I was told I could use a smooth barreled shotgun and shoot rifled slugs for deer hunting. Is this true, and what are the differences between this and having a rifled barrel and using regular slugs??

[Jmo]

I was told I could use a smooth barreled shotgun and shoot rifled slugs for deer hunting. Is this true, and what are the differences between this and having a rifled barrel and using regular slugs??

[charlie elk]

Yes. Use ic choke. Regular slugs, aka pumpkin balls are not as accurate as sabots shot from rifled barrels.
later,
charlie

[4everAutumn]

Rifled slugs are designed for smooth bore shotguns and sabot slugs are designed for rifled barrels. As Charlie pointed out, there is a big difference in accuracy between the two.

[huntfishtrap]

Rifled slugs are kind of a poor-man's imitation of a rifled barrel. I don't know what would happen if you shot a rifled slug through a rifled barrel, but I suspect it wouldn't produce good accuracy.

[charlie elk]

The rifling on a slug does little to help accuracy. I always thought it was more of arketing aid. Slugs are accurate out about 50-60 yards then they start tumbling. Rifled barrels are accurate to 100-150 yds. with a sabot bullet.
later,
charlie

[officerdom1987]

From what I was always taught, you want to shoot a slug through a smooth bore, but do not want a tight choke, IC or more open. A sabot slug should be shot through a rifled barrel. The lanes and grooves will spin the sabot, allowing a further and more accurate shot. Will shooting a slug through a rifled barrel hurt the gun? No, but so many might gum-up your rifling. Will shooting a sabot slug through a smooth bore hurt the gun? No, but you will suffer in accuracy since the bullet isn't twisting as it's made to. If you wanna try, I have heard good things on a rifled choke. Put that in a smooth bore and shoot a sabot...that choke may give you just enough twist at the end to mildly increase your accuracy. I know in my experience that buying a rifled barrel just isn't in the budget.

[4everAutumn]

I agree that the rifling on a slug is a marketing tool. It leads people to think the slug will twist and help accuracy. The weight distribution designed into a slug is what helps it fly as straight as it does. It is heavy in the front and hollow in the back. I also think the rifling creates less surface and helps the slug through a choke in the event it is shot through one that's too tight.

[6phunter]

same make same model shotguns shoot slugs different ,rifled barrels tend to be more accurate. you just have to find what works best for you .

[Al Joy]

Twenty years ago rifled barrels were a novelty, and hunters in NYS killed 250000 deer. Then Rifled Barrels became commonplace and hunters killed 250000 deer. Today you can hunt with rifles and make an accurate kill shot out to 500 yards, and hunters killed 250,000 deer.
I suspect that in a few years we will be hunting with photons shooting lasers, and hunters will kill 250000 deer.
The argument which will shoot better is mostly a marketing gimmick and how you hunt has more to do with your ability to kill a deer than your equipment. Replace your thinking from minute of angle to minute of deer, adjust your hunting accordingly and you'll do better than worrying about a, inch of accuracy at 100 yards.

[Tim Luke]

My son has a double barrel 12 gauge, old one sears and robuck would it damage the barrel if you shoot rifle slugs