12ga Mossberg 535 ATS combo… turkey/deer. I have a few questions actually… First, what is an estimate of the max effective range to take a deer down. We’ll assume the barrel is fully rifled and 24 inches in length w/ standard deer slugs being used. Secondly, what’s the optimal variable scope power for hunting with a SHOTGUN having a range such as this?

4 Responses to “Can anyone tell me a little more about deer hunting range with a Mossberg 535?”

1. jefflawdog on October 18th, 2009 4:59 am

   Well for starters, with standard slugs you won’t get maximum accuracy. foster style rifled slugs are designed to be shot from a smooth bore barrel that’s why they have their own rifling ridges designed into them. You should shoot sabot’s out of a rifled barrel for better accuracy. Which sabot? Whichever one patterns best out of your gun.

   As for scopes, I like a 2-7 or a 1.5-5 something in that range. Frankly a fixed 2 or 3 or something like that would be OK too though. You don’t need high magnification power with a shotgun because you don’t have long range. Just make sure you have a good quality shotgun compatible scope to deal with the HEAVY recoil a slug produces.

   Lastly, as to max range, it depends greatly on the shooter, but a modern slug gun with a fully rifled barrel shooting sabots and topped with a good scope is a 125-150 yard gun 100 yards is probably a safe bet though until you get much more experienced with it.

   I will also tell you just for comparison sake, I have an 870 with a fully rifled Mossberg barrel that I have topped with a 2-7×32 Nikon and I shoot Remington copper solid sabots through it. Its a tack driver. I’ve shoot two bucks at approx 75 yrads each and it has really whacked them…

2. boltguy on October 21st, 2009 2:10 am

   if it was me i wouldnt shoot much past 150 yards with a slug gun.some people would say more but its a personal oponion on distance.a good rifled barell shooting a high quality sabot slug would probally go out to 200.i would go with a 3×9 variable scope.i have owned 2 slug guns with rifled barels and was quite impressed with the accuracy.i had to use good sabot slugs not the cheap o slugs.i shot a few deer out to 151 yards with my slug gun.

3. Dystopiat99 on October 21st, 2009 10:41 pm

   The optimal scope for your rifle is the Nikon ProStaff 2-7×32 power. Its not a cheap scope and not super expensive but a decent mid price scope….. No matter what scope you get make sure its for a shotgun. A shotgun scope has a long eye relief. You dont want the scope to kick back in your eye….. A rifle scope is not recommended……. The general maximum range is 100 yards with sabot ammunition. YES YES some folks with lots of practice and dedication can hit targets at a longer range — 200 yards although thats unlikely it can be done…… It all gets down to you….

4. Hank (Right to Bare Arms) on October 23rd, 2009 5:50 am

   150 yards
   Bushnell 3-9×40

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