12 gauge sabot slugs

[djpullen]

I just bought a rifled slug gun in 12 gauge and was wondering what experience you guys have with 12 gauge sabots and which ones you recommend. It has a 3" chamber and several of the high velocity sabots I have seen seem to only come in 2 3/4". Is there any accuracy loss in shooting 2 3/4" shells in a 3" chamber?

 

[Flopsy]

Out of curiosity, what 12 gauge is it? My Mossberg SP will hold either 2 3/4 or 3''. I've only fired 2 3/4 slugs out of it, but I'd speculate that the 3'' will have a greater kick. Therefore it's my guess (not educated experience) that the difference in accuracy would depend mostly on your ability to control the greater kick.

 

[djpullen]

It's a Rossi rifled slug gun. It has a ported barrel and a pretty nice recoil pad. So far, about the best I have found ballistics wise is the Remington premier core lokt ultras. They only come in 2 3/4.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Each barrel is a law unto itself, but I've seen some very good work done with 2 3/4" slugs in 3" chambers.

Buy a selection of 5 packs and benchtest them. Go with the tightest grouping, regardless of length.

 

[Karbon]

I had the best results with Federal Premium Copper sabots (3 inch) out of my 870& slug barrel. They shot the best for me, and kept on a paper plate at 100 yards. The Remmys just seemed to fly all over the place, as did some others. The 2 3/4 sabots just seemed to drop too fast for the longer shots, so I went with the 3inchers. I stand behind Federal's factory offerings, no issues here. I cannot say the same for Remington or Winchester ammo.

Only bad thing...you'll take a beating. (cringe, 3 inch sabots, cringe )

 

[Mainsail]

Can you clarify something for me? By ‘slug barrel’ do you mean a regular unrifled barrel? Not knowing any better, I bought a box of sold copper sabot slugs and later read that these were for rifled barrels, not smooth bore. I was going to just blast them away this weekend.

I’ll offer this, I put a Knoxx stock on my 590 and it’s incredible. I will likely go broke shooting it because it SO much fun. It takes that punch to the shoulder and makes it a firm push.

 

[Karbon]

Rifled Barrel, use with non rifled slugs (like the sabot)

Smooth bore barrel, ues with rifled slugs.

One of the two components should have the grooves, not both.

My 870, rifled slug barrel shoots sabots quite well (for a 12 gauge shotgun). I'm happy with the 5 inch or so, free hand groupings at 100 yards. Enough of a kill zone for me back then.

But, I only use the rifle now and anything more than 3 inches (free hand at 150) is not going to work.

Good luck with your test.

 

[AK-74me]

Rifled Barrel, use with non rifled slugs (like the sabot)

Smooth bore barrel, ues with rifled slugs.

One of the two components should have the grooves, not both.

My 870, rifled slug barrel shoots sabots quite well (for a 12 gauge shotgun). I'm happy with the 5 inch or so, free hand groupings at 100 yards. Enough of a kill zone for me back then.

But, I only use the rifle now and anything more than 3 inches (free hand at 150) is not going to work.

Good luck with your test.

This is kinda of right.

You can still shoot rifled slugs if you have a rifled barrel. They aren't as accurate at sabots but they won't do any damage, and are alot cheaper if you know your shots won't be out past 40-50 yds.

 

[Karbon]

I was talking about an ideal situation.

Could you shoot sabots out of a smoothie? Yes.

But if you could get better performance with a different ammunition selection why would you even bother with the sabots... Accuracy is too improtant to me.

BUT, to each there own.

 

[AK-74me]

No I wouldn't shoot sabots out of a smooth bore, that really would be pointless. But if you have a rifled barrel you may not always want to shoot the expensive sabots out of it. I don't know where you live but here in Southern MD it is shot-gun only for deer hunting and alot of areas that we hunt here don't offer shots that are particuarly long, so maybe I'll only take rifled slugs with me on days I know I am going to hunt a stand where my longest shot is gonna be 30-40 yds.

Also if I just want to go to the range and blast off some rounds with my shot-gun I am probably not going to shoot sabots which are like, what, $2.25 each?
Now if I was sighting in for the upcoming season yes or if hunting an area where I thought I would need to shoot 50+ yds. I'll take sabots.

 

[redneck2]

I use Remington Copper Solids, mainly because I got a bunch for super cheap a few years ago and they shoot great (for me). I use an 870 with a Remington barrel. For whatever reason, they seem to strongly prefer Remington barrels. I can put three shots in a tennis ball sized group at 125 yards.

I've also had excellent luck with Federals and Winchester High Impact in some guns. As above, every barrel is a law unto itself.

I'd forget the Foster slug thing. If you spent the bucks for a rifled barrel, use it. You're gonna kick yourself if you happen to get a 125 yard shot and have crap slugs. There's no such thing as a gun that's too accurate, but there are plenty that aren't accurate enough. Odds are you aren't gonna shoot all that many slugs in a year. Make 'em count.

 

[djpullen]

I'll either go with the hornady sst or the remington core lokt ultras. It'll cost a fortune just to sight the gun in. I want to sight in the adjustable irons and a red dot scope.

 

[Jack2427]

My Browning A-Bolt rifled bore likes Federal or Remington sabots best. It shoots very close to my good rifles out to 125 yards, or 150 on a good day. I use a 4X Weaver that is about 50 years old, has a nice post and seems to last forever.

 

[skynyrd1911]

I use Winchester Partition Gold Sabot Slugs 2 3/4 inch 385 grain 1900 FPS or Winchester Platinum Tip Sabot Slugs 2 3/4 inch 400 grain 1700 FPS.

I'm shooting them out of a Winchester 1300 Pump with a smooth bore with a rifled choke tube. Works pretty darn good.

 

[CSA 357]

I shoot coper solids in my 870 with a hastings barrel it does well, they beat buck shot hands down,