[Preferred shotgun sabot?]

Lightfield 2-3/4 for me. never had a deer go more than 10 yards after being hit.I shoot a Mossberg 20ga. My gun shoots 2-3/4" or 3" I found that my gun shoots better with the 2-3/4" than the 3' That is another thing to look at when shooting sabots Which shoots better in your gun? I also have a lead sled that I use and it works great. The thing you need to make sure of is that your gun is seated the same way every time. I hope this helps.

Hmm. Never more than 10 yards? You must always hit the shoulder.

I've fired many bolt action rifles from the sled: .204, 22-250, .243, 7mm-08, .17 HMR, also my Savage smokeless ML. All are bolt action (except ML). 12 gauge is obviously the biggest kicker (excepting the ML) and its also the only semi auto. It also has the cheapest scope (Bushnell Banner vs Sightrons and one Bushnell 4200 on the 22-250).

I have no major issues shooting groups with any of them from the sled EXCEPT the shotty. I shoot BETTER with a bipod or front rest and my shoulder, but they are all acceptable except the shotty which is all over the place in the sled. I tried so many different slugs, wasted a lot of money before I figured out the lead sled/shotty combo was the issue. And honestly there's only so many ways you can "seat" the gun in the sled. Believe me I've tried everything - holding it tight, loose and not at all. I've tried LOTS of weight on the sled and just a bare sled. Nothing helped until I replaced the sled with my shoulder.

Which only serves to remind me why I like my 243 so much. :-)

So am I saying its the sled? No. It's something with the combination of the sled and my gun and scope. Not sure what it is, don't really care now that I have a solution and a gun/scope/slug combo with which I am confident to 150+ yards. I may upgrade the scope someday, but I'm so in love with the circle-X reticle that I can't bring myself to change it yet. And hopefully by that time Tompkins county will allow rifles so I can retire the shotty altogether. :-)

Now come on noodle...10 yards, really? :-)

Zhe Wiz

Thanks guys, i plan on buying some slugs and going out this weekend to try it out. Hopefully i can find some ammo. I went to Gander Mountain today and they only had a few boxes of sabots. They were $21 copper solids. I dont really feel like paying $21 for 5 slugs. They also only had 2 boxes of 30-06 and they were completely wiped out of 22 LR.

EDIT: Also Wiz you have a ML that kicks more than your slug gun!? What ML are you shooting?

[Preferred shotgun sabot?]

I use Remington 3" Accutips. Shot 3 deer at over 125 yards with them this year.

I have to say though, that my gun doesn't shoot well out of the lead sled. I have a tough time getting good groups unless I let it pound my shoulder.

Zhe Wiz

Have you shot any rifles out of the lead sled?

[Preferred shotgun sabot?]

The sst's? I've been leaning towards those but i've also been looking at remington accutips.

[Preferred shotgun sabot?]

I'm just wondering what you guys prefer to shoot. I've been using plain old federal rifled slugs out of a fully rifled barrel on my 870 ever since i started hunting just because sabots are outrageous price wise. I decided to switch to sabots this year because i recently got a lead sled DFT so it will be much easier to sight in and a lot cheaper. I also understand that each gun is different on which ammo it likes. i just want to see what you guys like. Also if anyone has used a lead sled i would like to know how you like that also because i haven't had the chance to get out and use mine yet. Thanks!

[Regulation book is confusing me. . .]

Alright thanks for the help.

[Regulation book is confusing me. . .]

So since i had my license last year and the year before i can go alone this year correct?

[Bear hunting dog's]

A little late here, but near my camp they come from Virginia in the summer and run dogs.

[Hello from Central NY and Adirondack regions]

Where about in the Adirondacks?

[Regulation book is confusing me. . .]

I've been looking at the regulation book and the dec website in search for how old you have to be to hunt alone, unaccompanied by an adult. All i find is it saying "14-15 year olds must be accompanied by a parent" which i understand but what is confusing me is after that it says "first time 16-17 year old big game hunters must also be accompanied by a parent." Does this mean anyone who has never big game hunted before that is 16-17 years old needs to be accompanied or what? I'm 16 and have big game hunted while accompanied by my father since i've been able to get my big game license. I have also gotten deer before if that matters. I apologize if i'm being stupid or oblivious, i'm just curious about the rule. Thanks!

[New from herkimer county]

Hello, i've been a lurker on this site for a very long time and finally decided to join. I hunt everything, but mainly deer. I hunt in herkimer county but also have a deer camp in hamilton county. I'm only 16 but having gone hunting with my father and other family members since i was very young i have a lot of knowledge about hunting. They have taught me the right way to do things. Just saying hello, thanks guys!