Dave and all,
Don't want to be argumentative, just that I've always heard 'Foster'-
lpl/nc
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The straight scoop on shotgun slugs
American Rifleman, Aug 1998
by Michael E Bussard
=snip
"American ammunition manufacturers loaded round balls exclusively until 1936. In 1932-33, independent experimenter Karl Foster sent sample hollow-base. round-nose, rifled shotgun slugs to Remington and Winchester for testing. In 1936, Winchester accepted a modified Foster design for production. Remington then followed suit. Like the Brenneke, Foster slugs were stabilized by placing the center of gravity in front of the center of pressure. Unlike the Brenneke, the wad column of Foster slugs was not attached and fell away after exiting the muzzle. The Foster was rifled and rotated slowly in flight; however, the speed of rotation was insufficient for stabilization. To minimize choke damage, Foster slug diameter was about .695", while 12-ga. bore diameter was .729". Foster slugs were made in the same approximate weights as round balls: I oz in 12ga., 7/8 oz. in 16-ga., 5/8 oz. in 20-ga. and 1/5 oz. in .410 bore, and these weights are still used today. " ==snip
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http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3623/is_199808/ai_n8815670
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New book deals with shotgunning
By Don Lewis
Outdoors Columnist
Friday, October 22, 2004
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/newssummary/s_264725.html
=snip
The shotgun slug type I used evolved from the old round lead ball affectionately called a “punkin” ball. It was a round ball of lead made small enough to easily pass through the choke constriction of a full choke barrel. Consequently, the punkin ball was not exactly a tack driver, but a lot of deer hunters used the round ball with a good bit of success.
I won’t get into the history of the shotgun slug, but a man by the name of Karl Foster designed a slug with vanes on it. This took place in the early 1930s. The angled vanes were supposed to make the slug spin. I have serious doubts the vanes caused the slug to spin and certainly not fast enough to stabilize the projectile. However, from the limited testing I have done with shotgun slugs, they are more accurate by far than the round ball. \==snip
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"The modern rifled slug resulted from the experimental work of Karl M. Foster, who desired a more accurate shotgun projectile than the single, solid, spherical ball formerly loaded by all ammunition companies. Foster initiated his experiments in 1932, and by September of that year had arrived at what is now known as the rifled slug. He made no attempt to patent his invention. This permitted Winchester to begin marketing the Foster slug in 1936, with other ammunition companies quickly folllowing suit."
-transcribed from _The World's Fighting Shotguns_, by Thomas F. Swearengen. Alexandria, VA: T.B.N. Enterprises, 1978. p. 477
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Slugging percentage
Sports Afield, Jun 2002
by Terry Wieland
=snip
"In the 1930s, a shotgunner named Karl M. Foster developed the slug that now bears his name. Cup shaped, with a hollow skirt that would expand to fit the bore, the Foster remained one of the two dominant slug designs for half a century. Winchester began loading them in 1936 and still does. The other design was the European Brenneke, which employed a lead cylinder with a fiber wad attached to the base. Both the Foster and the Brenneke have lead vanes which impart a slight spin for stability, but do little to enhance accuracy." =snip
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3775/is_200206/ai_n9109378
