Question for slug gun hunters - 3 1/2 "

[thill]

I do almost all of my hunting north of the rifle line so I don't own a slug barrel. I am planning on buying one for my Browning 3 1/2 gold hunter and I was wondering if there is any advantage to shooting a 3 1/2" shell out of it. I have heard that the ballistics on a 2 3/4" and 3" are almost the same but how about 3 1/2"? I know that all slugs, properly placed, will do the job on any whitetail. I'm just looking for input.

[jmoser]

In general I see little advantage to anything over 2 3/4" slugs. You really cannot extend the range that much anyway and the additional recoil is brutal.

If you want a 150 yard gun I would go to a muzzleloader with 250-300 gr saboted SST bullets.

FYI for the $$ of that Browning slug bbl you may be able to get a single shot heavy bbl slug gun that will surprise you in accuracy. Follow Up shots are overrated anyway!

[454casull]

In general I see little advantage to anything over 2 3/4" slugs. You really cannot extend the range that much anyway and the additional recoil is brutal.

If you want a 150 yard gun I would go to a muzzleloader with 250-300 gr saboted SST bullets.

FYI for the $$ of that Browning slug bbl you may be able to get a single shot heavy bbl slug gun that will surprise you in accuracy. Follow Up shots are overrated anyway!


What he said.

[slammer]

I shoot a Benelli SBE and have a slug barrel for it. I have been shooting Lightfield slugs for quite a few years and went with the 3.5" 2 years ago. They pack a mighty punch. I hunt deer on my sisters 76 acres and have lost a deer over the fence and figured the extra fps of energy would help drop the animals quicker. Truth of the matter was they fell pretty quick with the Lightfield 2.75 and 3" but there is a little difference. I shot a Bear with the 3.5" this Fall. I hit the bear a bit forward and it literally blew the chest open; looked like I dressed it out before I even touched it.
So ballistically the same as far as drop but carry more energy.

[Swamp Monster]

I do almost all of my hunting north of the rifle line so I don't own a slug barrel. I am planning on buying one for my Browning 3 1/2 gold hunter and I was wondering if there is any advantage to shooting a 3 1/2" shell out of it. I have heard that the ballistics on a 2 3/4" and 3" are almost the same but how about 3 1/2"? I know that all slugs, properly placed, will do the job on any whitetail. I'm just looking for input.

Not sure it will matter. I'm not so sure the Browning slug barrel will chamber the 3.5" shells. All the Browning slug barrels for the Golds I've seen were all marked 3" only. But they might have one that takes the 3.5"

[ThumbBum]

I only shoot the 2 3/4 slugs myself. If you go with a rifled barrel and a quality sabot round then 100yards is not a problem. The 3in shells have a brutal recoil amd make sighting in a real chore. I have never fired a 3 1/2in slug, but I can only assume its worse.

A slug barrel for that Browning is going to cost you a pretty penny though. You might do better to visit a few quality gun shops in the LP aftre the extended antlerless season ends. About that time of year there are some sweet deals on used slug guns and even some Muzzelloaders. If you get really lucky then you might even find one with a scope.

[madmike22]

Unless you really really like to abuse yourself just stick with the 2 3/4. If its a rifled slug barrel 150-200 yards isnt out of the question with the right ammo. But like someone else posted for the cost of the barrel alone you might be able to get a great shooting slug gun. The heavy barrel h&r 12 gauge with the rifled barrel is incredibly accurate. And with alot less recoil as well.

[TJO]

My vote would be for an H&R Ultra Slugger in 20 ga not as heavy as the 12 and just as accurate. For the cost of that Browning barrel you could get the H&R with a good quality scope to boot.

[thill]

A rifled slug barrel is a bit pricey but it just bugs me to have that gun sitting in the safe during deer season while I'm out having fun. Kinda like having a fishing rod with out a nice reel on it.

Thanks for the advice and I'll stick to the 2 3/4 - 3".

[n.selvig]

hey i just bought a H&R ultra slug gun and i love it. i shot at 50 yards and got to put bullets thru each other

[Zarathustra]

My advice is to match the size of the shell to the gun chamber, for both safety and accuracy reasons. If your gun has a 3.5" chamber, shoot a 3.5" shell. The reason for this is explained best on Tar-hunt's web site:

http://www.tarhunt.com/tarhunt/faq_popup.cfm?FAQID=15&id=1&cfid=14698306&cftoken=54821398

Firing a 2-3/4" slug in a 3-1/2" chamber is not recommended because of the length of the jump the slug makes between the end of a 2-3/4" case and the front end of a 3-1/2" chamber. This can cause misalignment of the sabot on the slug, thus causing a serious pressure problem as well as poor accuracy. Slugs are NOT LIKE SHOT SHELLS where a shorter shell can be safely fired in a longer chamber with no ill effects. The bottom line is you should use a shell with a minimum case length of 3" (ideally 3-1/2") in any 3-1/2" chambered rifled barrel for best accuracy. THE CASE LENGTH SHOULD MATCH THE CHAMBER LENGTH WHEN IT COMES TO SLUGS.