Federal AccuTip 20 Gauge?

R.E. Gould

5 year old buck +
My understanding is that Remington sold its ammo business to Federal, and Federal will be producing the 20 gauge AccuTips in 2021. Are they producing it and getting it to dealers yet? I'm looking forward to identifying the preferred ammo for my Savage 220, hopefully sometime before the 2021 slug season.
 
We have a 220 and opted for the Remington Barnes Expanders over the Accutips. Accuracy might be just a smidge below the Accutips, but knock down is improved. I haven't been able to buy any in 2 seasons. I'm on many waiting lists. No idea when or if they'll ever be available.
 
Thanks, that's what I was afraid I was going to hear about ammo availability for the 220. I prefer not to be a hoarder, but buying 80 rounds of Barnes VOR-TX for my .308 years ago, and using them sparingly, has been a darn good decision. All I need is a little ammo to keep my guns sighted in and go hunting. If I can get my hands on ammo my 220 likes, I'll be sure to stock up when I can.

I bit the bullet and got certified for bow last fall... man is it nice to be able to order up what you need from Amazon (and shoot in the backyard).
 
Yep it sure pays and is peace of mind to buy extra. My dad took 5 shots with the 220 this year. 3 on the range at 100 yards and 2 at deer, bagging a doe and a buck. He's down to his last box. Meet back on this thread if you find any... and I'll do the same.
 
I apologize...I'm one of those guys that have hoarded Remington AccuTips since I picked up my Savage 220 last January. I haven't seen anything on the new Federal AccuTips, but keep an eye at both Cabela's and Midway for them. Midway seems to get a shipment roughly every 2-3 months. The last time I picked up some AccuTips from Midway, this past November (previous was September, and June before that), and every time they were sold out in about 2 hours.

*I'll clarify, I'm not hoarding thousands of the AccuTips, but I do have 30ish boxes. So now, I'll only pick up a box or two when I see they are available - as oppose to the maximum allowed.
 
I've shot the 2 3/4" accutips with great effectiveness. This next year's going to be more in the straightwall world for me, I think, but there's nothing wrong with accutips in my experience
 
I was told the Remington Barnes Expander is no more. Remington owned Barnes and when everything was sold Sierra purchased Barnes. Federal could use the Barnes Expander but I was told that is unlikely. I heard they shot good out of the 220 but I never got a chance to find out.

I have shot nothing but Remington 3" Accutips in my 220 Savage for about 10 years now so I'm hoping nothing changes. I found the secret is cleaning the plastic fouling out of the barrel to maintain accuracy and a firm grip on the gun when sighting in.
 
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Well shucks. How often do you run a patch through your barrel while sighting in?
 
This is how I do it so take it for what it's worth. When I sight in I will run no more than 3 shots down the barrel before I run a patch down the bore with a solvent that removes plastic. I let it soak for about 5-10 minutes then I brush out the loose plastic with lots of back and forth strokes followed by another patch with solvent then dry patches.

Let the barrel cool down between shots which helps minimize the plastic fouling. The 220 Savage is very accurate but you really have to pay attention to the plastic fouling and your grip on the gun. Don't use a lead sled as they are hard on the scope. I know a few guys that will run up to 10 shots down the bore before cleaning. I prefer to clean before the plastic gets built up too bad.
 
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I've shot the 2 3/4" accutips with great effectiveness. This next year's going to be more in the straightwall world for me, I think, but there's nothing wrong with accutips in my experience

My experience as well...2 3/4" Accutips out of my 220. The only shotgun/slug combo that performed better in my 35 years of slug gun hunting in Mass. was when Ithaca and Lightfield Ammo teamed up for the Deerslayer II in 16 gauge that came out about 20 years ago. Absolute tack driver!
 
kilt my first deer with my dad's old ithica 37 smoothbore... That think kicked my ace
 
kilt my first deer with my dad's old ithica 37 smoothbore... That think kicked my ace

Indeed. I have my gramp's late 1950's era Ithaca 37 Deerslayer in 12 gauge. I still take it out now and then just for sentiment. Kicks like a mule. He bought it because he was a lefty and the downward ejection worked for him.

I bought the Deerslayer II in 16 gauge to kind of continue the tradition...but it only had a single forestock rail and it rattled like a Mossberg. The first deer I shot with it heard me grab the forend before I put the scope on her shoulder. Got her anyway, but that was it...sold it after that season.
 
To be clear, Vista Outdoors purchased Remington Ammunition. Vista Outdoors also owns Federal Ammunition. That does not mean Federal Ammunition will be producing Remington Ammunition. It is my understanding Remington will continue making Remington Ammunition.

I will also add that you should shoot a 3 inch slug in a gun chambered for 3 inch slugs. If you shoot a 2 3/4 slug in a 3 inch gun you may not be getting the best accuracy out of your gun. 2 3/4 slugs may shoot great out of your gun but I will bet you a 3 inch slug will shoot even better.
 
I bought my 220 Savage 3 years ago, I bought 1 box of every different type and load that summer I could get my hands on and shot each box on a bench with a gun vice at 100 yards. The manual to the 220 says that the Accutips were the recommended load but for my gun they were grouping at around 4-6". Each gun is different and likes its own load but for mine, 2 3/4" Remington Barnes Expanders shot the tightest group.
20 ga. ammo (and 45 cal muzzlestuffer ammo) was tough to find before the shortage and could only get ahold of 2 boxes, I went into this gun season with 4 bullets :( I only used 1 bullet to sight in and thankfully it was still on. I went into deer season with 3 bullets, I came out of deer season with 3 bullets but that is another story :emoji_dizzy_face:
 
I recall watching reviews by youtube marksman Randy Wakeman and he also said his gun was shooting the 2 3/4" the best. We just always buy 3" assuming bigger is always better. lol
 
I recall watching reviews by youtube marksman Randy Wakeman and he also said his gun was shooting the 2 3/4" the best. We just always buy 3" assuming bigger is always better. lol

Agreed. 2 3/4 works much better in my 220 than 3". I bought my 220 the first year it came out and there were some reports about finicky actions. I did find it to be not quite as smooth as you'd be used to in a high end bolt action. But over time it got smoother and smoother with use.
 
Agreed. 2 3/4 works much better in my 220 than 3". I bought my 220 the first year it came out and there were some reports about finicky actions. I did find it to be not quite as smooth as you'd be used to in a high end bolt action. But over time it got smoother and smoother with use.
I found my 220 to have issues with the brass lip of the bullets flipping (I assume the shock from the 1st shot did this) in the mag and wouldn't feed into the chamber. The gun holds 3 shells, one in the chamber and 2 in the mag, after the first shot the next bullet would pop up correctly but pushing the bolt forward it would get stuck on the brass lip of the bullet below it. Not sure if I explained that so everyone understands what I mean, it hung up enough times I just loaded one in the mag and it works fine.
I mention this in case others had similar issues or maybe I just have a defective magazine and I can fix this. Would be good to know either way.
 
I found my 220 to have issues with the brass lip of the bullets flipping (I assume the shock from the 1st shot did this) in the mag and wouldn't feed into the chamber. The gun holds 3 shells, one in the chamber and 2 in the mag, after the first shot the next bullet would pop up correctly but pushing the bolt forward it would get stuck on the brass lip of the bullet below it. Not sure if I explained that so everyone understands what I mean, it hung up enough times I just loaded one in the mag and it works fine.
I mention this in case others had similar issues or maybe I just have a defective magazine and I can fix this. Would be good to know either way.
I remember this issue being mentioned somewhere when I was zeroing in on which slug gun to get, and remember seeing mention of a solution. I'll get back to that once I have the ammo to feed the thing, or just make sure I can get the job done in two rounds. I always get a little embarrassed when it takes more than two anyway...
 
When I used to hunt in the shotgun zone I bought a heavy barrel H&R Ultra Slug Hunter, in 20. That thing shoots. I do best with the 2 3/4" Remington Copper Solids. The only problem with that gun was rust. If you looked at it wrong it'd rust. I took it to Ahlman's and had them spray it with duracoat. Problem solved. Damn, I love that cheap gun. Maybe I'll take it out of the safe this year and hunt with it even though I can use a rifle.

Anyway, back on topic, the 2 3/4" sabot slugs always shot better for me, regardless of the gun. I've got several rifled slug barrels for 870s as well. I never found a good reason to tote a 12g around for deer either.
 
I recall watching reviews by youtube marksman Randy Wakeman and he also said his gun was shooting the 2 3/4" the best. We just always buy 3" assuming bigger is always better. lol
It really has nothing to do with bigger is always better. The reason 3 inch shells usually, not always, shoot better in a 3 inch gun is the chamber. A 2 3/4 shell in a 3 inch gun has a 1/4 gap between the shell and the rifled barrel. A 3 inch shell has 1/4 inch less gap. That gap can sometimes cause inconsistent accuracy. Reloading guys will seat the bullet so the finished cartridge sits right up against the rifling inside the barrel for the best accuracy.

With slugs the difference may or may not be negligible however the theory still applies, so I have been told.
 
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