[DickBill]

I am new to this forum and to hunting in general. So, hello. I am in the process of sighting in my Mossberg 500 20 gauge with Simmons scope. I am not new to sighting in since I have spent 5 yrs in the Marines. My question is, at what range should I be sighting in at? My training says 100 yards. But everything I have read, and been told says 50 yards. I will be using the Hornady SST sabot rnd. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

SF

 

[Hunting Man]

When sighting in a new gun, I start at 25 yds just to see where I'm hitting and adjust from there. When zeroed and then raised 2" at 25 I then move the target to the desired final sight in range. I think I would split the yardage and fine tune at 75 yds for your scope/shotgun combo. I hope you have a riffled barrel for the gun otherwise the 50 yds may work better.

 

[DickBill]

Hunting Man, thanks. The barrel is rifled. So what your saying is, zero it at 25, make a 2 inch adjustment for the sabot ballistics then resight at 75. rgr

 

[Hunting Man]

Thats what I do. I consider most normal( not the new high tech models) shot guns as a max 100 yd effective range weapon. You should be able to get 2-3" groups being scoped and finding the right sabot bullet combination.

 

[DickBill]

I appreciate the help. Thanks.

 

[spiker]

get some lightfields

 

[daddus1]

Hi Dickbill,
Welcome to the sight.
I have been told to sight in at 50 yds. After that the bullet goes sub sonic and can really be affected at longer ranges. If you sight your SSt's in at 2" high at fifty you can shoot dead on to 150 if you are comfortable at that range. Good hunting and watch those crosswinds at long range
daddus

 

[Hunting Man]

I agree that some of the newest slug speciality guns can go out to 150 yds easy, but for the person just starting out with a modest investment in the gun then the shorter range would be more practical. Experience/ range practice allows for increased yardage if the gun will do it.

 

[daddus1]

Huntingman you are absolutely correct about the long shots. It will take a lot of practice and sore shoulders to become even average at distance with a slug gun. lol ouch!

 

[spiker]

slugs

you guys take a look at the savage 220 f.this is not built like a shotgun its put together like a rifle,the barrel is free floated and held together with the same barrel nut they use on their rifles.with practice this is an easy 150 yd gun.its shooting moa at 100 check it out pretty amazing.this is the future for slug hunting states. google some reviews of this i guess savage cant keep em in stock.

 

[DickBill]

Thanks everyone. 150y shots are no problem for me. Haven't tried shooting this gun at that range yet, but I know the proper fundamentals of shooting. I have been looking into maybe the Winchester Supreme Elite rounds. Any comments? Been reading as much as I can about ammo and I know every model gun shoots rounds differently. Anyone here use the Wins?

 

[markymark]

+1 for the Lightfields,I've shot a lot of deer with differnt slugs-and nothing has even come close to the knock down and 1 shot stops of the Lightfield slugs-and they are really accurate-don't think I've probably shot farther than 100-125 yards though,mostly on the downside of those yardages-you sound like you have had plenty of training with a military background,now just find the slug your gun likes and do some shooting,
mm

 

[spiker]

ive never seen a slug do the damage a lightfield does that soft lead is brutal.the hard sabots do not do nearly the damage a lightfield will do.a great slug

 

[markymark]

I've got some in a box that came out of deer I shot-usually on the opposite side under the skin,from the entry wound-I'll try to post some pics of them,
mm