Slug Questions

[Single Six]

I own a gorgeous Remington 870 Marine Magnum. To me, it's the "do-it-all" long gun that no rifle can be; HD, deer hunting [if I ever get back into it], even black bear defense if need be. That brings me to my 2 questions for you experienced shotgunners: 1] Are slugs suitable for black bears? 2] Are slugs viable for HD, or are you better off sticking with 00 Buck? Thanks, guys.

 

[jmortimer]

Slugs can easily kill anything on earth including lions, tigers, big bears, Cape buffalo so a black bear is no problem. Good out to about 70 yards with a smooth bore. Thin skinned tagets like people are easily stopped by #4 buckshot and larger. No need to use a slug for HD. Crazy powerful slugs like Brenneke Magnum Crush or Black Magic or Dixie DGS or Tri-Ball will destroy a target like nothing else at close range.

 

[meatgrinder42]

1. Yes a 12 gauge slug will kill damn near anything you need in north America. I shot my black bear with my 870 wingmaster and slugger rifled slugs. It'll kill a black bear without issue.
2. It could be used but I would be worried about over penetration. I'd stay with 00 buckshot personally.

 

[Single Six]

Jmortimer: Cape buffalo? Never been to Africa, but I understand that Capes are tough, and downright vindictive when wounded. If a 12 gauge slug can bring one of those down, I truly AM impressed....sounds like any black bears would be impressed as well. Thanks!

 

[Single Six]

Meatgrinder: Yeah, I was kinda thinking about over-penetration issues, myself. Thanks to you as well.

 

[jmortimer]

This is from Brenneke web site "History of slugs"

"Brenneke continued to tinker, to test, and to improve upon his slug. He relied upon the ultimate laboratory—performance in the field, witnessed with his own eyes. He traveled and hunted extensively, taking stags, European elk, the great bears, lions, tigers, leopards, boars, even Cape buffalo with his invention. He would perform detailed on-the-spot autopsies of the game he killed, analyzing penetration and the slug’s effect on hemorrhaging, bone and internal organs. The distinctive alloy used in Brenneke slugs—harder than many competitors, but soft enough to perform properly in a choked shotgun, is a result of these observations. It is one reason the Brenneke design achieves such excellent penetration."

 

[lefteye]

12 Ga. slugs are excellent for black bears. A park ranger in Glacier escorted a number of us tourists past a black sow with two cubs - he carried an 870 with slugs. No. 1 buck shot is the best home defense shotgun load - Google No. 1 buck shot.

 

[scottd913]

lions,tigers and bears...oh my
i use slugs in my HD but i like over penetration and i have no kids living here and dam good insurance

 

[Single Six]

Scottd913: Bet your neighbors love you.

 

[WV_gunner]

Wondering how well Polywad Quik-Shok slugs work for home defense. They are 2 3/4 inch, 1 1/8 oz, .68 caliber Sabot slugs. They are designed to expand massively and fragment into 3 sections. Although for hunting, they are meant to reduce over penetration as much as posible. Seems like probably the best slug to me. I'm wanting to buy some.