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  #1  
Old 04-03-2009, 11:01 PM
Firehouse Firehouse is offline
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Anyone have a recommendation for a rifled slug for home defense? I am leaning toward the Federal LE slugs. I can't decide on the Low Recoil Hydra-Shok slugs or the Low Recoil TRUBALL that Federal has. Input?

Got me a new Mossy 930 SPX to run it in.
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Old 04-03-2009, 11:01 PM
Firehouse Firehouse is offline
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Anyone have a recommendation for a rifled slug for home defense? I am leaning toward the Federal LE slugs. I can't decide on the Low Recoil Hydra-Shok slugs or the Low Recoil TRUBALL that Federal has. Input?

Got me a new Mossy 930 SPX to run it in.
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  #3  
Old 04-04-2009, 06:24 AM
Centenniel Centenniel is offline
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If you're set on using slugs for HD, then any of the low recoil slugs currently offered will work well. I'd recommend some type of buckshot load for your intended purpose.
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Old 04-04-2009, 06:39 AM
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Thanks for the input. I already have plenty of low recoil 00 buck, I was just looking for a few slugs to integrate into my stash.
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Old 04-04-2009, 07:13 AM
SWAT Lt. SWAT Lt. is offline
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As centennial said, either is fine for HD. You won't notice any difference in performance at HD ranges. Make sure which ever low recoil slug, or buckshot for that matter, you choose functions reliably in your semi-automatic shotgun.
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Old 04-04-2009, 07:14 AM
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I'm kind of partial to the Brenneke reduced recoil slugs. Then again when it comes to smooth bore barrels I'm partial to the entire line of products. I've yet to find a more accurate rifled slug for smooth bore shotgun barrels. Deer & Black Bear seem to be be very allergic to them as well.

http://www.brennekeusa.com/
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Old 04-04-2009, 08:01 AM
flop-shank flop-shank is offline
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Overpenetration probably isn't a concern if you're running slugs, so I agree about Brenneke K.O.s. I run full power Winchesters (X12RS15) in my Ithaca 87 because they are as accurate as Brenneke's (my 870 likes them too), penetrated less in perma-Gel (~15 1/2") and are made in America. Recoil is quite stiff, but I like the fact that X12RS15 expanded to 1.1" and packs close to a ton and a half of muzzle energy.
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Old 04-04-2009, 09:21 AM
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A shotgun with slugs is a poor substitute for a good carbine. Nothing is better than a shotgun with buckshot for low light, moving targets. Other than that, I don't see much use for one.

Now that the editorial portion of this reply is done...

The Federal Truball has a great reputation and I suppose that would be the one to use. That SPX you have is a GREAT shotgun for the money.
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Old 04-04-2009, 09:38 AM
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I appreciate the input Photoman. I have some carbines already. This SPX is a toy.

Anyhow, I was speaking with a Vietnam Veteran and retired Army Major at my church one day and he was suggesting for good defense, 2 buck, then a slug. 2 buck, then another slug. Rotating every third round to a slug. Though I'm sure there will be some varying opinions to the contrary, it seems like a good idea. Thought I'd give it a whirl.

Thread drift alert

A pic of my shotguns. Remington 870 and Mossberg 930 SPX.

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Old 04-04-2009, 04:48 PM
flop-shank flop-shank is offline
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A shotgun vs. a carbine? It's six of one, half dozen of the other. I usually run an M-16A1 AR clone. It carries more ammo, is the same thing I've been using for over twenty years, and holds 28 shots. My Ithaca holds five slugs only, but each one hits harder than any other weapon that's practical for home defense. Shotguns are brutal fight stoppers and slugs are probably better stoppers than anything else a shotgun (or any other shoulder fired small arm) will launch. Buckshot generally doesn't open up enough at in the house distances to allow a lot of slop in the aim. The advantage of buckshot is less penetration in the event that one misses.
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Old 04-04-2009, 05:40 PM
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I use the truball for deer hunting and find them to be very accurate.

bill
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Old 04-04-2009, 06:45 PM
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Nice hardware you have there, Firehouse! I sure do like those tactical shotguns!
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Old 04-04-2009, 07:02 PM
flop-shank flop-shank is offline
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I've heard too much good stuff about Truball to think anything other than it's great ammo. Unfortunately my Ithaca thinks I'm nuts, and couldn't disagree more. That gun and that load are two things that definately don't work together. Proof that every gun is different and you need to know your gun.
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Old 04-04-2009, 07:34 PM
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For HD, accuracy with the slug is not really a problem. But I'm starting to think that shotgun's and slug's can be just as finicky about ammo as the .22 rimfire's. I went a bit bonker's trying to find a 50 yard slug load for my Mossy 930 SPX. FED tru ball would not group well (my Mossy 590 loves it) tried some other brands and it turn's out that the old plain jane Rem rifled slug's are what it like's. Hope your first choice work's for ya!
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Old 04-04-2009, 08:53 PM
GatorFarmer GatorFarmer is offline
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I always like Brennekes, but then I used to buy and use them back when they were made in Germany. At one point they had a reputation for more penetration, not less, surpassing some FMJ rifle loads in gelatin testing. For whatever reason, Meijers always used to have plenty of them years ago in Michigan.

These days I've just got "value pack" Remington slugs from Walmart on the ammo carriers on the stocks of my shotguns. It's cheap, available, and is going to poke a very large hole in something. (Take that irate Sasquatch seeking a forest bride!)

But realistically... I have a FAL carbine with 30 round mags. I've always just kept slugs handy "just in case" having woken up to a bear trying to eat the family dog in my formative late teen years.
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Old 04-12-2009, 11:28 AM
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For home defense, I use regular Foster type slugs in my Remington 870 20 gauge.
At the close range of home defense, I really don't feel the need to buy premium slugs. The longest shot I'd ever take would be from the front door to the curb, about 50 feet.
I can put the cheaper Foster slugs (Remington or Winchester make) well within a 9-inch paper plate at that range -- enough to stop an engine, reach an occupant or flatten a tire.
Frankly, I don't see much point in spending up to $5 per round, when the $1 a round stuff will work just as well for the same purposes.
Now, if I were hunting, I'd want the most accurate slugs I could find, for precise bullet placement to bring down game humanely out to 75 or 100 yards.
If I'm shooting at an aggressor at 100 yards with a shotgun slug, I'm almost certainly outside the legal definition of self defense, or it's time for me to reach for my Ruger Mini-14.
I have a log cabin on a lake in the Chilcotin region of British Columbia, Canada. Up there, for bear medicine, I load my Browning A5 with Foster type slugs.
At the close range I would have to shoot a black bear or grizzly, precision accuracy is not required.
Most of the locals have 12 or 16-gauge pump shotguns in their cabin, loaded with 00 buck for the first shot and followed by Foster slugs.
I know of two black bears shot by cabin owners; no grizzlies. In one instance, the black bear was put down with two shots from a .303 British; the other was downed with a 12 gauge slug, presumably a Foster.
Self defense with a shotgun is almost always very close range. Why spend a lot of money on premium accuracy slugs when the less expensive slugs work just as well at the same range?
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Old 04-14-2009, 07:46 PM
biggs357 biggs357 is offline
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I to use rifled slugs only because my shotgun isn't allowed to eat anything else.I have a mossberg 500 with a rifled slug barrel with a red dot sight mounted for a scope.

I use 2 3/4 low recoil winchester slugs for h/d and 3 inch magnum slugs for hunting.
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  #18  
Old 04-15-2009, 07:30 PM
m1gunner m1gunner is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by biggs357:
I to use rifled slugs only because my shotgun isn't allowed to eat anything else.I have a mossberg 500 with a rifled slug barrel with a red dot sight mounted for a scope.

I use 2 3/4 low recoil winchester slugs for h/d and 3 inch magnum slugs for hunting.
If you desire, it is easy and inexpensive to pick up a "riot barrel" for that shottie. Then you can shoot whatever you want as a HD load.
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Old 04-15-2009, 08:29 PM
biggs357 biggs357 is offline
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I'de love to but here locally it aint happening.The cheapest barrel is $125.00 and that was used.The funny part of it all is that i only paid $169.95 nib.I'm going to do one better when i get paid.I have a friend who wants to sell me a 20 gauge mossberg with 2 extra chokes for $100.00 lnib.I'll keep the 12g in the safe for hunting and put the 20 by the bed for h/d.
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Old 04-16-2009, 05:19 AM
David Sinko David Sinko is offline
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For home defense I'd go with anything that cuts a full caliber hole. I don't think accuracy is terribly important. I cast up a large batch of Lee slugs that will stay on a man all day long out to 25 yards but beyond that they tumble and accuracy will be problematic. I would not hesitate to use those if necessary, but I'm no fan of shotguns for anything other than bird shooting. If I have to grab something big and heavy, it will be .30 caliber and probably shooting a bullet that expands very quickly.

Dave Sinko
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browning, carbine, centennial, hydra-shok, ithaca, remington, rimfire, ruger, scope, tactical, winchester

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