The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: SwoopSJ on May 20, 2009, 05:10:53 PM
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I'm thinking about hunting whitetail in Ohio this year and was wandering if anyone could suggest a good slug gun. I am buying an Encore already, so would I be well served in buying a 12 gauge rifled barrel for it or should I just invest in a dedicated slug gun? I am an accuracy and precision freak so these are the two variables I'm most concerned with. As always, any help is much appreciated.
Swoop
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Remington has a few slug guns that have platforms for mounting optics, most of those have barrel mounting options, so you could switch it up for the dove field. I don't have any personal experience with it though.
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http://www.tar-hunt.com/
they are the measuring stick to which all slug guns are measured against and have been for decades... they are $$$$ they are really rifles that just happen to be chambered in 12 ga.
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Can you use black powder during the shotgun season? Because if you can, and are willing to put up with hassel, I think you'll be happier. Plus you can hunt in the blackpowder season as well. I've never owned one, but the new inline stainless synthetics can be taken down and just put under hot water in the tub for the initial clean. They are also under 2 moa at 100 yds. Yes, its a single shot, but when was the last time you shot twice at a deer? I'm not reccomending one, but I would give them a look before dropping the green on an expensive dedicated slug gun.
FQ13
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Can you use black powder during the shotgun season?
Well, now I feel stupid. :-[ I haven't checked Ohio's hunting regulations, however, I'm pretty sure use of a muzzleloader would be allowed during gun (shotgun) season. As I mentioned in my initial post, I'm planning on buying a new Endeavor anyway, so... I'll take the money I save on a shotgun and invest in a dunce hat. I'd get more use out of the hat anyway. ;D
Swoop
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I'm thinking about hunting whitetail in Ohio this year and was wandering if anyone could suggest a good slug gun. I am buying an Encore already, so would I be well served in buying a 12 gauge rifled barrel for it or should I just invest in a dedicated slug gun? I am an accuracy and precision freak so these are the two variables I'm most concerned with. As always, any help is much appreciated.
Swoop
Get the .50 Cal black powder barrel AND the shotgun barrel for your T/C Encore, I don't know how S&W is running it but before the buy out if the barrel you bought did not meet your standards they would replace it free.
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From the Ohio DNR website....
Gun Season and Youth Deer Gun Season - 10 gauge or smaller shotgun using one ball or
one rifled slug per barrel (rifled shotgun barrels are permitted when using shotgun slug ammunition); or muzzleloading rifle .38 caliber or larger; or handgun with 5-in. minimum length barrel, using straight-walled cartridges .357 caliber or larger.
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/dow/regulations/hunting_deer.aspx#equipment
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Get the .50 Cal black powder barrel AND the shotgun barrel for your T/C Encore, I don't know how S&W is running it but before the buy out if the barrel you bought did not meet your standards they would replace it free.
Actually Tom, this is very bad advice. The problem is that you are liviing in a world where earth logic and common sense apply. However, that is not the realm inhabited by many state's wildlife czars. In some states, Fl. included, a gun that can take centerfire cartridges, even IF you are using a muzzle loading barrel, is not a muzzle loader. (Which is too bad as Rossi makes a really nice three barrel set of 20 gauge, .243 and .50 black powder for around 6 bills). These exalted souls say, that if it can be converted, it doesn't count, no matter how you load it. Check your laws in any state you might want to hunt in before buying the gun. :P
FQ13
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The Endeavor is a muzzloader with a breech plug for cleaning but I don't think it can be converted for centerfire. We have a similar situation in MA. No convertables or break action muzzleloaders are allowed to hunt with. You can own them but you can't use them.
He should be fine but it warrants double checking the regulations.
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Actually Tom, this is very bad advice. The problem is that you are liviing in a world where earth logic and common sense apply. However, that is not the realm inhabited by many state's wildlife czars. In some states, Fl. included, a gun that can take centerfire cartridges, even IF you are using a muzzle loading barrel, is not a muzzle loader. (Which is too bad as Rossi makes a really nice three barrel set of 20 gauge, .243 and .50 black powder for around 6 bills). These exalted souls say, that if it can be converted, it doesn't count, no matter how you load it. Check your laws in any state you might want to hunt in before buying the gun. :P
FQ13
Reread the post, He's already buying the Encore, so your post while it raises a valid legal point, is, in context, stupid.
Timothy, anything built on an Encore receiver would be dis allowed. I do not see how that would matter during SHOTgun season though, but it isn't my state, I stick to strictly GUN stuff.
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Reread the post, He's already buying the Encore, so your post while it raises a valid legal point, is, in context, stupid.
No matter how bad or busy the day at work was, I can always come here to smile. ;D
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Reread the post, He's already buying the Encore, so your post while it raises a valid legal point, is, in context, stupid.
You know, I actually intended that post as a compliment to you (if you reread it I hope you'll agree), however, no good deed goes unpunished and all that. I was merely pointing out that bureaucratic minutia can make the difference between a good hunt and a big fine and a suspended hunting license. I am unfamiliar with the Encore, so yeah, I posted in ignorance. I still lthought it better to err on the side of caution.
FQ13
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You know, I actually intended that post as a compliment to you (if you reread it I hope you'll agree), however, no good deed goes unpunished and all that. I was merely pointing out that bureaucratic minutia can make the difference between a good hunt and a big fine and a suspended hunting license. I am unfamiliar with the Encore, so yeah, I posted in ignorance. I still lthought it better to err on the side of caution.
FQ13
The Encore is a heavier version of the Contender, Break action single shot with interchangeable barrels. The Contender has a switch on top of the hammer that repositions the firing pin for rimfires (.22) the Encore is center fire only. Black powder barrels are available for both, as well as shotgun and pretty much all centerfire cartridges except .50 BMG.
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The Endeavor is a muzzloader with a breech plug for cleaning but I don't think it can be converted for centerfire.
The Endeavor, according to my gun guy, is a modified version of the Encore, like the Pro Hunter. So, its barrels are interchangeable with any made for the Encore. That being said, I didn't realize that Encores were not considered legal muzzleloaders in some states, they are in mine. From what I've read on the Ohio DNR website I should be fine, however, I will check with some of the locals to be sure. If they are legal in Ohio, I'll probably skip the shotgun barrel and use the muzzleloader for both seasons. From what I've read the mjuzzleloader with a magnum load has better ballistics anyway.
Swoop
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October 4, 2007
Contacts: Capt. John Miller or Capt. Rob Beaton (850) 922-9022
Note: The original news release of Oct. 2 has been modified (added text is in bold) to provide clarification.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wants to make it clear to all muzzleloader hunters – not all muzzleloaders are created equal. Some of the new models do not meet the legal definition of guns authorized for use during muzzleloading gun season.
The two issues which seem to be generating the most questions are whether muzzleloaders with an electronic ignition are legal and whether the use of nitro-cellulose powder is legal. Neither is legal for use in Florida during muzzleloading gun season.
"In particular, the CVA Electra is a new muzzleloader on the market that doesn’t qualify as a state-defined muzzleloader,” said Capt. John Miller of FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement. "It is not a legal weapon for muzzleloader season because it uses an electronic ignition, fired by a battery.”
The legal types of guns for use during the muzzleloading gun season use black powder or a non-nitro-cellulose substitute and are fired by wheel lock, flintlock or percussion cap ignition (including shotgun or 209 type primers). They are not adaptable to use of any self-contained cartridge ammunition.
The CVA Electra muzzleloader is legal to use during general gun season, however.
More information on muzzleloader hunting.
http://myfwc.com/NEWSROOM/07/statewide/News_07_X_MuzzleLegal.htm
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Timothy, anything built on an Encore receiver would be dis allowed. I do not see how that would matter during SHOTgun season though, but it isn't my state, I stick to strictly GUN stuff.
In MA, muzzleloading firearms are allowed during the shotgun season. They are considered "primitive" firearms (yea, right!). I defer to your knowledge of the Encore line, I don't know much about them personally and was unaware of the interchangable barrels from the Thompson line of guns. I thought they were purely muzzle loading guns.
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I will stick with my Remington 870 12 g. Hasn't failed me yet. :)
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I will stick with my Remington 870 12 g. Hasn't failed me yet. :)
I'm not a hunter but I have shot shotguns and muzzle loaders, I would take the shotgun every time as I find the muzzle loader to be a PITA, powder to spill, caps and balls to drop, ramrod to break, give me a 12 Ga. at least the darn shells show up if you drop one. ;D
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I'm not a hunter but I have shot shotguns and muzzle loaders, I would take the shotgun every time as I find the muzzle loader to be a PITA, powder to spill, caps and balls to drop, ramrod to break, give me a 12 Ga. at least the darn shells show up if you drop one. ;D
I agree, muzzleloaders are more trouble than shotguns where you can just rack a shell into the chamber. I must say, however, I had a regular Encore with a muzzleloader barrel that was smooth as silk to load and shot like a dream. Unfortunately, it was lost when I introduced my Jeep to a tractor trailer while traveling down the highway a few years ago. :o (I have pictures somewhere. If I can find them, I'll post them.) With Pyrodex pellets and saboted bullets you get better ballistics than a shotgun and they're much easier to load than old school barrel stuffers. Plus, in KY, you can use an actual rifle during gun season, so a rifled shotgun or shotgun barrel would only be used when in OH.
Swoop