Category Archives: Ask Randy

Randy, I have a 12 ga Mossberg 835 with a fully rifled cantilever barrel that I can’t get sighted in as well as I would like. I know this won’t be the most accurate set up, but I should be doing better than 4-5″ at 50 yrds. So far I’ve tried 3″ Commanders. Which slug do you think may suite me best? I’m not sure of the twist rate of the rifling. I saw the part of the FAQ about using 3 1/2″ shells in a 3 1/2″ chamber. Do you feel that is most of my problem? With shots typically less than 75 yrds I’d rather not have to deal with the added recoil but will if the accuracy improves. Thanks for your help. Joe

With the Mossberg 835 having a 3 1/2″ chamber length, the best choice for accuracy would be either a 3″ or a 3 1/2″ length hull. Only the shorter 2 3/4″ round, when used in a 3 1/2″ chamber, could give you accuracy problems. I would recommend the Lightfield Hybred-Elite (orange box) for deer size and smaller size game. The Commanred IDS PLUS “Heavy Game” sabot is a (600 grain 1 3/8oz. deep penatration) sabot slug intended for use on game weighing 300 pound and up. The Hybred-Elite should produce groups under 2″ at 50 yards if all is well with the gun and the shooter.  

Randy, I thank you for the information you sent me back on 10/04/09, but I had ask the wrong question and I apologize for that. My problem/question: I have a Mossberg 835 with a 24 in rifled bore. A new ( and my problem) Bushnell Red Dot (Trophy) scope. I love the scope but the centerline of the scope and the centerline of the bore is 3 ½ inches. With the scope that high over the bore I think this is my problem. To get on paper I started at 25 yds. I had a dead center hit. Moved to 50 yds and was 6 ½ inches high. I understand that at 25 yds the barrel has to tilted up to make up for the height of the scope, my question is if I leave the gun zeroed at 50 yds, what will be in impact at other ranges. Am I 6 ½ low at 25 yds? What about out at 75 or 100? Thank you so much and keep making Lighfields Alan

That height above the bore is over 2X the normal mounting distance.
I have no experence with that type of mounting height but I think your assumption is correct about the height being the issue.

If that high of a scope mount is necessary for some reason you will need to have a set of scope bases machined to bring the scope alignment closer to the bore when the cross hairs are set in the middle of their adjusting range.

Can you use the same “sight in” at 50 yards with a 20 gauge slug gun that is used for the 12 gauge slug gun,or should you use a different “sight in”?

The proper sightin for the Lightfield Hybred-Exp 2 3/4″ sabot is 2 1/2″ to 2 3/4″ inches high at 50 yards for a 100 yard zero. This is not a absolute figure but it will work with 90% of all slug guns. The higth that the scope is mounted above the bore is the variable.

Lightfield released a 1700ft/sec 20 gauge 3″ magnum in 2010. This 3″ “Hybred Mag 20″, which when used in conjuction with the Hybred-Exp
2 3/4” , will complete the “SameSite Accurcy” system for the 20 gauge Hybred series.

Dear Randy, What makes lightfield ammo, specifically the 3″ commander IDS and the Commander IDS Plus 3.5″ cartridges with so much more velocity than other major magnum brand slugs? How is the extreme velocity accomplished? Please specify. Thank You, Robert Santini robertsantini@att.net

Because slugs are all we make. We have had our own powders formulated for the weight slug we use and how fast we want it to go.

The same holds true with the TarHunt slug guns. “It cost less to buy the best”. We are serious about sabot slugs and slug guns. Not just loading slugs and making guns as one of 1000 different types of products.

I have a remington 1187 with cantilever scope mount with red dot scope that i use only for shooting hornady sst…i see you do conversions for the 870…do you guys do your barrell conversions for that gun?

TarHunt only converts the 870 Rem. pump guns. I cannot convert any of the auto loaders because the owner must be able to remove the barrel to service the gas ports from time to time.

We are now pinning the barrels on these gas guns.
7/28/10

Aside from any obvious things, how can one tell when a scope has gone bad?

If you shoot a number of rounds without changing the adjusters or the point of aim, a bad scope will start to show two or three separate groups, sometimes in a triangular shape. Each impact point will form a group, if enough rounds are fired. But the slug impact will move from one to the other group in between shots. Shots that continually go against the wind is another good indication…

Randy,I am thinking about sending you my 870 wingmaster for your DSG conversion. Problem is is that it is a 2 3/4. I would like to make it 3″ if possible. Can you do this along with the rest of the conversion? Thanks

Although it is possable to change a 2 3/4″ 870 Wingmaster to handle the 3″ rounds, it is not cost effecent. It requires replacing the ejector and this part is securely ribbed to the inter wall of the action. The heads of the ribbits must be ground off on the outside of the action, a new 3″ ejector ribbed in place, the action smooth off and repolished and then the entire gun must be reblued. The cost is within a few dollors of buying a new 3″ Express magnum. The chambered length must always match the model of the receiver. 2 3/4″ for the Wingmaster 3″ for the Wimgmaster Mag. 3″ for all Express mag.

I currently have a Remington 870 Express 12GA shotgun that I would like to convert to a Designated Slug Gun. Your site lists an 870 customer conversion (right-hand) for $525, plus shipping. It also list a DSG Express Standard (right-hand) for a significantly higher price ($830). Does my gun qualify for the 870 customer conversion price or because it’s an 870 express does that mean I have to pay the higher price to convert it to a DSG? Sorry for the confusion. Mike

Mike, The $525.00 price is the cost for the basic DSG12 conversion to your 870. The $995.00 price is for the basic standard DSG12 conversion done on a new Express that we provide, with NO upgrades included in that price.

Hi Randy! I have read about the effect cross winds have on slugs, specifically when they are travelling less than supersonic, for example at 100 yards. My questions is what is the effect of direct head-on wind and direct tail wind on a slug? I would assume it will move point of impact up or down but which way? Thanks, Dan

Dan, A direct head wind, wind pushing on the nose of the slug, will push the slug impact lower. A tail wind tends to hold the slug up, making it seem as if it dosen’t drop a much. ANY ANGLE other than directly on the nose or tail, off of the center line pushing on a slug, and all bets are off as to how much it will move and in what direction it will go. It then becomes a differential pressure issue.

Randy, I love the Lightfield slugs and I’ve used them for years. My question is regarding the alpha gold bullets in my TC Endeavor. I am using the 100 Gr. Blackhorn 209 powder and shockwaves and the group is not great, I am looking to improve on it. What is realistic to expect @100 Yards Thanks

Jim, Have you read the instructions included with the Alpha Gold ML bullets or on the web site? It took almost 2 years to develope the system/data for the Alpha Gold to make sure it is the most accurate it can be in your gun. In all my accuracy tests 100 grains was not enought powder and I could not find a good pellet load because of the hole thru the pellets. Pressure from the primer exploding tends to push the bullet off the powder charge before the powder can get fully enigated making the gun shoot vertical groups. When it is tuned the right way, to a gun with a quality barrel, MOA groups are common.

I see that you use the Remington 870 shotgun and no other brand, is this because you feel that the 870 is better than a Mossberg 500 or some other reason. Also please explain why you use a bolt action on the TarHunt shotguns. R. B. Lott

Rich,
The main issue is, why would you want to put $515.00 conversion into a $175.00 shot gun?

You need to read the FAQ section of the web site under the most asked question about the bolt action RSG 12 gauge slug gun. All the answers are on the website!
Also, the DSG section under TarHunt guns would help you understand why we use only the 870 Rem.

Questions: 570-784-6368 (9AM-3PM week days).

Randy: I have a Mossberg 835 shotgun chamber in 3 1/2″. I’m having trouble finding sabot slugs for it. I have found one place near me (Cabela’s) that carries them. How much accuracy do I loose going to a 3″ or even a 2 3/4″ sabot slug?

The only loss in accuracy that could possibly occur will come from firing the 2 3/4 in sabot slug in a 3 1/2 in chamber. Even at that it is a hit and miss issue. It has never appeared to be a dangerous issue, only an accuracy problem. Firing any 3 in saboted round in a 3 1/2 in chamber should not effect overall accuracy.

Randy,

I am interested in building a longer range shooter taking advantage of some of the new sabots available by Winchester, Horandy, Federal, and Remington. Of course, if Lightfield has something available that can match or exceed the new stuff in the area of long-range shooting, I want to know that too. Anyway, back on subject, would I be able to get a custom-built gun specifically made to shoot the faster, lighter, slugs (2000-2100fps, 300-385 grains) out to the 200-yard range or beyond?

“This same question keeps popping up on a regular basis, 200-yard slugs!”

In my opinion 200 yd. slugs only exist in the full-page ads of some sabot slug mfg. The 12 gauge 2000-2100ft/sec. they advertise only exists, if then, under laboratory conditions with a 30-inch smooth bore barrel at 70 degrees!

Since in the real world, we hunt with rifled barrels between 20 and 24 inches long and we generally are hunting in near 10-degree weather. Weather can be unpredictable so it’s important to take the correct gear with you on a hunt. Cabela’s stock some good hunting products that are well worth taking a look at. There’s even more reason to do so if you can get a discount from Raise using coupons or promo codes found on their website. It makes success at hunting that much sweeter!
The 1750-1850ft/sec. real velocities leaves us well short of 200+ yards. With the average velocity of these magical 200 yards slugs being closer to 1800ft/sec. and only weighing on average 300 grains (under 5/8oz,) the energy levels fall way below the 1000ft/lbs required to cleanly kill a whitetail deer at those advertised ranges, and that would be with the help of a range finder.

If you could achieve those magical velocities under the hunting criteria listed above, you WILL HAVE as high as a 20% flyer rate because at those high velocities you are asking the sabot to grip onto a smooth copper jacketed bullet and spin the bullet at 60,000 RPM’s in (1-28 twist) the first 1/4 inch of movement down the barrel! Highly unlikely.

The 54,000 RPM’s (from a 1-28 twist) required for stabilization and accuracy cannot be achieved every round without a mechanical lock between the sabot and the smooth copper jacketed bullet. To expect anything different is wishful thing just like the magazine ads!

The bottom line is: “Do you want with a sabot slug that has an automatically near 15% flyer rate”?

Why was the 16 gauge 15/16th oz load changed to the new 1oz load? Will I see any difference in performance or speed with the new 1oz load? FYI-the 15/16th loads were awesome and just hoping I can expect the same or better? Thanks.

We have increased the weight of the 16 gauge Commander IDS PLUS to (1oz.) for better controlled expansion, deeper penetration, more energy down range with less pressure and recoil.
It is every bit as accurate as the Commander IDS lighter weight versions.

I have an H&R ultra slug hunter 12 gauge with a heavy barrel and am using Lightfield 2 3/4 EXP. I went to the range last week to sight it in and was grouping 3 shots in a single hole, 4 inches high at 50 yards (I could not believe the accuracy of this combination) anyway I ran out of ammo. I bought 5 more boxes of 2 3/4 EXP and went to fine tune it to 2 1/2 inches high at 50 yards according to your ballistic charts but this time I was hitting 7 inches high at 50 yards. I was using the same rest, the weather conditions were almost the same as before and all other factors were the same. What is causing this? I even looked for lot numbers on the old boxes and the new ones but could not find any. I would appeciate any help to rectify this Thanks

Without you suppling me with the lot numbers, it is hard for me to pin down the differences in impact of the different Hybred-Exp you have purchased. It could be as simple as one batch of the slugs could have been improperly stored before you purchased them.

I can tell you that Lightfield uses all one lot number of powder to load one full years production. Any one of the individual lot’s of ammo loader within the same year production will pretty much shoot into the same group.

Point of impact changes can be seen between to different year’s powder production. Each year’s production should still shoot just as good a group but there may be a different point of impact between the two years.

You will find the Lightfield lot numbers on the top of the boxes on the flap that inserts into the box to hold it closed.

Hope this help and good shooting.
Randy

I am considering ordering your RSG-12 gun. I am a right-handed shooter that is left eye dominant. Does that have any effect on how a gun would be assembled for me? Thx!
If you are right handed and have a left dominate eye we can build you a right hand operating bolt gun and fit it into a left hand stock to match your left eye dominance.