How to Sight In Your Slug Shotgun

Shotgun slugs have become faster and more accurate than ever, but they are, nevertheless, big chunks of lead driven at low velocities. In other words, they’re slow, they kick, and they drift in the wind. You need to take all three into account to successfully sight in your shotgun.

[1] Distance: Shoot at 50 yards. Due to their low velocity, slugs drift in the wind more than you may think. Even a 10-mph crosswind can move a slug 5 to 6 inches over 100 yards. If you sight your gun in 2 to 21⁄2 inches high at 50 yards, you’ll be dead on or just a little low at 100, depending on which slug you’re using.

[2] Recoil: Pad up. Heavy projectiles produce heavy recoil. It’s hard to do a good job sighting in when you’re getting hurt. A Lead Sled or other type of weighted rest makes slug shooting practically painless. Or put a sandbag or padded gun case between your shoulder and the butt.

[3] Technique: Hang on. Hold the fore-end tightly with your front hand when you shoot from the bench. Slugs have a long “barrel time” and are still traveling down the barrel as the gun recoils up and (in rifled guns) to the left. If you don’t hang on here, the gun may print as much as 5 to 6 inches high and to the left of where it will shoot when you hold it normally in the field.