I have the same Ultra Slugger and have found it to be very accurate. I put a Nikon 3-9 40mil scope on it and thus far anything up to 100 yards is toast.

My last deer was heartshot quartering away and since I was in a tree---downward. I was using a sabot, winchester gold. If it wasn't for the steep ravine the deer fell down into it would have only stumbled 10 yards... Needless to say that was alot of work to pull that deer up and out. Big deer.

I haven't loaded any slugs for it YET, however I too would like to try handloads and some round ball in my H&R. I also intend to give DixieSlugs a tryout on this gun. They make some massive 700 plus grainer slugs that are supposed to be accurate with H&R Ultra sluggers 12 gauges. I did some googling and found brass 12 gauge shells at a number of sources. I bought some of mine online and some at a gun show I stumbled into in Montana when I was driving through. I am sure MidwayUSA has them. Try there!

I refinished the wood on my H&R. I used a combination of Behlen's Blood Red stain and Dar Walnut, then I rubbed it out with multiple coats of Tung oil and Linseed oil. It looks much better compared to how I bought the gun... It was used. I think I paid something stupid like $105 bucks for it. Most under-rated gun I own. Too bad it is not a double!!! haha

Let me know how you (all) make out with your slug testing in your H&Rs and I will try to keep you posted too on any developments on my H&R.