Smooth Barrel or Rifled Barrel

[mitrrophybowhunter]

Hi I am not a shotgun hunter per say. I hunt in Northern Michigan so I use my 300WSM all the time. I will have the oppurtunity to go after some big bucks in Southern Michigan next year. The thing is that you can only use shotgun or blackpowder. So here is my question. What is better: a smooth barrel and rifled slugs or a rifled barrel with sabots? WIth is more accurate? and is there a BIB difference? I have a Browning Gold 12 ga. Thanks

[ZooBear]

The rifled barrel with sabots will be much more accurate at any distance over 50 yards.

[mitrrophybowhunter]

Can I get a rifled barrel for the Gold?

[AJ]

No question, I would go with the rifled barrel over a smooth barrel. Browning does make rifled barrels for the Gold. They come in rifled with cantilever scope mount, smoothbore with fixed choke, smoothbore with choke tube (rifled), or smoothbore with choke tube and cantilever scope mount.

Personally, I would take a muzzleloader over a slug gun.

[2500HD]

Before spending big bucks on a slug barrel for your Gold, check into buying a H&R Ultra Slug Gun instead. You can buy the gun and most likely a scope for less that a barrel for your Gold. You will have another gun and the H&R will out shoot the Gold hands down. Just a suggestion.

[too_pointer]

AJ answered your question great. I have used a smooth bore barrel with a rifled choke, and it was o.k. for some ranges, but a rifled barrel with sabot slugs is much better at longer distances.I have one on my Rem. 11-87, it has the cantilever scope mount. I feel confident out to 150 yards with it, ( I do target practice at that range). I believe the sabot slugs are much better than the rifled slugs you have to use in a smooth bore.Also, most every company puts out premium sabot slugs these days.
too_pointer