H&R slug guns

Chuck J

Chuck J

Well-known member
Anyone have or shot one of these single shot slug shot guns? My dad (who just turned 77)is looking for a new gun, just for deer. They are supposed to be acurate to 150 yards. I was even thinking of trying to talk him into a 20 gauge. With the thick barrel they weigh in 8-9 lbs, so the kick would be reasonable ( I wouldn't recomend a light weight model to him). He was asking me for an autoloader recomendation but I was thinking of trying to sway him to something like this.

http://www.hr1871.com/Firearms/Shotguns/ultraSlug.asp

All input is appreciated,
Chuck
 
I think the 12 ga is a bored 10 ga barrel too. For the money, they are supposed to be hell on wheels. Check out the Slug Shooters Forum on shotgunworld.com. I bet you would have to try out several sabot slugs to find which was the most accurate and I would really look at the eye relief on any scope that I would put on one....semi circles in the eyebrow bleed like a sumbitch and the black & red eye is nothing short of amazing. I think they even have trigger kits for these.
 
Last edited:
Anyone have or shot one of these single shot slug shot guns? My dad (who just turned 77)is looking for a new gun, just for deer. They are supposed to be acurate to 150 yards. I was even thinking of trying to talk him into a 20 gauge. With the thick barrel they weigh in 8-9 lbs, so the kick would be reasonable ( I wouldn't recomend a light weight model to him). He was asking me for an autoloader recomendation but I was thinking of trying to sway him to something like this.

http://www.hr1871.com/...otguns/ultraSlug.asp

All input is appreciated,
Chuck
Click to expand...


They are cheap pieces of crap. I owned one in my youth, the trigger sucks (both heavy and creepy), the comb (although raised) is narrow so all the recoil is transferred to your face in one little sharp line, the grip is narrow, the hammer is tiny and an oddly shaped thing I had it slip once when pulling back with a dented primer but no discharge as a result, the ejector is not automatic it ejects every time the gun is open, the latch is a tiny little thing that a 77 year old shouldn't be subjected to.... Oh yeah, the one I had was nice and accurate.

I wouldn't subject anyone to one of those. In my opinion this is a gun that should not be bought by anyone other than an individual that is highly motivated to own that exact gun for a specific reason.

If he wants an auto get have him get an 1100/11-87 or beretta or benelli (or whatever else), with a rifled barrel and scope both would be accurate to as far as a sabot can be stabilized. Hitting a deer at 150 yards is not a tall order with a speciality slug gun with matched sabots these days.
 
Last edited:
There is a big difference in H&R shotguns and rifles. Those single shots make fair rifles but they make horrible shotguns in my opinion. Those guns have the rifle stock on them so they may be OK but I''ve never shot a slug gun. I do know I hate those shotgun stocks. The triggers on the rifles have gotten better over the past decade and my .223 isn't bad. Not sure since those are built on the 10ga frame if those are good.
One thing to keep in mind is if you do get one and it is too much they don't really drop a lot in what price you can get for them on H&R sites.
My brother and his kids have shot deer just fine with a 20ga. I can't imagine a 12ga slug doing any more damage and some 20ga slugs are a little faster.

Tim
 
I own the 20 guage ultramag you are talking about and I bought it for exactly the same reasons you are looking for one for your Dad (#1 I do not care to have my eyes tear up after pulling the trigger on a 12 guage slug).

Studying the balistics tables a saboted 20 guage has about the same ballistic characteristics as a 45 70. The "market" clearly wants 12 guage slug guns but how much killing does a deer need?

The new H&Rs are completely different than the guns of our youth (I started out with a Topper). They are safer with a transfer bar & H&R will lighten the trigger pull for you to 3 1/2 pounds (used to anyway).

I had H&R an Ultramag 20 barrel put on a youth model 12 guage my son outgrew with a program they had to add a barrel to any action you sent them for short money. I then (foolishly$$$$$) restocked it in walnut (because I always wanted to try to restock a gun). I used to live near the H&R factory and dropped off/picked up the gun myself. Now that they are owned by Marlin not sure how they are on custom deals.

I am looking at their website and can't see the new barrel program anymore. Perhaps you could call the company.
http://www.hr1871.com/

Worthy of note is that H&R makes shotgun actions and rifle actions. You could ad a shotgun barrel to a rifle action but not the other way around.

Important issue - how well does it work? I don't really know. I finished the restock project when we moved to Rhode Island and swung from deer hunting to small game/ducks. Also, my deer hunting opportunities here are more relevant to carrying my Remmington 870 20 slug setup than "stand" hunting with a singleshot. I just acquired a 4x scope for the H&R, have finally bought a bunch of sabot shells (I'm cheap & it nearly made me ill to spend the money).

The only public range I know of here in RI is at Great Swamp and it is a stinking 50 yards long. I need to get out to Great Swamp & play with my BP gun, the H&R and my 870 20 slug setup before deer season.
 
I guess the question that hasn't been asked is why would you steer him away from an auto? They are softer shooting, lighter to carry and give you the option of a follow up shot. The only downside is the cost, but unless you are buying him the gun or are worried about burning up your inheritance - have him get an auto.
 
The only public range I know of here in RI is at Great Swamp and it is a stinking 50 yards long. I need to get out to Great Swamp & play with my BP gun, the H&R and my 870 20 slug setup before deer season.
Click to expand...
Gary - not sure where you are located in RI but if you would like I could have you as a guest to my fish and game club in CT sometime. We have a 100 and 200 yard range. It's in Chaplin CT and only 30 minutes from parts of RI. Let me know where your located and if your interested.
 
I guess the question that hasn't been asked is why would you steer him away from an auto? They are softer shooting, lighter to carry and give you the option of a follow up shot. The only downside is the cost, but unless you are buying him the gun or are worried about burning up your inheritance - have him get an auto.
Click to expand...

Todd,

First I think he will have a bit of sticker shock at the price of an auto, not that he can't afford it, but he doesn't naturally throw around money. Second the area he hunts is primarly the edges of his woodlot to CRP land, and I have seen dozens of great shots inside 150 yards that I would not be comfortable shooting with my hastings barrel on my pump. As far as the inheritance, I want to make sure he gets a good gun...(my brother and sister don't hunt.) I think the follow up shot, especially hunting deer from a stand, is overrated. That said, the lack of a follow up shot might be the biggest sticking point.

Lee,

I had been over to that forum, and alot of that info is what got me thinking in this direction.

I am just doing his homework. If it makes him happy 2 weeks a year to have a $800+ dollar auto shotgun, thats what's improtant.

Thanks for the insite,
Chuck
 
They are making a 20ga 3 1/2" (I think) that is supposed to have a really flat trajectory...one would have to be "into it" bigtime for that. You might look at the bolt actions that were the rage a few years ago. Personally, I don't think an auto could come close to the long range accuracy of a fixed barrel single shot. Since your siblings don't shoot and dad's guns would come to you......Thompson Center has a rifled barrel for the Encore and Pop could also get the muzzle loader barrel for it.
 
Hey Chuck,
I own the 12 ga, Ultra slug. From my own experience, I love the thing. If you feed it right, it does great. As a matter of fact I take it up North with me and have left the rifle in the case several times, and have taken deer at just over 100 yards
clean.
If you took a run down to Bob's in Hastings they usually have a few on the used rack and would let you run a round or two through one that you where considering to buy.

Good luck,
Brian
 
Chuckk,

I've owned a lot of slug guns (5 at my last count, including the H&R you are talking about ) and shot more than that - the H&R was the worst. From what I've seen all slug guns with a rifled barrel these days are capable of a 150 yard shot with a premium sabot.

If price is a problem, think about a mossberg auto with a rifled barrel and scope. The trigger will suck, but accuracy will not be a problem. I own a mossberg pump (500 trophy slugster), that happens to be 20 miles down M-37 from you that is very nice a accurate.

You can get a mossberg 930 with rifled barrel and scope mount for $518 MSRP, has a raised comb too.

As for follow up shots - I agree, but I also would take a repeater any day, especially one that was lighter and kicked less.

T
 
Last edited:
Patrick - thanks.

I might take you up on your offer. First I'll go the the state range here in Rhode Island to get on the paper (so you won't have to sit around twiddling your thumbs.

i'll check in with you 30-90 days.

Gary
 
Ted - re: if price is a problem

Last year Dick's here in Rhode Island had 20 guage Mossberg pumps with rifled barrel & cantelivered scope mounts for less than $300.
 
It looks like a bunch of people on here have had bad experience with the H&R NEF slug guns. I have a friend who bought the Ultra slug hunter 12 ga for himself and the 20 ga for his son. They both love them and have killed many deer with them. They shoot lightfield slugs. I have seen the targets and the damage lightfields inflict on deer. I am personally impressed with the way the ultra slug hunters shoot.

I have a .223 NEF and it shoots well.

I like a semi-auto like an 11-87 with 2.75" slugs for less recoil.
 
I bought my youngest son the topper model for his first gun. Black stock and brushed chamber in 20ga. He's used it one year before he outgrew it but as far as I'm concerned for a $76.00 gun it was a hell a deal. I don't know what they cost today that was 8 years ago. I keep it as as a snake/pack gun because it breaks down and carries easy.

Ed L.
 
Ed, you ever touch off a slug in that? I thought I lost a molar when I shot one out of the 20 NEF that I bought my son. I wouldn't even let him try it after that. I went out and got him a 20ga 1100 for slugs.
 
LOL....No we never tried a slug in it because I DO remember the first time I shot one out of my Stevens 20ga single shot. Came up with a bloody nose! Took five minutes for it to stop gushing! Never put my face that close to the hammer again...hehe. I remember the next year I got a Stevens 20 pump for my birthday.

Even with a bulll barrel I wouldn't recommend it for a slug gun. I was mearly commenting on how I felt the quality of the gun was for the price point.

Ed
 
The H&R 20 Ultra doesn't kick all that bad. I gave away a Winchester auto w/smooth slug barrel because I could not tolerate the kick. I even taped foam to the stock to ease the pain. Nothing worked.

I have a Remmingtom 870 20 guage pump w/rifled slug barrel and the H&R Ultramag 20. Both are tolerable to shoot w/slugs.
 
This string is getting a little old but I just saw an add in the September Fur-Fish-Game for a 20 guage H&R Ultramag slug gun that Hastings is putting their barrel on. It is on page 36. I have read it costs around $300.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top