Savage 210 Slug Warrior

[Kjrackmaster]

Hey guys! Because of Hornady's new shotgun round i know that shotguns are a very deadly rifle now and am thinking of purchasing a Saveage 210 Slug Warrior. I was wondering if any of you have tried out this firearm and if so what is the performance? I would like a gun that could reach 200 yards easyily. All input is very much appreciated!
Thanks!!!
Kjrackmaster

[DW]

I have not tried the Sav slug gun but I think 200yds is a reach for any slug gun, can it be done: yes, but there are a lot of variables involved. There was an article I read a couple of years ago "I think it was on the Tar Hunt slug gun site" where the guy talked about how slugs are highly susceptible to wind drift, they also vary lot to lot, so you might have acceptable accuracy with a brand and then once you run out and restock they may not shoot as well. He also talked about how the way sabot slugs are designed, their accuracy is susceptible to moisture and temperature, he said one of the worst things you can do is carry your slugs on one of those buttstock shell holders, he recommended carrying extra slugs in a zip lock baggy to keep moisture from affecting the powder, as well as storing them at home this way. Another member here shot one of the premium sabot slugs over a chrony a while back, "I think it was the Win. Part. Golds, the same thing I shoot" their supposed to shoot 1900fps, I think he said they were down in the 1600's, that knocks a good bit off the energy at 200yds if you are not getting what they claim at the muzzle. I have to admit my buddy did take a buck in the 180-200 yard range a couple of weeks ago with his Ithaca Deerslayer III and a Rem. Core Lokt slug "still don't know how he did it" the bullet went through the ribs out the other side and imbedded in the hind quarter, I have not saw the bullet he recovered out of the leg, but he was not impressed with the expansion, he is supposed to post a pic on the deer forum of the bullet. So it can be done, but I would not say easily.

[redneckrob]

200 yards is a long shot for a slug gun, i don;t care what king of slug or gun combo you have!

[olegburn]

200 or even 250 yard shot is very possible and doable as long as the half that distance one covers on foot.
That be my philosophy.
If one is set on actually shooting that far with shotgun-make sure one practices with that shotgun and load in field conditions until comfortably hits target.
Trajectory I understand is still well below rifles thus estimating range and correcting for drop might be a challeng somewhat.
JustMHO.
olegburn

[art338wm]

I guess I will jump in here with the dissenting opinion. Although I am no expert on sabot slugs or what I like to refer to as specialized by design bolt action fully rifled slug rifles or other types of specialized "dedicated by design" slug guns I have met only one other person who has shot more different types of sabot slugs or dedicated by design, fully rifled slug guns than my self. I at present own the fallowing dedicated slug guns:

<>Marlin 512
<>Browning 12ga A-Bolt
<>NE Arms 920

Combined over the last seven or so years I have shot well over 600 12 gauge sabot slugs including the fallowing types:
<>Winchester Partition Golds
<>Remington Core-Lokt Ultras
<>Lightfield IDS Commanders
<>Lightfield Hybreds.
<>Hornadays SST

The short version is they all perform quite well with 100yrd three shot groups varying in size from under 1.0" to 2.6". Thy all produced IN MY RIFLES accuracy capable of ethically, consistently and easily killing deer out to 150 yards. Beyond 150 yards two type of slugs I shot performed the best out of MY rifles. Those two were the Winchester P/Golds and the Remington C-L/Ultras. I at present have taken three deer at ranges from 176 to 188 yards and one right at 200yrds and one at 205 yards all with the Winchester P/Golds. All ranges were confirmed with a Bushnell laser RF and all five deer literally dropped in their tracks DRT. All of the 385 grain Partition Gold slugs passed completely through all five deer doing massive damage to what ever tissue or organs they passed through. I should also add that according to information I have received from totally reliable sources both the Win/Part-Golds as well as the Rem/Core-Loks are usually 100fps below advertised velocities on average or they travel around 1820-1850 fps not the 1900+ as advertised.

Based solidly on what I learned while shooting them at the range, when sighted in at three inches high at 100yrds both the Winchester P/Golds as well as the Remington K-Lockts hit dead on at 150yrds and on average will experience a drop of at least 7 inches but no more than 9 inches at 200 yards. Quite a flat trajectory for what is for all intents and purposes a .50 caliber saboted pistol bullet when compared to any "Foster style, non-sabot slug design. When i shot both my 200yrd deer, all I did was place the horizontal cross hair of my scope on top of the back both deer and fire. Resulting in text book double lung hits.

All these shots were taken while using either a naturally occurring rest like a tree limb or while seated shooting off my stony point shooting sticks as was the case in both my longest shots. After all of my experience with sabot slugs shot out rifles specifically designed for them, as well as shooting them out of less than perfect slug gun designs, I have come to the fallowing conclusions.

#1-Don't bother trying to shoot much past 100yrds with a scoped non-dedicated slug gun design like a 870 , 1100 or similar slug gun design that does not feature a barrel either screwed into the receiver or other wise rigidly attached to same. You will be disappointed in your results. Only with a bolt action, or break open type design like the NE 920 will you be able to do so with consistency. I can not speak to the newer types with the cantilever scope mounts like on the Brownings or Remington's as I have never shot them, but i here they are capable of quite good 100yrd accuracy. I am basing my opinion of the 870 & 1100s on my experiences I have shooting scoped versions of mine as well as my friends with fully rifled after market barrels.

#2-If you are only planning on shooting at ranges of 100yrds and less, dont bother buying the extremely expensive Winchesters or Remington's as cheaper sabot slugs like the Lightfield Hybreds, Lightfield Laser sabots or Remington Buck Hammers will kill deer just as dead allot cheaper. If you can still find them an awesome 100yrd and less performer I love is Active Foster slugs made by Lightfield sabot slug company. I liked them so much I bought a life times supply of them. Out of a cylinder choked barrel I averaged 3.5-4.0" for a 3 shot 100yrd group. They may be out of production now, but I am not sure. Thay are a super value at under $4 for five rounds if bought by the case price.

#3-You need to practice ALOT at ranges of 150 and 200yrds if you plan on shooting that far and that my Friends as I have learned is extreeeeeeamly costly at (when I buy them on year end sale) around $1.60 to $2.00 per shot.

#4-Under no circumstances what so ever should you ever sight in your sabot slug ammunition or bother practicing at long range if the wind in much above 10 to 12mph. Wind plays utter havoc with all types of slug gun ammunition, including even the best sabot ammunition out there. This also applies while hunting. Shots in periods of high cross winds should be limited to under 125yrds or less.

#5-If you want to shoot at ranges at or beyond 150yrds you need to do so using what I have come to refer to as a "dedicated slug gun design". Unfortunately the only ones left that are widely available as well as affordable are the 210 and the NE920. Both of theses guns are faaar more affordable than anything else out there by the likes of Browning, Remington, or anyone else and none will shoot any better and most not as good.

#6-If you find a lot# of either Winchester or Remington Sabot slugs that perform well out of your rifle, go back and buy all you can find of that lot#. The reason for this is I found out the hard way that slugs of varying lot# can experience dramatic changes in POI, although I did not have this happen with slugs with the same lot#.

Bottom line base on my experiences both while hunting and at the range, is if using the proper state of the art firearms paired with as equally good ammunition in the hands of a hunter who has spent the time and $$$ necessary to become proficient with both, 200 yards shots are quite possible and ethical, but only if made under ideal or near ideal conditions and no matter what rifle or ammo combo used 200yrd shots with sabot ammo will likely never reach the status of being easly atained. Thay are still after all sabots and not a 30/06, or .270. Max rannge Shots of 180 yards and less are well within the capabilities of the rifles I have using the ammo I described and shots much beyond that should only be attempted under perfect or near perfect conditions on utterly still deer standing broad side. Lastly, if you plan on shooting at ranges beyond 150yrds a quality laser range finder becomes a must have item for obvious reasons.

Lastly, I am seriously considering buying a 210F (or two) as both my Marlin 512 and A-Bolt are long out of production and are going to become increasingly difficult to come by and in the case of the A-Bolt 99% near impossable. I also want to have good solid slug rilfes available to both my sons when thay start to hunt. Despite what some have said, I am a huge fan of the 210F as i have shot several and have been quite impressed.