[Lindenwood]

Starting with the following assumptions:
1) Real sights or perhaps even an optic.
2) The same choke on each barrel**.
3) A decent shooter behind the gun.

Could one expect both barrels of an O/U smoothbore to shoot to the same POI?

With my old 590A1 and a red dot I could consistently put 5 shots inside 2" at 50 yards from any sort of supported position. Would this be wishful thinking with an O/U to have both barrels to shoot close to the same POA? I have heard of differences in bore axis causing vertical changes in POI; is that something one should expect with an OU?

**Also, assume the best combination of chole type and slug has been determined and selected.

Thanks!

 

[Bren]

The first thing that comes to mind is: an over and under for shooting slugs, much less with an optic, is something that never crossed my mind before. Probably for good reason.

The second thing is, who would pay the price of an over and under shotgun, to shoot slugs, when a much cheaper pump or auto will shoot more slugs, fats, at least as well, if not better?

other than that, I'd think a smooth bore with X choke is a smooth bore with X choke. But - I'm no expert on double barrel shotguns - aren't the barrels of a double angled to converge at a certain point? meaning a scope would be off for at least one barrel, at any range other than that point.

 

[ronin.45]

I don't think double shotguns go through the precise regulating that a double rifle does. The barrels are set up to have overlapping patters of birdshot not overlapping slug holes. Expensive competition guns may be more precise, but that isn't what I picture in th OP. More like a stoeger bargain model.

 

[Big Bird]

If they are properly regulated the barrels will converge on a single point. For most SxS and O/U shotguns I recall that they are regulated for 40 yards or something like that.

But the big IF is are they properly regulated.

 

[method]

Regulating the barrels is part of the reason why prices for quality double rifles start at several thousand dollars. Getting shot patterns to converge is one thing. 'Close enough' will suffice. Getting single projectiles to hit close enough to one another to be useful, that's a bit more difficult.

 

[Lindenwood]

Copy all! Kindof a bummer, but thanks!

 

[Wyoming]

Sort of like double rifles for elephants. Good enough to brain an elephant up close. O/U good enough for attacking bears up close. I have a Mossberg/Maverick 12 GA O/U 3". It's light weight makes it kill on both ends. if you are patient I will mount an optic on it and shoot it at 50 yards later this years. Just guessing but I would think it would be a fluke it they had the same point of impact.

 

[Berto]

I'd expect vertical stringing at least given the differences in muzzle rise and pistol-ish velocities of slugs with a stack bbl.

 

[rds95991]

I think the best way is to shoot slugs out of each barrel at 25 yds and then again at 50 yds to see where the POI's are for each barrel.

 

[Wyoming]

We are going to find out what happens when you shoot slugs out of an O/U. I own 11 O/U shotguns but this one will only see slugs. I was sent to Casper for training a few years ago and found this in a local gun store. I like shotguns. I really like O/U shotguns and short barrel shotguns so I bought it. Being born in Ohio and raised to hunt with shotguns I brought my shotgun heritage with me. Most people in this area wouldn't "waste" their time or money shooting small things around here with birdshot. However I know what a .75 inch lead bullet does to deer. A lot of people want to know what handgun to take into bear country. The main thing is to have a handgun on you at all times just incase you can't get to a long gun. I see this as a double barrel rifle for up close encounters. Bears are not dangerous until they are close enough to bite and claw. This shotgun would also make a simple house gun with mini shells for those that are recoil sensitive.

As you can see in the photo I have mounted a scope. I also have an EOTech red dot that will fit. I wanted to use Leopold QD low rings I had and but the rail on the Maverick is not Weaver but Picitinny. The GG&G mount is too high and the scope too far forward for real use but will be fine for this test shooting off a bench.

I have a lot of Remington slugs, Brenneke K.O. slugs and a handful of Aquila Mini slugs (I plan to order more but this is a seasonal production run item not in stock at this time).

Looking at the red dot from the laser bore sighter the barrels don't line up but are close. The laser is not a prefect fit. I use it to practice my swing with sporting clays guns. It is good enough for that.

For this test what would you consider a success? I am sure if one sights in the scope for one barrel the accuracy for slugs would be more than enough.

 

[mrdann]

View attachment 278969

We are going to find out what happens when you shoot slugs out of an O/U. I own 11 O/U shotguns but this one will only see slugs. I was sent to Casper for training a few years ago and found this in a local gun store. I like shotguns. I really like O/U shotguns and short barrel shotguns so I bought it. Being born in Ohio and raised to hunt with shotguns I brought my shotgun heritage with me. Most people in this area wouldn't "waste" their time or money shooting small things around here with birdshot. However I know what a .75 inch lead bullet does to deer. A lot of people want to know what handgun to take into bear country. The main thing is to have a handgun on you at all times just incase you can't get to a long gun. I see this as a double barrel rifle for up close encounters. Bears are not dangerous until they are close enough to bite and claw. This shotgun would also make a simple house gun with mini shells for those that are recoil sensitive.

As you can see in the photo I have mounted a scope. I also have an EOTech red dot that will fit. I wanted to use Leopold QD low rings I had and but the rail on the Maverick is not Weaver but Picitinny. The GG&G mount is too high and the scope too far forward for real use but will be fine for this test shooting off a bench.

I have a lot of Remington slugs, Brenneke K.O. slugs and a handful of Aquila Mini slugs (I plan to order more but this is a seasonal production run item not in stock at this time).

Looking at the red dot from the laser bore sighter the barrels don't line up but are close. The laser is not a prefect fit. I use it to practice my swing with sporting clays guns. It is good enough for that.

For this test what would you consider a success? I am sure if one sights in the scope for one barrel the accuracy for slugs would be more than enough.

AWESOME!!!

I'm not the OP but have had the same question for a long time. The best answer was always, "try it". I don't know what the OP wants, but I'd consider it a "success" and "interesting" If you could reliably/repeatably put both slugs into a 8" circle at 50 yards. If you could do the same at 100 yds....I'd buy one tomorrow!

 

[Wyoming]

AWESOME!!!

I'm not the OP but have had the same question for a long time. The best answer was always, "try it". I don't know what the OP wants, but I'd consider it a "success" and "interesting" If you could reliably/repeatably put both slugs into a 8" circle at 50 yards. If you could do the same at 100 yds....I'd buy one tomorrow!

So how far can I hit a paper plate with both barrels. Going by the laser red dot it looks like the top barrels is even but right.

 

[Wyoming]

We have been having our Spring showers that bring Spring mud. I did get to the range and learned a lot. The first thing when shooting slugs out of a light weight O/U at 6 pound 10 ozs is that the recoil is brutal! I held up better the the sights The EOTech would go off after most shots. I think the reason is the batteries would bounce off the contacts turning off the optics. If you want to use a red dot then look for a sight that does not have it's batteries in line but side ways. I could turn it back on and shoot again but decided to go with the GG&G mount and scope. As you can see in the above picture the cross bolt sheared off eventually before I was done.

I was able to continue by using the fixed sight that came on the gun. With Remington Foster type slugs I could keep both barrels inside 6" to 50 yards or simple put if I put the red fiber front sight centered on a paper plate I could hit paper plate with either barrel.

As an after thought I shot two Brenneke K.O. slugs. We could not see the first one and thought I missed everything including the big piece of cardboard. When I fired the top barrel we could see I just missed the plate. When we went up to look we could see I clipped the one lower hole made by the Remington slug and just missed the paper plate. However the two shots were within 2". The both hit low but in line.

My friend that was with me is the only person I know personally that has went to Africa and shot a Cape Buffalo. He has owned doubled rifles in the past. He pointed out that the big doubled rifles are doing good if they hit within 2" at 50 yards. He said that he had a 9.3mm that could not do what my little $400 Turkey made double was doing.

I used to live in Ohio and have hunted whitetail deer with slug guns. I know what slug guns can do. Most people in Wyoming don't have a clue. I had a Remington 1100 slug gun that I made some impressive shots with in the 1970s when most people thought all slug guns were inaccurate. Adjustable rifles sights help. If I were to go hunting again in a slug gun only area with this O/U slug gun I would feel just fine. I would also do more testing with the Brenneke slugs. I could have a 75 to 100 yard gun by just remembering to aim higher.

When I bought this shotgun a few years ago when I was sent to Casper for work. I found this in a local store. I just love short barrel shotguns and this being a break open action is a total of 35 1/2" in length and is very light weight. I wished Mossberg would put a Speed Feed stock on this gun. The reason is that I would stage this gun empty then would load it right before use. Being able to have two slugs rounds on one side and two buckshot on the other would be handy for home protection and bear country.

This little shotgun is really fun to shoot with the Aquila Mini slugs and would be more than enough for a house gun. By the way it is chambered for the 3" shell if you really want a blast.

 

[walt cowan]

With a 5 MOA red dot, you shouldn't have a problem hitting a pie plate at a 100 yards. Most or your shots should be within that. 5 MOA is pretty much minute of deer.:goodpost:

 

[rds95991]

The thing with Wyoming is that most game stays a couple hundred yards away at its closest. Back east, 100 yards was sometimes the max.

I would shoot for group with each barrel. Jjust the top barrel to see where it was grouping and then the bottom barrel for group and compare at 25 yards and 50 yards. Then with the information for each barrel again at 100 yards.

 

[Wyoming]

It is a myth that shots at game out West must be long range. We have bow hunters and handgun hunters. It is called hunting for a reason. I have hunted with 44 revolver only antelope successfully. All under 100 yard shots. I doubt that I will ever hunt with a slug gun again but I were ever offer an opportunity to hunt that I can't refuse I would use my Maverick O/U. I might do what Walt suggest and find a red dot and go with the K.O. slugs.

 

[mac66]

Interesting. I have 3 O/Us and 2 SxSs. One of each are 12s, the others are 20s. Mine are all 40s&50s vintage. Never thought of using slugs in them. Going to have to drag them out and feed them some slugs.

 

[Lindenwood]

Wyoming, thanks a bunch for doing those tests!!

Just to make sure I understand, you fired 1x foster slug from each barrel and they strung about 5-6" vertically, then you fired 1x brenneke slug from each barrel and they strung 2" vertically?

That is not bad at all! I would be much more comfortable with thus vertical stringing than any horizontal stringing. Especially, with a red dot you could zero it so the top of the dot was close to POI for one barrel, and the bottom of the dot was close to POI for the bottom barrel!

 

[Wyoming]

Correct.

I been thinking of finding a red dot sight with batteries not align with recoil and using the KO slugs. You have to remember this is a very light weight locked breach 12 GA slug gun and I don't believe, use or own a lead sled.

 

[Berto]

Nice work Wyo, I love the big cookie holes you get from KO's too.
Last time I shot my rifle sighted 870 @100yrds using KO's, it grouped 5 into 4". Definitely agree people underestimate slugs from a smoothbore, especially with good sights.. People would be perfectly fine with a lever gun and that kind of accuracy out to 150yrds.