Regular slugs in a rifled barrelshotgun

[Wolfgang]

Has anyone here ever tried shooting rifled or buffered slugs through a rifled shotgun barrel. I can see fouling being an issue compared to but other than that are there any issues and does it increase accuracy any?

[ARduxnbux]

If the riflings on the slug and the barrel are different, you're defeating the purpose of either one by using them together. They will resonate against each other.

Smooth bore = rifled slugs

Rifled bore = sabot slugs

[rooster52]

I have shot Winchester Super-X slugs thru my Rem 870 rifled barrel with great accuracy.Fifty yards gives me one big hole.

[luie b]

I did the first few years I hunted because my dad wanted me to shoot cheap slugs because I used to shoot a lot. They say you shouldn't shoot too many through it because it will screw up the barrel. If you need to use rifled slugs just get out the old smooth bore barrel which you'll have just about as good accuracy.

[luie b]

Originally Posted by ARduxnbux

If the riflings on the slug and the barrel are different, you're defeating the purpose of either one by using them together. They will resonate against each other.

Smooth bore = rifled slugs

Rifled bore = sabot slugs

They're is an alternative to using sabots though if money is an issue. Winchester Sabots cost about $10 a box. Remington buckhammers are about $7 a box. They're not sabots but they aren't rifled and they're for rifled barrels. They'e even managed recoil.

[oldpilot]

Brenneke, the original designer of slugs markets a very inexpensive line of their USA KO ammo, Foster type, that they state are designed for rifled barrels. I've used them in both rifled and non-rifled barrels and had excellent performance in both. We're talking under $6/box.

[Wolfgang]

Originally Posted by ARduxnbux

If the riflings on the slug and the barrel are different, you're defeating the purpose of either one by using them together. They will resonate against each other.

Smooth bore = rifled slugs

Rifled bore = sabot slugs

The rifling on slugs makes no difference if you impart enough spin on the projectile, rifled slugs are just buffered so it looks like rifling, if any significant spin was imparted they would have a much better trajectory.

Also, Brenneke USA's site is what made me wonder as they mention that they can but make no mention of fouling, they do make a point of the previous statement as far as their left twist veins on the slugs in a right twist rifled barrel. I had to load Remington Slugger slugs last year because I ran out of Lightfields in the field, never took a shot with them but was wondering what would happen if I would take a shot.

Since I got out of school early today I might go try shooting a few in out 870 12ga with rifled barrel with rifle sights.

[Mark]

My advice would be to try them. You can't do any harm.

My friend has a Hastings rifled barrel on his Remington 870, and it shoots Winchester Foster style, rifled slugs very well. At 75 yards he gets 3 or 4 inch groups for 5 shots.
My Benelli with an E.R. Shaw rifled barrel doesn't do nearly as well with the exact same slugs.

You'll just have to try them.

Be prepared for a leading issue, these slugs are soft, and will really grease up your barrel. I needed steel wool wrapped around a cleaning brush to clean mine. The lead came out in big flakes.
I also tried Federal Tru-ball. These didn't shoot well at all. I reasoned the ball would expand the skirt of the slug to grab the rifling, like an old fashioned mini ball. These really leaded up my barrel!

Just because someone else tried a certain brand or type of slug in his shotgun doesn't mean much to you. I really can't reason out why some will and won't work for me, other than every slug gun is a law unto itself. I would advise you to try a bunch of different slugs and see what works/doesn't work in your gun.

I did find a great sabot slug, and Federal changed their recipe for this slug. One lot number gave consistant 2 1/2 inch 5 shot groups at 100 yards. The next lot of the same slug did 7 to 8 inch groups. I could go back and forth between the lot numbers with the results being based on lot number.
The point is, even if you find the magic slug, a different lot number can send you back to square one.

Testing and evaluating slugs is very frustrating.

Mark

[sailinghudson25]

I did just as good with the regular slugs as I did with the fancy sabots in my rifled barrel on my 870.

I think the cheapie slugs do a bit better due to lower recoil.

I do roughly the same groups with a smoothbore and fiber optics sights. If you shoot 100 yards or less, like most wooded areas, fancy slugs and fancy barrels are just a waste of money. If you need to push past 100 yards, that extra velocity helps.

Overall, most states that have shotgun only areas also allow muzzleloaders. A nice thompson center will pay for itself after a few range trips. My muzzleloader groups and various shotgun groups are day and night, and I don't have a scope on the muzzleloader too.

[Wolfgang]

Originally Posted by sailinghudson25

I did just as good with the regular slugs as I did with the fancy sabots in my rifled barrel on my 870.

I think the cheapie slugs do a bit better due to lower recoil.

I do roughly the same groups with a smoothbore and fiber optics sights. If you shoot 100 yards or less, like most wooded areas, fancy slugs and fancy barrels are just a waste of money. If you need to push past 100 yards, that extra velocity helps.

Overall, most states that have shotgun only areas also allow muzzleloaders. A nice thompson center will pay for itself after a few range trips. My muzzleloader groups and various shotgun groups are day and night, and I don't have a scope on the muzzleloader too.

I think I would go for Buckhammer slugs if I get a 20ga Rossi slug gun, just a few bucks more than regular slugs and designed for use with rifling. If I would ever shoot a scoped shotgun I would go for Remington AccuTip slugs