Accuracy of sabot slugs from smoothbore shotguns

O

Oleg Volk

Staff Alumnus
I'd like to experiment with sabot slugs. Have a cylinger bore 20ga, IC and M 12ga. Which would be the best testing platform? The purpose is to figure out if such rounds are practical for ranges up to 50m, in terms of accuracy.

I would imagine that, being harder and smaller in cross-section, copper slugs would penetrate cover better. That would make them desirable for the bottom of the magazine location, once a couple buckshot shells got used up. Please recommend brands, sources, any anecdotal or test info...
 
Oleg,

I have observed that shotguns are much like .22's, each one has a personal preference to ammo. The diet of choice may change if you switch chokes as well. Your best bet is to grab as many types of slugs as you can and have a great range day.

I have had much better accuracy results with rifled slugs in my smooth bore shotguns. You should have no problem getting loads to shoot 2-3" at 50yds. I practice with Remington or Winchester "value packs" (2.75", 1oz) from Walmart on IPSC targets. Off hand A-zone hits are normal at 25&50 yards (ok some C's sneak in there at 50yds).

As for penetration, you are already working with a 1oz lead slug humming along between 1200 and 1600fps which is effective on most intermediate cover (typically housing material and light brush).
 
I guess I'll have to conduct my own tests on car parts and kevlar. Not that I intend to fight with a shotgun, but I am more likely to have it when hunting than a rifle. I like to know what it can or cannot do.
 
I was under the impression that saboted slugs were designed for use in rfiled shotgun barrels only. Smoothbore barrels should use rifled (brenneke-style) slugs only.

Am I wrong?

Do the plastic sabots on saboted slugs have rifling molded in to grip the smoothbore barrel to impart spin?

I always thought the saboted slugs would not spin in a smoothbore barrel. So accuracy would be poor.

If someone knows different, please correct me.
 
Saboted slugs- rifled barrel

rifled slugs- smoothbore

Mixing and matching will work, but probably not very well. ;)
 
Stick right. Each is an individual critter and will have it's own likes.

You'll never know, unless you go........try em.

Sam
 
Try each and see. The fact that I've never been able to get good accuracy from a sabot in a smoothbore doesn't mean it can't happen. Shotguns are SOOoo individual.
 
A coworker uses custom made rifled slugs produced by his uncle and fires them through a smoothbore with a rifled choke. He has won numerous turkey shoots (as in winning turkeys around Thanksgiving/Christmas time) with the combo through an 1187.

At one time I was trying out slugs, rifled and sabot, through my then new 1187 and he had lent me his rifled choke for the sabots. It did not work very well as I was shooting more than 6" at ~50 yds with a few keyholes. That 3" or so of rifling was just not enough to put a stabilizing spin on the slug. The rifled slugs (Remington), however, were much better with ~2" 5 shot groups. 28" barrel, modified.
 
Boy has this topic ever been passed about!!

There is not grooving/rifling on the sabots, thus the neeed for rifle tube/ barrel.

Most manufacturers state it is safe/accurate to fire foster/brennek slugs through rifled barrels. As the rifling engraves in the slug normally.

It is "safe" to fire a sabot out of a smooth bore??Yes, is it accuate?? Is it beyond a contact shot?????..........:D
 
I've shot alot of slugs out my smooth bore 1300 and the most accurate, in my gun, are the Breneke. I had a 2" group of three shots at 75yards shooting in the standing position!

You must ask yourself how does a rifled slug stabilize itself with out spin (rifling on a slug doesn't create spin)? The fact is rifled slugs center of gravity is toward the front of the slug! Breneke has a big nipple on the front and most others are forster hollow points (HP is in the butt of the slug). Its like putting a rock in your sock and throwing across the yard. The heavy end always is out front and has stable flight.

The center of gravity of a Sabot slug is toward the back. With out spin the slug will flip over once it leaves the barrel and has horrible accuracy in a smooth bore. If you shoot a rifled slug in a smooth bore you lead up the barrel and have poor accuracy.

Sabot is for rifled barrels or rifled choke tubes. Rifled slugs are for smooth bore.

Shok
 
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