Not a rifle but.....an accuracy idea. Need advice

[cloverleaf]

Hey guys/ gals -
Exiled as I am here in the great white north of Minn(commy)esota, I am restricted to 12 ga slugs for deer. So I pay three bucks a shot for slugs and have spent a fortune finding the brand that works best in my Mossberg Trophy Sluggster, (how come that dosent sound a sexy as Savage or pre-64..??) I have read volumes on technique for shooting slugs accurately, sighting in, how to hold- you name it. I have resigned myself to making it as fun as I can even going so far as to try loading my own, sub sonics etc. In the end I have resigned myself to Hornady SST's as they are the lowest priced best combination of velocity and accuracy. Federal Premium Barnes Expanders are most accurate by the way. Any how, there is some possibility that the barrel to magazine mounting screw has some fore and aft play when the gun is fired. I am thinking of shimming this with a nylon washer of the appropriate thickness to limit this posibility. My Question for the riflemen here is do you think that harmonics and vibration will have much of an impact on accuracy given that we are talking a 1in 34 twist and at most 1800 fps muzzle velocity. We know that the slugs are moving slow enough that if the forend is not held down tightly the "groups will move up and to the left as the gun rotates up from twist and recoil. I have proven this in my testing. You cant let my slug gun recoil freely or it wont do anything consisteintly. Given that, do you think my "fix" is worthwhile and would somthing like a sims vibration damper do any good? If I could find one in 12 ga...? I really dont want to permanently pin the barrel to the reciever and I cant afford the $600 for a savage bolt action. Incidentally, 1oz slugs shoot better than the 3/4 oz. The lighter ones are too fast for my twist I think. There arent any aftermarket barrels for a Mossberg with a faster twist....
Also the Crown looks better than some slug barrels Ive seen but this could be re-cut better. However, here again is it wort the money given the potential accuracy which is a 3-4 inch group at 90 yards? Worst part is the point of impact is so inconsistient. Thanks for the thoughts. CL

 

[nitis]

no disrespect but I got halfway through your read and determined you should just move if you cant use a rifle

Good Luck

 

[FOTIS]

Is the barrel floated?

 

[Desert Fox]

no disrespect but I got halfway through your read and determined you should just move if you cant use a rifle

Good Luck

LOL. I was thinking the same way. I thought we have it bad here in Kalifornistan. If I can't use my rifle hunting, I'll cease hunting altogether.

 

[Richracer1]

Are muzzleloaders allowed? If so, dump the slug gun and pick up one of the new in-lines. They are more accurate, reach further and cheaper to shoot. Downfall - Only one shot.

 

[DrMike]

Downfall - Only one shot.

If the shot is placed right, one shot is enough.

 

[Teknys]

+1 on the Muzzleloader - 1st shot is always the one that counts!!!!

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

Well, I'm not a shotgun guy, and I hope I never had to hunt with them. But considering your problem, I probably would shim it as you described. I don't see where it could hurt anything.

 

[JD338]

CL,

I agree, adding a shim shouldn't hurt anything and may help with the accuracy.
As already mentioned, if legal, a muzzle loader would be the way to go. 200 yds is a easy shot with a modern in-line. My longest kill on a WT with a M700ML 50 cal is 167 yds. With a slug gun, I would have never even considered the shot.

JD338

 

[old #7]

no disrespect but I got halfway through your read and determined you should just move if you cant use a rifle

Good Luck

LOL. I was thinking the same way. I thought we have it bad here in Kalifornistan. If I can't use my rifle hunting, I'll cease hunting altogether.

+1 more.
I grew up hunting in Iowa. They are a slug only state also. I live in Oregon now.

On a serious note if you consider muzzleloaders check your local regulations. I can buy an in-line muzzle loader with high vis sights but I can't hunt with one in Oregon. It has to be Iron sights and cap and ball.
Your nylon washer shouldn't hurt anything. I don't think a vibration dampener is going to do you any good. I would spend the money on a butt pad to dampen the recoil from them nasty kicking slugs.

 

[cloverleaf]

Well that all made me feel a little better, sort of :lol: . At least ya didnt call me a lousy shot :lol: . I said I was in exile here and believe me hunting with a slug gun in Southern Mn is a BIG part of the reason. Oh to be hunting in the Missouri river breaks of S.D. again! A good .25 cal. and me proped up against some buck brush and I'm happy. But, I must look at it as a challenge, and make the best of it. Muzzle loader season dont start 'til December in southern Mn. Just too cold for me. snow too deep usually, and two hours of icy rods to get to where I can hunt (Man what a whinner!!) I will let ya know how it goes. Thanks for the replies. CL

 

[cloverleaf]

Thought I followed up on this one but guess not. So, I spent 1/2 an hour in the hardware store looking for options for the "appropriate" washer "shim" to use use between the magazine tube and the "barrel mount". Found a nylon washer the right dimension but the wrong thickness. This would be critical, as to thick will hold the barrel out from the reciever a few thousandths and theoretically cause more vibration or "whip". Well that was the theory. Spent 1/2 a football game sanding the washer to the appropriate thickness and got dirty looks from the wife for making a mess in the recliner. :? Installed my new "custom" accuracy invention and went to the range. In the mean time, had an opportunity to shoot a friends 870 20 ga. The barrel on that thing moved (rotated) 3-5 degrees and seemed to move in and out of the reciever no matter how tight the barrel nut was. Everything I shot with that thing (at 50 yards) landed 3-4 inches to the left no matter what I did. When I tried to move the point of impact and re sight it in things went all over the place. I Chalked it up to a bad scope and took it "hunting" anyway as my daughter was using my Mossberg ..... that was fine....right. Fourtunately for me, she didnt take a shot during our "deer hunt" and I didnt see a deer. But I should have shot my Mossberg with its new invention.

Actually, I did but chalked the poor accuracy up to a different brand of slug (it shot 6 inches above my 11x14 inch target...but the holes in the sand were all pretty close....so If I went back to my old standby that I had sighted in with I should be fine.... right...???)

Well, After I was done hunting, I brought the 20ga. back to my friend with appologies for messing with his scope. He said, "no problem..lets see how bad it is". So we sat down at the bench and he proceeded to put two slugs an inch left and two inches above the bull at 50 yards. Almost dead on!! He moved to scope an inch to the right and shot one more, half way there. Three more mushy clicks from the Pine ridge scope and he put the last round from the box dead center and an inch and a half high!! He was done.....and ready for Wisc. deer season. Well, in my defense I did clean it really well :? before he shot it..... Well, now this is disgusting. Good for him, but hard on my pride. So I get out the old "Mooseberg" and load up a box of "cheap ones". I'll show him I'll just hold low... Right, five shots in an eight inch pattern at 50 yards, all of them way high... :evil: .

He says, "I thought you used "Hornady slugs"? I said, I did, but I cant afford them anymore. He hands me a box of the expensive stuff and says, here you better try 'em....again". And THEN (???) it dawns on me I still have my little "accuracy modification" between the barrel and magazine. So I cuss myself, take the thing out and put the barrel back on nice and tight. Three shots, two inches high and a little to the left, all within two inches.......

Oh, Man am I glad my daughter decided to pass on that doe...!!! No telling where that slug would have gone. Life shooting slugs is hard...but harder if you are STUPID!!! I can laugh now, but... :roll: :roll: :roll: .

Apparently my "Moosberg" likes to float her barrel loose, so to speak. Gotta start saving money for those Hornady slugs for next year.... :wink: CL

PS aint ya all glad you all glad you are shooting rifles?!?!?!?

 

[YoteSmoker]

Cloaverleaf- If it makes you feel any better, I've taken way more Colorado big game with my Encore muzzleloader than I have with my rifles. 3 bucks, 1 doe, 1 cow elk, and 1 turkey taken with the muzzleloader, with only 1 buck falling to my 7 Rem Mag. This is in the past 6 seasons out here. I have also killed my biggest Michigan white tail buck (11 pt, 175 lbs) and Georgia feral hog with a 12 ga Lightfield sabot from my rifle barreled 870 super mag. Don't be discouraged in not being able to big game hunt with a rifle. I enjoy target shooting with all my rifles but have taken far less game with centerfire than I have with muzzleloader and shotgun. All will get the job done with proper placement.

 

[JD338]

CL,

Most shotgun zone states will allow a muzzle loader or straight walled pistol cartridge. Check your states regulations.
If legal, a T/C Contender in 44 Rem Mag would be just the ticket.

I live in the shot gun zone here in MI, less than 4 miles from the rifle line. All I have ever used here is a muzzle loader or handgun.

JD338

 

[cloverleaf]

Yup, I could use the pistol where I hunt too. Brother in law shoots a 357 Mag. Seen too much game lost with that thing though.... One guy did drop a button buck with the pistol this year and I think it was you that got one. I cant do my own tracking you know, so I like to leave a big blood trail if possible.
On the other hand, Savage chambered a Striker in 250- 3000 savage. That would be interesting.... There's a guy on this board that has a load all worked up based on a 307 case I think, in .25 cal. that is just fantastic out of his contender....
Not cryin' really, Think I will try and go back to hanloading slugs come spring. Cheaper, more flexibility, more fun!!! CL