Barnes Expander ???

[Masterblaster1]

Anyone shoot 12 ga Barnes expander 1 ounce 2 3/4" out of their slug gun?? How do they perform on deer?? I just sited in my slug gun with them and they are accurate!

[GLHolmes]

I don't have experience with them but would be interested in knowing what kind of gun barrel you shot them out of.

[Masterblaster1]

I am shooting a Mossberg Maverick with a 20" Hastings cantilever barrel that was only made for a limited time. The recoil on them is not bad and they seem to be consistant as they do not throw flyers like the sst's do.

[GLHolmes]

I'll have to try them.  I've got a Mossberg 500; couple of months ago, I ordered a Mossberg cantilever rifled barrel with scope and accuracy was just pathetic with Hornady SSTs, Hastings, Remington copper solids, Brenneke KOs, and Lightfields.  Called Cabela's and they agreed to exchange the barrel (after I put probably forty or fifty bucks worth of ammunition down it).  Still don't have the replacement but we'll just have to wait and see I guess.  Did you clean your barrel between shots?

[ttank0789]

My buddy uses them and back in '06 he shot a buck at 130 yards and it was literally knocked off of its feet. The following year he shot at doe and that was a bang, flop. Another friend shot a deer from straight on with one that same year and it only made it 30 yards. I use a different slug, but those Barnes Expanders are definitely bad news if you are a deer.

[pigguy]

I have killed 3 deer out to 110 yds with my mossberg 835 with the 2 3/4 expanders. they worked great and are very accurate.Dont remember why I switched but I know use partition golds.They dont work any better.Oh, and I shot a coyote at 4 yds with the barnes!!! The exit wound at the base of the skull was,uh,Well massive.I hate yotes.

[MI.sabot]

I've used them exclusively out of my 12ga USH for the last 5yrs. and they've been accurate from Day 1.

How do they perform on game? Just plain nasty!

Just a side note, it shoots much better on a fouled barrel.
Sight it in, put it away, clean it after the season.

[Masterblaster1]

GLHolmes, Yes I swab out the bore between every 3 to 5 rounds with a dry patch. Prior to siting in  I make sure to clean the barrel with an aggressive solvent like butch's bore shine or something similar to get it as clean as possible. Also Federal PowerShok Sabot slug were very accurate and hit almost to the same poi as the Barnes. Have you tried reduced recoil Remington buckhammers?(standard buckhammers are murder on the shoulder) They are better for a slower twist barrel on the mossbergs. Another thing to check is sometimes the scope they give you on the package deals are a heap of junk, so check it to make sure its not broke. Also check all rings/ bases for tightness.  Lastly make sure your barrel nut is very tight against the mag tube. I went as far on my slug gun to cover the nut in a rag and tighten it down carefully with a channellock plier. I don't ever plan on switching this barrel out tho....

[bearmgc]

I just bought some for my new, to me, slug gun. A little pricey though.

[Varmint Hunter]

I've got a Rem 11-87 12ga with a fully rifled bbl and cantilever scope base. Currently wearing a Leupold 3x9 scope.

I was at the range TODAY (oddly enough) shooting the Federal Barnes Expanders. Using the 2 3/4" 1oz slugs I put 3 rounds into a 5" group at 100 yds. I had similar performance (but not quite as bad) from them in the past.

I also brought a few boxes of the Federal Barnes Expander 2 3/4" 3/4oz slugs which shot pretty good last year. First 3 rounds out of the same shotgun put a nice tight 1 1/8" group right under the orange aiming dot. I raised the reticle 1 moa and shot again. This time the 3 shot group landed right on top of the dot and measured 1.5". Now that's pretty good for a slug gun at 100 yds.

Moral of the story - if you want to use the Barnes Expanders, you may want to try different versions of the Expanders BEFORE buying too many boxes.