Deer hunting: slug barrel with rifle sights or cantilever

S

sernv99

New member
I just bought a Beretta Extrema II to use for informal clays and waterfowl hunting. I would really like to add a rifled slug barrel and use this gun for deer hunting but Beretta only makes a slug barrel with a cantilever. My other deer gun, a Remington 1187SP with a Hastings rifled slug barrel, has rifle sights. I would prefer to hunt with the Beretta, given the better stock dimensions but may end up keeping the 1187 just to use the rifle sights. I don't think any aftermarket rifled slug barrels exist for the Extrema II

Most of my deer hunting is pushing fields, not so much stationary shooting (but sometimes I will sit and wait), hence my preference for rifle sights.

Does anyone shoot slugs out of a cantilever barrel and have had success in using it in the type of hunting situation described above, e.g. deer springing up from their beds in about abdomen height grass and brush?
 
I don't have any direct experience with your question.

I use a smoothbore 11-87 with Remchoke and rifle sights for all of my shotgun deer hunting, whether it's close range running deer with buckshot (legal here in NC) or out to 100 yds or so with Brenneke KO slugs.

My suggestion for consideration in your particular situation is perhaps a red dot sight or holographic sight on the cantilevered mount. That would allow you a bit faster acquisition than a traditional magnified scope perhaps?

Good luck!
 
I have not used a cantilever slug barrel,but I do have a Rem.870 with a scope mount.I find a low power variable(1x3 or 1x4)to work well for me.I have also used 2x fixed power shotgun scopes without any problem.I have not tried the red dot scopes but I think they would work well at ranges under 100 yds.Keep us posted on your experience.
 
I've seen the Cantilever give a wondering zero. It is just a flimsy piece of metal slung out over the reciever. Lots of potential for movement there.
 
My FNH SLP has a cantilever barrel that I routinely shoot slugs through (along with buckshot and birdshot) when I take any of the shotgun courses at Front Sight. While I don't deer hunt with a shotgun, I wouldn't hesitate to use my setup for the same.

With an EOTech XPS2 on it, this is typical performance......and I have no wandering zero problem.

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xps2-8.jpg
 
Does anyone shoot slugs out of a cantilever barrel and have had success in using it in the type of hunting situation described above, e.g. deer springing up from their beds in about abdomen height grass and brush
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I sure have and on two different shotguns, other than your Beretta. All have given great performance. Keep in mind that most of our hunting is driving deer and the shooting is fast and mostly well within, 100yds. Some evenings, I do go on stand and those shots are closer. You should like shooting these barrels; I know I do. ...... ;)

Be Safe !!!
 
I haven't used a cantilever barrel, but I can tell you that if you add a red dot scope to it the thing will be great for the kind of deer hunting you do. I bought a rifled slug barrel for my Remington 870 Express and had to get a scope mount for it. Since you have that with the cantilever your set. I shoot a Millet Red Dot on mine and I love it. I have no issues with it. I hunt a lot in PA with it. I have been sitting on the ground, sitting in a tree stand, standing on a drive and a pusher with it and love it. So put a red dot on it and then get yourself a few different slugs and figure out what your barrel likes. I shoot Hornaday SSTs out of mine.
 
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