my opinion. I have cleaned both guns for years and as long as you clean the gun the same day or the next day than yea it will not require you to scrub scrub and scrub.

[rob sasko]

i use a smooth bore barrel on my 870. it shoots the remington rifled sluggers great. i also use this same barrel for buckshot when hunting sika deer in dorchester co.

[Luv2fishCB]

I have an 870, 12 gauge with a rifled slug barrel. 3" groups at 100 yards. I also have a Thompson Center Pro Hunter with a 20 gauge rifled slug barrel. I have a 1" group at 100 yards and could handle a 200 yard shot on a deer. I don't hunt that way so I doubt I will ever know.

I know you said you are on a budget but if you can save up for the dream gun I would recommend the TC Pro hunter. I have 3 barrels For the gun, all with Leupold 3x9 scopes. I have a .22 cal, a .50 cal muzzle loader and the 20 gauge rifled slug barrel. I plink all summer with the .22 and since it is the same stock, trigger pull and scope picture I basically shoot for the cost of the .22 instead of the more expensive ammunition. I got the gun from my wife and kids for my 50th birthday. If I had to do it all over again I would save the money from all my other guns to save up for the TC. I actually enjoy the single shot challenge.

[nn052204]

I purchased a Rossi three years ago for $165.00 and it is really a tack driver!

[GregB]

I see no advantage with a 12 gauge over a 20. I have a H&R 20 gauge and it is awesome with plenty of knockdown power and accuracy. It is lighter than the 12 gauge also. Most of the people that I know all have the H&R 20 gauge and all love them.

[night nurse]

I too have BOTH guns in questions. The 870 stays home EVERY time. You just can't beat the heavy barrell. My brother changed and so did my wife.

TED

[PGERB]

Go to Walmart get a universal remington scope mount $29.00 and put a cheap scope on it. Sight in and works great. My 870was shooting 8'' high now dead on.

[uncljohn]

I would go with the H&R. If you go the 870 route get as many buddies as you can find to help yo sight it in. Your gonna need them. That thing will rattle your teeth out of your head. Either way you will probably be happy, just my opinion. I have not heard of people switching the barrels and not sighting them in again. Maybe that is ok, I would be nervous to do that.

This was my problem. Have an 870, sighted in, dead on at 50 yards. Then comes an early quacker hunt or resident goose hunt, and I switched barrels out and had to re-sight when I put the slug barrel and scope back on. Or late shotgun season came back. It became a pain to have to re-sight multipe times in the season.

I just picked up a 20 ga H&R Ultra Slug Hunter last month. Cost me $199 plus the scope. But that's not a 'public' price. You need to know the gun shop dealer and come with cash.....

[Luv2fishCB]

That is the great thing about the TC Pro hunter. The scope and barrel are one item. Change calibers and they still hit dead on.

Steve