Sabot Slugs vs Rifled Slugs | Does it Make a Difference?

[@timmillerjr834]

Growing up in Iowa for years only be able to shoot a slug gun. It is imperative with a smooth board and rifle slugs that you try several brands. The difference is huge.

[@lurebenson7722]

I have found the same results even shooting the rifled choke. I can get from all slugs near touching to widest is 4 inches apart groups. I bought from Ebay a Russian slug mold for a sabot load and that is fussy depending on powder charge, but no more than 30 grains of red dot powder put the slugs in a 3-inch group and more than 30 grains of powder the slugs are all over the 2 foot paper with the target. I live in the Pacific NW so slugs aren't a requirement for me some shooting fun to do and make sabot slugs from lead tire weights

[@howarddeheer8295]

@@timmillerjr834 And now we use straight wall rifle so much better

[@LuvBorderCollies]

Yep, I grew up in Iowa also. Circa 1977 got brand new "slug barrel" for my 870. Smooth bore & iron sights. At the time only Forster style slugs were available and only from Winchester, Remington and Federal. All 7/8 oz. Results were something else. Widest group>> Rem= 8 inches......Federal= 6 inches......Winchester= 4 in. All shots fired from benchrest. Just as in centerfire rifles you just have to shoot different ammo to see what the barrel likes.

[@deandeann1541]

@@lurebenson7722 Which Russian slug, and why did you pick that one?

[@lurebenson7722]

@@deandeann1541 The slug mold sold by a Russian is the brand Svarog and I think the model is ITL that makes a pointed noise slug looks like a 22 cal pointed air rifle slug. basically, is a coned noise slug. There is video on KZbin of people testing this slug. The downside is this slug takes a long plastic insert tail that works as a gas seal in the barrel and stabilizer. When buying the mold, I asked the Russian to sell me 5 packs of 100 each pack of the plastic slug tail inserts. I tried the slugs without the inserts using a 12-gauge plastic wad with the cup cut off and the accuracy was not even close when shot with the gas seal stabilizer. I am using a Carlson rifle screw in choke. I use tire weight lead for making the slugs. Check tire shops for tire weight lead the shop wants to unload

[@mopesrus7266]

My daughter wanted to try her hand at deer hunting. After she passed her Hunter Safety course, I bought her a Mossberg 500 in 20ga. It came with field and rifled bbls. I mounted a 1x-6x LPVO on it. That thing is a tack driver. Daughter figured out it got too cold during WI deer hunt so she quit after a few sits. Daddy now has a sniper shotty.

[@waynehendrix4806]

I've noticed that as my family and friends get older, how much more they just hunt in pajamas next to the wood stove. Cold days aren't a lot of fun.

[@uncletiggermclaren7592]

@@waynehendrix4806 As a tropical animal, who has seen snow once* the idea of you guys not wanting to go out because YOU consider it too cold for fun . . . well, I don't like it, no sir. * and by "seen" I mean to say "Hey, go get your Uncle to come out here, it is snowing" *Walk out on verandah, look interested at the tiny flakes falling and accumulating, marvel at them being invisible in the sky, retreat after 5 minutes and resolve to fly back home soon*

[@bradhertzler4451]

I grew up in PA and spent 2 winters in Augusta, ME. I have antifreeze in my veins and cold don't bother me much. I also know the value of layering for warmth and for staying comfortable (removing layers as it "warms up" (at -20°, "warming up" is relative)). I can stand in still 32° air for at least 5 minutes, but add wind chill and if my hands get cold, I get cold.

[@uncletiggermclaren7592]

@@bradhertzler4451 I wonder if we were out in what you considered "Yeah, this is cold alright" . . . would it kill me by freezing my lungs do you think?. I mean, if I flew from here in the summer that day, winter the next . . . would the shock drop me in my tracks ?. I watched this movie from your part of the world once, had Sylvester in it, up the mountains and it was all snow all the movie . . . and I had nightmares that night that still to this day disturb my equanimity.

[@hunterbiden001]

yes that little moss is a tack driver. I used my son gun last few yrs

[@eduffy4937]

Steve, you need to test a rifled choke tube with a smooth bore and foster slugs.

[@nateeide8408]

I second that suggestion!

[@leeroy1387]

Third. Rifled choke makes a big improvement from my limited testing, would love to see from a pro

[@eduffy4937]

@@leeroy1387 vast improvement with the carlsons rifled choke!

[@GrandeAdventure]

Agreed

[@timg7627]

Yes AND I’d also like to see Sabots through a smooth bore with rifled choke.

[@danielnalepinski3884]

I've used a rifled slug through a rifled barrel for years. It always shot better than the smooth bore but it does leave lead smearing in the barrel rifling. Takes a little more work to clean.

[@brandonh5336]

When I bought my rifled slug barrel for my remington 870 it came with instructions that said it was made for optimum performance with remington slugger rifled slugs. At 50 yards it shot dead on. There was some coarse lead fowling but it cleaned out easily with a brush. Cheap and accurate so I never felt the need for expensive sabot slugs

[@lesliemateka4193]

Screw optics. Open all the way

[@-Zevin-]

@@lesliemateka4193 Red dot and both eyes open is hard to beat.

[@samkrotz1868]

Living in that Slug territory. I have always shot a Mossberg 500 with Sabot slugs. Last deer I shot was at 120yrds and it was a double long pass through. So plenty of power!

[@nateh2652]

Rifled slugs wont hurt a rifled barrel. Its old fuddlore. Think about it, soft lead .38s dont damage a levergun. The lead is simply too soft to damage anything. You might get more lead fouling than you're use to, but ill take lead fouling over plastic fouling any day.

[@lurebenson7722]

I only shoot shotgun slugs for fun of shooting because I am in the Pacific NW. I am using a Carlson screw in rifled choke and yes, the plastic fouling is pretty bad I found also. It can be so bad I have at times used a plumber's torch to heat the plastic to come off the chokes metal. I know also when the rifled choke is fouled the accuracy really goes off the rails !

[@vincepearce1]

How can you get the plastic fowling out of a barrel

[@nateh2652]

@vincepearce1 very harsh chemicals like acetone or paint thinner, but ive had good luck using JB bore paste on a wool mop connected to a power drill. It just takes a lot of time and work.

[@lanceroberthough1275]

Rifled slugs will shoot better out of rifled bores. Very simply because it imparts spin to the rifled slugs that they will not have otherwise.

[@nateh2652]

@@lanceroberthough1275 indeed, though ive not seen the need. Rifled slugs being forward weighted and marginally drag stabalized have always grouped just fine at shotgun distances in my M4

[@jimharrison6393]

rifle sights vs bead sight makes most of the accuracy difference. Interesting video, keep up the good work.

[@lanceroberthough1275]

The rifling on a rifled slug it's not actually designed to impart spin it's designed to allow compression so it can fit through various choke restrictions..

[@hillbilly4christ638]

I had a friend that had a 20ga. that shot rifle slugs accurately to eighty yards. I told him to use the same slugs and never sell that shotgun. I had never seen a shotgun shoot any better than that before or since. I personally fired the shotgun. I have plenty of experience with marksmanship and shotguns. The barrel had two beads and the slug would strike the target just above the top of the bead. Perfect! No adjustments, no nothing, just accurate. Mossberg gun and federal ammo.

[@TeamJesusOutdoors]

I live in a resticted (no rifle zone), in Michigan. I have taken many deer with my Mossberg 695, rifled barrel, 12 gauge with Sabotted slugs. I now use a straight walled, 360 Buckhammer, Henry rifle.

[@NobleSavage44]

Shooting rifled slugs is similar to shooting .22lr in that you need to find a load that works well in your setup.

[@drewjames9167]

I always had my grandfather's JC Higgins 16 gauge bolt action shotgun as a backup deer gun. Brenneke rifled slugs would make a group i could cover with my hand at 50 yards shot standing. In the heavily wooded and hilly terrain we'd hunt in that was all I needed.

[@ericpeterson2128]

Great video, this was something I've been curious on. Also, Kentucky Ballistics recently did a video that had similar results with the wad ended up penetrating like this. Under slow motion, you could see that a close range, the wad was still following the slug so closely that the temporary wound channel opened up by the slug allowed it to just follow along into the block.

[@robertwest3093]

Finally, a real comparison between the two types of shotgun slugs that I have been curious about my whole life. I thank you for tackling important questions 👍🏻

[@NorthwoodsNomad]

I use those same Federal Truball 1 oz rifled slugs in my Mossberg 590A1 Retrograde with the stock ghost ring sights with rather excellent accuracy out to 75 yards grouping 2”

[@ESikora12]

Savage 220 with accutips gives me a comfortable 175 yard shot. I’ve changed to an AR pistol setup chambered in 308 that gives me 250-300 comfortably. Trying out 8.6 blackout this season

[@gregblake8810]

Savage 220 with remington accutips are boss. Accurate. Added 2-7 40mm scope. Deadly accurate.

[@kevinlocke7019]

I’ve been using a Remington 20 gauge 870 express mag with a 24” rifled barrel with 3” Remington accutips for about a decade now. I’ll never shoot a smooth bore with rifled slugs again. I killed many deer with rifled slugs and a smooth bore, but it’s not even close to damage and patterning compared to a rifled barrel with a sabot round. Great video, confirms my life experience.

[@nateh2652]

I worked as a butcher, the damage those sabots do absolutely blows me away. Even sent Federal an email saying how awesome their trophy coper was after pulling several from monster deer. Got a cool carepackage from them for that :) it was super cool of them. I wonder how devastating a full size slug designed to expand like a sabot would be.

[@nickleback3695]

There are actually a few slugs like that where they are full bore but expand like a sabot and they work exceptionally well. The meat damage they cause could be described as a bit excessive though.

[@TheDude024]

You have no idea how happy that made me feel inside, when you said you’d much rather hunt with a bow! 😍

[@billkeith2266]

Hi Steve, This is about 20 years ago. My wife and I have Remington 11-87's. I bought her a fully rifled barrel right away for it and a scope that was attached to the barrel. Her parents bought me a barrel for slugs but it wasn't rifled, It did have a rifled choke. I got a scope on a B-Square mount, I think that is what it was called. My wife was to cheap, god I hope she doesn't read this, to buy the sabot rounds that were designed for her gun so we always both shot the same 2 3/4 Remington "pumpkin balls". Both shot about 3" groups at 50 yards, and about 4-5 inches at 100. She used that for about 15 years until I convinced her to switch to a muzzleloader. If you can use those where you are, I highly recommend them, they are crazy accurate and you can easily shoot 200 to 300 yards. If you can get a savage that shoots smokeless that is even better. I have one of those, I use smokeless and can shoot about 50 rounds before cleaning and it is super accurate. Anyway, good luck this season and I love the channel.

[@itamareshet]

As for rifle slugs, they make them today a little bit under bored to make them safe for medium and full chokes. This is why they aren't accurate. There are older guns with fixed chokes, sometimes shooters forget to change chokes to imp. cyl. I use smooth bore slug barrel with fixed choke 0.695 constriction, and it is as accurare as sabot.

[@HypocriticYT]

With a 3” chamber use a 3” sabot for best accuracy. Note that sabot bullets are similar to pistol bullets. This is done to limit the range and the bullets will tumble and not travel as far as a rifle bullet. You never see the longer rifle bullets in sabot cartridge. All you need is a 20 ga for deer and it won’t beat you up

[@jeffsiewert1258]

Tumble? Oh please provide data. Never seen that in 45 years as a ballistics engineer…

[@HypocriticYT]

@@jeffsiewert1258 shotgun sabots designed to reduce range of the projectile so they can be used in more built up areas.

[@jeffsiewert1258]

Bullets don’t “tumble” unless you launch them with insufficient spin to provide gyroscopic stability. They generally gain gyro stability with increased range. Thanks for your opinion, but it’s factually incorrect.

[@HypocriticYT]

@@jeffsiewert1258 increased range past their design potential will make bullets tumble. There is nothing to promote them to continue spinning as they gradually slow in spin and velocity. Yaw also palys an important part

[@jeffsiewert1258]

@@HypocriticYT Oh really? Please tell everyone which aerodynamic coefficient is responsible for that behavior? Is it the drag coefficient? Pitching Moment coefficient derivative perhaps? Roll decay moment? Pitch damping moment? Maybe Normal Force Coefficient derivative? The answer is in there, you just need to pick the right one.

[@eddawg79]

Lead is way softer than your barrel steel so a rifled slug through a rifled barrel won't hurt a thing. Dad did that forever with his 870.

[@siciliancapeverde4646]

I’ve always used Rifled slugs through a rifled barrel, and never had a problem. My freezer is always full of venison. Great video brother.

[@bufordarchery]

I have shot a Remington 870 with a rifled barrel using Hornady SST 300 grain slugs. Crazy accurate. Always enjoy your videos. Thanks for making the content.

[@muddybadgers5205]

I use a carlsons rifled choke with rifled slugs and a red dot sight. I havent tried it at 100 yards, but i get excellent accuracy at 50 yards. It can put 10 rounds fully within a 3 inch circle

[@georgedarrell7416]

Good stuff here. What you said, : "...make sure you get your particular gun out, and the round that you're going to shoot [and] put them on paper." That's spot on! In my experience, my smooth bore, pumpkin slinger, a Moss'y 500 (12 ga), is more accurate than the same 500 platform with a rifled barrel. I used a bunch of different rounds to print both tubes. Both tubes with open sights (smooth bore iron, and rifled Williams "fire sights"). I found my smooth bore with Winchester Super X, 1 oz Foster slugs, @ 1600 fps will hit a 9" paper plate all day, every day, every time. (Bonus: POI is the same at 25 yds.) While Remington Fosters were the worst, Federals, and Brennekes weren't much better. The rifled tube did "ok" out to ~75 yds with LIghtfield Express sabots. Hornady SSTs, and a few other sabots I tried, I couldn't "pattern" beyond ~30-40 yds in the rifled tube. Just in my experience, and YMMV, and invariably will... Thanks for the video!

[@mibe1606]

Steve: I have a Benelli SBE and I bought an E.R. Shaw rifled barrel for it. I have gotten many 3-shot single hole groups with Hornady sabot rounds and Lightfield sabot rounds. I think Lightfield quit making them. Too bad. I also got Dupleks sabots at Midway. I use a Leupold scope on the SBE. All these rounds are producing same hole groups at 135 yds. I have taken 18 coyotes on our ranch with the sabot rounds. Terminal performance is beyond what I expected. I have never gotten good results with rifled slugs. Sabots are the ticket for my shotgun. Very accurate, very consistent and devastating on coyotes.

[@pogers22]

What choke do you have in your bird gun because that is the most inportant factor if you shoot slugs you need fullbore - modifyed choke anything tighter and the slugs WILL strike the choke and jump to the side

[@tdc1C4]

Understand that you were using the copper coated Truball slugs - designed for deep penetration. A lead only (non-tactical version)Truball is moving faster and does not have a copper coating so it will deform/mushroom much faster. Penetration would be far less.

[@Constable_Bob]

Good Stuff Steve, thanks for the informative vid!! I live in Iowa, and haven’t purchased a straight-wall rifle yet so I’m still shooting slugs. I know I’m not comfortable shooting rifled slugs through my 870 bird barrel much past 50 yards, but I can shoot Remington copper Sabots through the rifled barrel on my Mossberg 500 out to 100 yds reliably. I know my uncle has killed deer past 100 yards with rifled slugs through the rifled barrel of his 870 slug gun, but he also has a 4-8 power rifle scope attatched.

[@jamesadams1357]

Got a lot of respect for you sir. However I understand if you don't believe this. I've been doing this for 50 years and I mean it's literally all I do. So I've owned many shotgun over the years but I have two that are SMOOTH BORE that I can hit a milk jug at 100 yards on command! My dad's old Winchester 1200 and my benelli supernova. I don't know what it is about those two but trust me they out shoot every slug barrel I've owned or seen in my life. Foster style only of course but they are unbelievably accurate and I feel blessed to have them. Heck hickock 45 seems to shoot all smooth bore with slugs this well it seems. Love your work my man and be blessed. I forgot to add the old 1200 is a fixed full choke!

[@joshrandall3632]

It's nice when you find that shotty that is dead on with slugs. My 870 is that way with a 19" barrel cut with a hacksaw and cleaned up with a file. Curious if you've ever tried slugs shaped like the original BRI sabots in your smooth bore. They were designed for smooth bore but a lot of people started using them in their rifles barrels when that became a thing.

[@richpetre2561]

My wife bought a 20ga Mossberg Combo for a Black Friday in 2010 for $240. It has performed well for every hunting season and Sabot 20ga slugs from Hornaday run very well for Deer. I like the Remington 3” Turkey loads in the spring- my son got his first bird this year with that.

[@Shane696]

I have a rifled barrel with scope and can shoot under 2 1/2” groups. And yes you can shoot rifled slug through rifled barrel. May get more leading.

[@nateh2652]

Ill take lead fouling over plastic fouling any time. I hate scrubbing plastic out.

[@wdtaut5650]

The Federal Power Shok 12 ga. sabot has been the most accurate in my Mossberg. I haven't been able to find any for four and a half years. Remington sabots are pretty good, Hornady not. I mean in my gun. Fortunately, I can now use a straight-wall rifle. Probably won't go back to slugs.

[@yatyasmf]

Sabot - "Say-Bo"

[@MrGsteele]

Lessons from this video: 1) with any slugs, use a rifled barrel; 2) with slugs, use an optic for aiming - a bead is inadequate; 3) sabots, traveling much faster and flatter, are superior in accuracy, and ability - in particular - to hit a moving target; 4) rifled slugs are a close second when you need knock-down power; 5) heavier slugs like a Brenneke could well change the balance of choice. Good video - it's remarkable to watch the rifled slugs' trajectory in mid air on the way to the target, while the sabot slugs' travel is invisible. It also looked like the sabot recoil is less, despite the 50% higher velocity; that helps follow-up shots if necessary.

[@gemonic9103]

I would love to see a part 2 with some optics on the guns, some different brands and types of slugs, and also some choke tubes like improved cylinder!

[@clarencewest6418]

The slug creates a relatively large channel, allowing a clear path for the wadding. Which then collapses onto the wadding as the energy dissipates. I think I would prefer the rifled slug through a rifled barrel. If, rather than a jacketed slug, you used an all lead spiral slug, the mushrooming would increase the amount of energy dissipated in the target. It would, in all probability, still exit the target. Thus giving you accuracy, energy dissipation, and a blood trail. Enjoyed the video.

[@craigmashoke8502]

Massachusetts is slugs, Remington slugs group 4 inch out of smooth bore 1100 at 100 yards. I prefer this for drive hunting. Remington copper sabot group 2.5 inch out of rifles 21 inch bbl 1100 I prefer for stand hunting. Both have cantilevered scope mounts. Smooth bore has red dot sight, rifled barrel has Leupold 1.5 to 5 scope. My record for driven deer is 3 down in 3 seconds with 3 shots using the smooth bore with red dot sight at point blank distance 15 yards. Thanks Craig

[@sisleymichael]

I feel for you guys. I have done zero slug shotgun hunting in my 65yrs. I grew up in South Texas. Deer hunting was a rifle proposition. I have shotguns for turkey, quail, doves, squirrels, rabbits, and defense.

[@Blaze-v6f]

I bought one of the last 20 LWRC REPR MK2 308 pistols ever made. Best hunting, battle, and conceal carry gun ever made. A 308 pistol can shoot out 400 meters and can be used in all shotgun zones. It’s costs $7000 though but it does everything. And you can carry it full loaded into the grocery store if you want to.

[@josephdavis2427]

I used to wonder this myself. Then I got a .50 Beowulf and a 8.6 Blackout. Intermediate accuracy with better than slug on target energy. I still value my shotguns for what they can do, but the feild has definitely changed with new options for massive projectiles that group well at 300 yards.

[@williameberhart3505]

Im glad you clarified the use of different slugs. Your smooth bore didn't like those fosters...

[@uprebel5150]

I have been using Lightfield Loads for decades. Their 100% lead slugs that are hourglass shaped. The plastic sabots are two pieces that separate immediately after they leave the barrel. They are awesome!!! When I bought them in bulk years ago they were $3 a trigger pull. I have slayed many deer with them and I live in the rifle zone of my state where most shots are less than 100 yards. I use a fully rifled slug barrel too with a scope. These slugs drop deer in their tracks.

[@DonutVIP]

Browning gold hunter with a cantilever fully rifled barrel, leupold 3x9 40mm ultimate slam, slanging browning bxs copper 12ga 2¾. Just want to say every gun is different. Gotta test what sabot slugs perform well in your gun, which means it can be expensive but worth it when you find the perfect load, the real rest starts next week on deer opener, got this thing sighted at 50 yards

[@foreverjim5240]

U need to use a modified choke for the rifled slug. Cylinder choke doesn't work very well. Awesome video though. Thumbs up!

[@wymonwatson1309]

I use cylinder on mine, and it shoot very accurately, especially with federal for some reason?

[@lesleyboeder1798]

We never had a choice years ago as most guns had a full choke. Never had any issues

[@erikleirmo9147]

Yes I’m in a slug zone savage 220 Leupold scope

[@tatoo190]

Awesome video. There’s not enough slug gun content! I’d love to see you come back to this with a red dot, a scope, & a rifled choke just to compare.

[@bcre8v]

2 3/4" rifled slug. 26" smooth bore BPS. Bead at the end of the barrel. 80-100yds. At rest in a tree stand. Greetings from Iowa.

[@azzir325]

I live in rifle country so most of my hunting is with a rifle, but I did hunt a slug only area and bought a Mossberg 500 with a rifled barrel and have shot rifled slugs through it exclusively with good accuracy.

[@erikleirmo9147]

Depends once you get the right gun definitely makes a world of difference pump combos usually won’t shoot 100 yards well sabots or not my savage 220 doubles my effective range

[@bige2259]

That rifled slug is federals deep penetration slugs . A regular all lead foster slug wouldn’t go through one gel block , they completely come apart or turn into a 1-2 strip of lead

[@TargetFocusedLife]

Rifled slugs do spin however. Check out this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5nThISQbZecY9Usi=dnCsKh8H7fro8woX

[@bige2259]

@@TargetFocusedLife not talking about them spinning. I’m talking about what the slug is made of that you used . That particular rifled slugs is federals deep penetration slugs . A regular lead foster slug breaks up and doesn’t give you half the penetration.

[@DirtRider6010]

Hunted with a mossberg 500 for years with a rifled barrel shooting winchester super x rifled slugs they always shoot great

[@DeweyParrish-dn2zu]

Reno Nv.U.S.A.!!! Don't hunt with shotgun!!! 30-06 is still my choice !!! Great video!!! Keep-um coming!!!

[@billb7046]

This video and the comments answered a lot of questions I had, thanks.

[@jameseray1979]

I have a slug barrel for my 870. I've shot the rifled slugs in it for years. Because they are usually cheaper than sabot's. And they group so close to the sabots there isn't any difference to me. But the barrel is rifled.

[@ChrisMiller0526]

Remington rifled slugs grouped under a couple inches at 100 yards from the Ithaca deer slayer smoothbore I had back in the day. It's all ammo dependent sometimes.

[@shovelhead2155]

Try a plain lead foster through a rifled barrel. Federal deep penetrator foster slug has more antimony in the lead and a copper plating that im sure helped with the performance.

[@thefloridacrew1473]

All my life I’ve shot rifled slugs and sabot slugs out of a 28” barrel runnin a modified choke and I’ve always hit what I’m aiming at. I’ve even hit a manhole cover at 300 yards 3/5 shots with rifled slugs

[@BG-vq9fd]

Interesting, I bought a rifled barrel Benneli pump at auction. I have always wondered if it would shoot rifled slugs. I recently bought several boxes of freight train.

[@vikramgupta2326]

Thanks, I also was curious. Confirmed some of my own rough observations. Great video.

[@bc454irocz89]

Slugzone. Mossberg 500 rifled barrel with red dot and hornady sabots.. last deer dropped at 87 yards.. never had to track a single one all these years

[@paulhouse2445]

My state was slug zone until about 10 years ago. So until about age 35 I lived in slug zone. Age 24-25 I bought my first muzzle loader to extend my season. Except a handful of Deer Drives, I chose Muzzle loader. I had a lot more confidence with it despite the capacity. I kept trying & trying until the laws changed. 12/20, smooth/rifled, foster/ sabot/ copper solid/ brenneke & on & on. Found plenty of accuracy, just not Consistently accurate options. Now we can use "straight wall" & almost anything on private land. Now we have far less excuses for the failures

[@shovelhead2155]

Foster slugs were designed to be shot through Cyl to Full chokes safely. The ridges are there for the lead to obturate when the slug is swagged through the choke.

[@stephenbinion6348]

The Foster Slugs grouped ‘Minute of Deer’ at 100 yards through the rifled bore. While not ideal it would work well here in the eastern woodlands.

[@noneyabiz8225]

The next question is how does a smooth bore with a rifled choke and optics performs with sabot slugs

[@YOUneedJESUS1]

100yrd test 5 shot group Tru ball - 5in group H. SST SABOT - 3in group My testing w/ rem 870 12ga 22" rifled barrel for Hornady sst, and 26" mod choke smooth barrel for tru ball. Edit- my 870 has a receiver mounted micro red dot for a sight.

[@mishkaulitkin9476]

Very well presented! Those rifled slugs you were shooting, flowed badly (slugs did NOT separate from wad, creating poor accuracy and most probably restricted slug to open up).

[@bryangeorge9461]

It may have been a fluke, but in the early 90's I had my remington 1187 special purpose mag with a 26" barrell with front bead sight and Foster slugs. My friend had an 1187 premier with a full rifeld barrell and a scope that was supposedly spot on at 100 yards. We shot 5 shots at 100 yards and 3 of mine were within a 6" circle. Luck? maybe, but it was better than he did.

[@deanhoward4128]

Thanks you answered my questions too!

[@willcook4174]

I have a 12ga smoothbore with a rear sight and it groups pretty well at 100 yards. A rifled barrel is more accurate though and provides more range.

[@User-nx7rs]

The rifled barrel should use a sabot slug. The smooth bore should use a rifled or Foster slug. A rifled choke tube in a smooth bore can use either or because cleaning a choke tube relatively easy. Shooting a full bore Foster slug in a rifled barrel will fill up the lands and grooves of the barrel with lead making accuracy suffer.

[@MatthtcTrella]

I shoot a Winchester 1400 auto loader with rifled barrel and scope. I use rifled slugs and find it extremely accurate. 3 shots in a 6" circle at 100y. You have to try different brands of slugs they are all very different. For me it was remington sluggers and winchester slugs a close 2nd..

[@lanceroberthough1275]

I've taken dozens of deer with rifled slugs they are super deadly as long as you place them well. They pass through and blood trails are guaranteed.. of course the longest distance I've had any of them run was about 40 yards but at least half of that was tumbling shut down the steep Hill towards the stream bed. Sabot slugs have been excellent as well. But if I had to say choose one over the other for a huge brown bear I would use the rifled slug

[@chaecoco2]

It would be nice to try a drag stabalized slug (Thug Slug Ballistic Products or some of the Bereneke options.) I hear they are very accurate through a smooth bore.

[@codydwr27]

I have shot rifled slugs through rifled barrels for years now with great accuracy and success. Just leaves a little more fowling in the barrel is all.

[@aiercooledengine]

Foster slug in my rifled barrel with my optic. Less expensive and apparently equal or better performance in the ballistic gel than the sabot slug. Thankyou.

[@RobertMcCandless-nr7cv]

I use a 20ga, 870 with a 22" riffled barrel. And at 300-yards with an 8 Fixed Power Scope I can hit 7 out of 10 one-gallon water jugs, once sighted in with Sabot. The 20ga is more accurate than the 12ga! I used to use the 20ga Federal Power-Shock 328g, lately I have been using Hornady SST Ammunition 20ga 2-3/4" 250 Grain FTX Sabot Slug or 20ga 2-3/4" 385 Grain Remington Accutips lately, depending on the wind. The Fixed Power Scope makes a big difference at this distance!

[@NTycingProductions]

I've always had great success with my old Winchester #140 12ga semi with my 28in smoothbore barrel, and Winchester 1oz Foster slugs. Furthest shot was at 120 yards, I have my shotgun scoped, with an old Bushnell Sportview 3-9×32mm scope with the BDC, I haven't really tried any other slugs through it due to the performance of the foster slugs I use now. All one shot kills, with over 20 deer taken with this combination. I have to retire it, due to losing a B Square scope mount piece, and not being able to get a replacement piece from B Square for it! I put together an old 12ga 870 Wingmaster with a 20in smoothbore barrel, that I plan to use for black bear next Spring, and possibly use it for close up moose hunting next Fall (100 yards and less). I might look into getting a rifled barrel for the Wingmaster.

[@diverson63]

Slug zone or straight wall Rifle in Iowa. It changed about 2-3 years ago. I'd use the sabot slug.

[@JAllen-vy6ig]

It’s pronounced “Say-Bo” which is what we call it in the military.

[@Hoser333]

You must have been a tanker🎉

[@andymathews4134]

I use a smooth bore with federal truball rifled slugs. I have a red dot on the shotgun it keeps about a 5inch group at 100yards.

[@nunyabusin]

Took 4 shots with rifled slugs though a rifled barrel. 3 were touching at 80 yards. Need to do a lot more testing.

[@kevincolonel3070]

Federal truball are the only slugs that are designed to be loaded in a smoothbore exclusively. They have a ceramic ball that fills the foster slug. Rifling can cause that ceramic ball to get crushed.

[@GaveMeGrace1]

Thank you.

[@58Alpha]

To me the freight train is the same as their trophy copper. I dissected all the rounds, to me, the only difference on the projectile is that it has a black polymer tip instead of the grey one they had. Website still shows for both trophy copper and freight train the same ballistics coefficient and also same other specs except the powder charge. Made a video about it, kinda think it's false advertising but it's still a great round for hunting based on my experience.

[@randallhoward3231]

The sabot slug is more destructive than the rifled slug. I have never had to track a deer that I shot with a sabot slug. Last year my deer dropped where it was standing. Plus, it was a quartering shot with complete pass through. It was a Hornady SST slug.

[@toddbunnett640]

Your rifled slug performance is brutal. IC choke and Remington 2 3/4 inch rifled slugs out of my maxus will put all the shots inside a paper plate at 100 yards. 2 3/4 inch Remington accutip sabots will group under 2 inchs at 100 with and sx3 slug gun and sbe2 slug gun with optics.

[@Hock3y24k]

We used to have to use slug guns, it sucked. Lol. Used to shoot rifles slugs touching at 50 yards with open sights and rifles sights tho. We’ve been rifle for 8 years now and it’s light years better. With sabots I have had two deer drop, get up and run off with hornaday sst, so I stick with Winchester slugs. Both smooth and rifled barrels were 20”, we shot rifled slugs in a rifled barrel many times with no issues also. The rifled barrel I have is a Hastings and was very accurate.

[@tasaman]

I live near an army post that you can use either shotgun or muzzleloader. For the best performance, muzzleloader cannot be beat at distance. Shotgun is arguably better at 75 yards and closer. Savage 220 is tops for slug gun and can shoot adequately at 180 yards. I shoot smokeless custom muzzleloaders and my effective range is double what any slug gun can muster.

[@TheJC1988]

I have a mossberg 590 with a rdo, i can put all 9 shots within 2-3 inches of each other at 100 yards using 3” federal power-shock 1-1/4oz slugs. If your using a smoothbore for slugs invest in a red dot 👌

[@charlessmith5436]

Rifle bullets can be used in a rifled barrel. With the smooth bore those rifle slugs are not grabbing anything and spinning. Hence it comes out like a knuckle ball. Same with the sabot

[@deandeann1541]

The riflind grooves on a smooth bore slug are not at all intended to impart spin to the slug - the entire purpose of the grooves is to ensure that the slug does not cause an over pressure situation when the slug is shot through a constriction (ie a choke),

[@richdowdy4626]

What choke was used in the smooth bore? It makes a difference with accuracy.

[@nhwnhw02]

Was shooting the 1600fps Tru-ball slugs through a Beretta 1301 at 50 yards and 35 yards. The wad or the nylon ball were making holes through the target and a rather shot up piece of plywood. Can't imagine how brutal the recoil of freight train slugs would be without the lead sled. A 300 grain bullet from a 8.5 pound 45-70 moving 100fps slower isn't much fun sitting down. The 1600fps Tru-ball slugs are shocking from the lightweight Beretta.

[@dburnett3257]

Remington Slugger rifled slugs would not group out of either my Ithaca 37 (rifled barrel) or my Winchester Defender (smooth). The reason was that they were undersized; one of these slugs would slide from muzzle to chamber in both guns. Rifled Winchester slugs were a couple thousandths bigger than the Sluggers, did not freely slide down either barrel and gave me 2" groups at 50 yards.

[@travissmith8709]

I had a mossberg 500 with field and slug barrel with 2x scope. I shoot rifled true ball slugs out of the rifled barrel with 4” groups at 100 yards. Never tried the smooth bore barrel

[@Peter-976]

Pass through for me. That one ounce slug is almost twice the weight of that puney Sabot and went through 35 inches of gel. That's stopping power.

[@peterforrestel2558]

The energy doesn't do any good if the round carries out all through. You want the round to go in and dump all the energy possible. Pass-through is a waste.

[@Adam-1220MN]

Would you shoot a FMJ or hollow point at a big game animal?

[@Peter-976]

@Adam-1220MN FMJ for stopping power or a one ounce slug against a charging bear every time.

[@Peter-976]

​@peterforrestel2558 not a waste for me.

[@WHEELZ1]

My mossberg 500 with the trophy coppers are sub moa at 100 yards. Its a tack driver. I got my moss.500 when I turned 15.