Shotgun Slugs
BY Herschel Smith
2 years ago
Rifled slugs are designed to be used in smoothbore shotguns. The rifled slug’s defining feature is a set of exterior grooves that resemble barrel rifling. Unlike barrel rifling, the slug’s grooves do not spin the projectile. Instead, the channels allow the slug to compress slightly so it can fit through a shotgun’s choke tube.
Sabot slugs lack the rifled slug’s exterior grooves because they are designed to be used in shotguns with rifled barrels or with a smoothbore paired with a rifled choke.
They go on to discuss various brands, including Remington Sabot slugs, Federal TruBall rifled slugs, Hornady American White Tail slugs, Winchester Super-X, and Brennecke Black Magin and Hefty Slugs.
I wouldn’t want to be behind a shotgun shooting Brennecke slugs unless my life was in danger.
The Hornady slug is 325 grains. I’m left wondering why anyone would choose to shoot that over 45-70 at 325 grains. Oh yea, stupid states like Illinois where shotgun and bow hunting are the only legal ways to harvest deer.
I don’t know the fate of HB 4386, but here’s the concern as expressed by the controllers.
“We are talking about cartridges that are as powerful as you need to cleanly harvest the animal without being excessively powerful so that there is accidental damage at distant targets that you can’t see,” Dale said.
Dummies. South Carolina is a much more densely populated state than Illinois and this has never been a concern there. The gigantic woods and corn fields of Illinois are the last place one should be concerned about “targets you can’t see.”
I know The Alaskan prefers Brennecke for dangerous animals. If I lived there I’d probably practice with that – for one or two shots anyway.
On October 24, 2022 at 8:21 am, William Sullivan said:
I have a Mossberg 500 with a fully rifled sabot barrel. It’s old enough that the recoil pad may as well be case hardened steel. With sabot slugs, recoil is stunning. Right up there at elephant rifle grade recoil.
On October 24, 2022 at 9:02 am, Drake said:
Brenneke TOPAS sabot shotshells are plenty accurate at 50 to 100 yards out of my smoothbore. And the recoil is relatively light. Not quite the wallop of the magnum Brennekes, but 309 grains going 1600 fps is enough for most targets.
On October 24, 2022 at 1:53 pm, Jimmy said:
I see all the time where shotgun slugs are recommended for large bear defense. I have yet to either read a first or second hand account of that being done. Yes, 300 or 600 grains at 1600 fps should be more than enough, but it would be nice to hear from someone who has actually done it or seen it with their own eyes, not just “heard about it”.
This is always my dilemma for Alaskan trips. 45-70 or Brenneke slugs. I would prefer the slugs, only for the simple reason that I can bring a cheaper shotgun than my 45-70 lever gun, and don’t mind it being scratched, etc. If it gets “misplaced” by the airline, I’m not out nearly as much money.
On October 25, 2022 at 7:22 am, George said:
Jim Cirillo and the Stakeout Squad did not worry about targets they could not see; they used slugs for those outside the store events.
They were very good shots though.