buckhunter14

I also have a questions for "Fraze". Where did you see that a rifle costs $1000 dollars?? Of course rifles with cost up to that much. But there are many rifles that are within the $250-$500 price range. They work just as well as the $1000 ones. - Buckhunter

Chuck7

Go to a range and shoot your slugs. I use a 30-30 now but the last 2 years slugs. My Ihica 37 shot groups of slugs in a 3" pattern at 70 yds. However my son's single shot H&R missed the bulls eye by 12" at 30 yds.We are selling that gun. I shot a hog with 00 buck at 10 yds with my Ithica. It kept running. My next shot I hit her with a slug.Instant death. When I skinned the hog the 00 buck broke 3 ribs and hit the vitals but she kept on running. Make sure you use the right slugs for your gun.
God Bless,
Chuck

fraze

I live in rural Ontario Canada, the only means available for me to purchase firearms new are Specialty Gun shops, a hunting store chain called LeBaron, and more recently (it just opened up) a store called BassPro (which is 6.5 hours from my home. The rifles I were looking at were in the $600-$800 range (lever action browning 30-30), I guess I was a little high when I said $1000. None the less, at $306 for the 870 I purchased, it was all I could afford to get into the sport. I wish we had somewhere close that sold a decent rifle for 250-500, I just couldn't find one (unless I bought used, which I was trying to avoid)

jpm8920

Fraze, what you might want to think of doing is getting a rifled barrel. I use a Deerslayer barrel and couldn't be happier. I believe they usually run about $175, but you shuold be able to get one cheaper at a gun show or a used gun shop. But even if you don't, the rifled slugs should work fine.

121553

20" barrel is pretty short for shooting buckshot, your pattern will be so spread out by the time it gets out there 20 yrds. Being such a short barrel you'll find that you can shoot slugs accruately up to 100 yrds. Now that brings up another question, why buy a shot gun for shooting slugs when you can get a rifle? I don't know what rifle your looking at for $1000.00 but you can go down to the pawn shop and pick up a rifle for 2 to $300.00. Another good thing about the 870 is you can always change out barrels if you want to go turkey or duck hunting, in which you will need a longer barrel to reach out and get them. Good luck, Bobby

beebecl

I aint seen this mentioned yet, but you better check the law. I see a lot of talk about buckshot. Here in Ohio buckshot is illegal.

Re: 2.75 v. 3" shells, 2.75 is plenty, why beat yourself up with the magnums?

If you have a lot of open country, you might want to scope that gun. I've got an Aimtech scope mount that will fit it, no gunsmithing required. $38 ppd. It may scratch the side of your receiver putting it on and off, but it's a good, solid mount.

PhoenixMA

Since noone else on the thread as said it ,,,Welcome to the board and Hunting!

Now for the important stuff. I personally like 2 3/4 inch rifled slugs in my shotgun. Also an 870 by the way. I took a deer at about 80yds with it year b4 last. Since then I have switched exclusively to Black Powder.

Thats a great choice because for the money they dont make a more reliable shotgun.You'll have that thing forever.

Spend some time at the range and pattern it! and good luck next year

121553

I have had my 870 since 1972, paid $125.00 for it at the hardware store I worked at, and I am still dropping turkies with them to this day, I guess there kinda like a Timex. Bobby

Deerslayer_37

I'd go with slugs. No buckshot. Slugs have more knockdown power, accuracy, and range. I really wouldn't ever use buckshot, even if it were legal for deer around here. I'd say its outdated for deer.

slayer