Best smooth bore 12 gauge slug

Hello all,

Just picked up a used Winchester 1300 slug gun. Although it’s a slug gun with rifle sights plus a scope turns out it is still a smooth bore. Any recommendations on slugs to shoot?

I picked up a box of Brenneke Green Lighting to try. Figure I’ll ask around then try out the most liked shells to see what the gun likes and what it’s capable of.

Thanks

-c

I just went through the process last week myself with a Browning Auto 5 Busk special with a smooth bore.The Brenneke came out on top as well as the Hornady American Whitetail.

I didn't get in to brenekees but of REM , Fed , WIN I find the WIN superx worked the best for me so for the last 25 years I have just been buying the WIN super X rifled slugs

a lot of deer have fallen to them , but you need to try a few ans see what is best for your gun

the last one to try is the remingtion it has been the worst in the most guns for me

I also have't noticed any change in the WIN super X in 25 years and they come in 15 round value packs

my slug gun has had a scope now for 11 years and have not touched it from my initial sight in I go out and hit the same point of aim each year.

Breneke has been the best smooth bore slug for me in all the guns I've owned. Particularly the original with the attached felt base.
In most guns they hold minute of pie plate out to 75 plus yards to tighter in the better ones. That's with bead and irons. Scope would probably tighten it up but scopes on scatter guns is just wrong.

You'll have to try them and see what works best in your gun. A couple I have had preferred the cheapest winchesters.

What ADC said. Mine likes the cheap Winchester slugs. Trial and error will show you what to use.

Years ago I tested several kinds of slugs. For me the Winchester 1 oz. Super X slug was the most accurate. I have three choke tubes and the modified was the best tube to use. Full choke was second best and improved cylinder was the worst.

My Winchester model 12's smooth bore mod choke shoot regular ol pumpkin ball slugs like a rifle. I can hit a large knot in a tree 50-75 yards pretty easily with just the standard regular shotgun sights.

Federal 12ga 3” 1 1/4 oz has been my go to forever in my 870 and 11-87. Have had some awesome impact results on white tails.

I used my 870 with a smooth bore for years, always shot Federal slugs. Awesome performance, very accurate to 100 yds+.

These are what I have used for many years.

Dan

Check out the Federal Truball slugs. They fly best from several of my guns.

Federal power shok....
Best group out of my 870 and my Ithaca 37 featherlight....

I have 3 Winchester 1300 pumps and two of them are slug guns. One is a 20 and one is a 12. The 20 likes old Winchester slugs with the star on them and new Remington slugs. The 12 likes Remington slugs. I shot a doe in January for the cull season at 120 yards with open sight. It drilled it exactly where I was aiming. None of my Winchesters shoot Federal or Brenneke slugs at all. They give over 12'' group at 50 yards with those. I have shot over 40 deer with the 20 ga and 20 with the 12. Wouldn't trade either one. I have not tried any of the newer style slugs so I can not comment on them.
I shot a deer almost 400 yards away with my 20 about 25 years ago. Killed it. I shot a doe one time and then a pretty big bodied buck came up to the dead doe and mounted it. I shot him right where his heart is at about 80 yards away with the 20. He bucked then just stood there. I shot him through the neck on the second shot and he went down. I sat there for a while because it was a nice day and after about ten minutes his head came up and he started looking around. So I plugged him in the chest again and that rascal hopped up and started running off so I had to shoot him through the neck again. This time when he went down I ran up and paid the insurance. That evening when we skinned that deer out popped the first slug that hit him where his heart was. It had mushroomed on a rib and never penetrated. It was sitting just under the skin and fell out when we pulled the skin off. I checked the other three slugs. I missed the second shot to the ribs and I hit it in the neck twice about 4'' apart but both slugs mushroomed on the neck vertebrae and did not break the bones. This is why I got a 12 ga. The 20 was accurate - no doubt about it - but on a big deer sometime you will run into trouble with it not having the guts to do the job.

Brenneke's Rock !!!!!

w

This is what I've shot out of my Remington model 31a all my life. Never tried any other slugs because I never needed to. Just plain old Federal 2 3/4" rifled slugs, in the blue box.

Brenneke slugs and Dixie slugs are both very good.

Winchester super x
Federal in that order for me. Remington sluggers are terrible.

Unless your lucky enough to get the best group with the first brand you try. What I've always had to do with my slug guns is try a few different brands see what the gun likes. My son has a Winchester 1300 with shot barrel and a smooth slug barrel. It likes the plain cheap standard Green Remingtons best. I have the 1300 in a dedicated slug gun they call their Black Shadow. That gun I shoot the Light Field slugs also a lower priced load but piles them right in there. Got a 20ga was deadly with the Brenakes. All my slug guns always shoot best dirty. So after I go to the range before deer season they just get wiped down, the bore don't get cleaned until after hunting season.

Mac

Thanks for all the replies. I shot a handful of green lighting and Winchester’s so far. I’m going to have to look around and see what other brands I can get my hands on and go from there