Maybe someone can answer this. I know "they" say not to use sabot slugs in a smoothbore, but has anyone tried it? The M-1 Abrams uses a 120mm smooth bore and sabot rounds to destroy other tanks at ranges of 5 miles or more. Why can't I shoot sabots out of my smoothbore shotgun barrel(cyl bore)?
sabot slugs
- Thread starter chuzy2
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Beagle-zebub
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I believe the projectiles in the 120mm gun are fin-stabilized, so rifling is unnecessary.
Standard "rifled" slugs are for smoothbore.["rifled" means nothing , it doesn't do anything for rotating the slug or for accuracy, it's there for savely shooting through choked barrels]
For better accuracy a rifled choke may be used.
For best accuracy use sabot slug in rifled barrel. They tell you not to use sabots in a smoothbore as it doesn't have good accuracy.
For better accuracy a rifled choke may be used.
For best accuracy use sabot slug in rifled barrel. They tell you not to use sabots in a smoothbore as it doesn't have good accuracy.
It'd be cool if someone made a dart projectile in 12 gauge, similar to SABOT tank rounds.
The SABOT itself is a basic design, and the projectile can be made to whatever caliber the makers' deem the best. Imagine a 7 to 8-mm dart at more than 3000 feet per second; the BC and SD will be through the roof.
It'd actually put rifles to shame in regards to long range power and accuracy.
The SABOT itself is a basic design, and the projectile can be made to whatever caliber the makers' deem the best. Imagine a 7 to 8-mm dart at more than 3000 feet per second; the BC and SD will be through the roof.
It'd actually put rifles to shame in regards to long range power and accuracy.
hub
Member
You can but the projectile will be inaccurate because it is not stabilized.
The rifled barrel spins the sabot and in turn stabilizes the bullet in flight like any other rifle.
The rifled slug is not stabilized by the so called rifling on the slug causing it to spin, it's stabilized because the front is solid and heavier that the rear which is hollow. Same concept as a shuttlecock in badminton.
So if you want to try yourself go ahead and spend $10-$15 for a box of sabot's and see how they work in your smooth bore, or you can just visit here and see the results that have already been tested.
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot46.htm
ReloaderFred
Member
I can't speak for the factory sabot slugs, but the ones I make and load myself are pretty impressive from a smooth barrel shotgun, but really shine in a rifled barrel. At 50 yards, from my 20" riot barrelled 870, they will easily stay in a pie plate. From my 870 Express, with a rifled barrel and scope, they will put 3 rounds into about an inch and a half at the same distance.
I'm casting the Lyman wasp waist slug, that resembles a large pellet gun pellet. Loaded into a AA hull, with AA wads, and a healthy dose of Blue Dot, these are elephant stoppers. In fact, we don't have any elephants left around here..........
Hope this helps.
Fred
I'm casting the Lyman wasp waist slug, that resembles a large pellet gun pellet. Loaded into a AA hull, with AA wads, and a healthy dose of Blue Dot, these are elephant stoppers. In fact, we don't have any elephants left around here..........
Hope this helps.
Fred
hub
Member
Hey fred, sorry to hijack this thread but I think the question has been answered. I've really been thinking about loading up some of those or the Lee cast slugs in 12 ga for a rifled barrel.
I see you said 1 1/2in groups at 50yds, what kind of accuracy at longer ranges are you getting out of those compared to commercial sabot's and rifled slugs. How is the trajectory and what do you think the maximum effective range for them would be on deer.
I see you said 1 1/2in groups at 50yds, what kind of accuracy at longer ranges are you getting out of those compared to commercial sabot's and rifled slugs. How is the trajectory and what do you think the maximum effective range for them would be on deer.
ImARugerFan
Member
You can do it, but they won't fly as good as the significantly cheaper rifled slugs.
ReloaderFred
Member
hub,
The best group I've gotten (and it's been awhile since I really messed with them) was just under 3" for 5 shots at 100 yards. That's with a scope, rifled barrel and using a sandbag rest. The only deer I ever shot with them was just over 120 yards in the sand dunes here on the coast. That's the only shotgun only area we have, which is why I set up the shotgun.
I used the data from the Lyman Shotshell Reloading Manual, using Blue Dot. I tried some other powders, but the hot Blue Dot load was the most accurate. It also kicks like a mule on both ends of the gun.
I've shot those same loads from my smoothbore 870 and they were surprisingly "accurate", meaning they were as accurate as rifled slugs in the same gun. I expected flyers, but didn't have any.
Hope this helps.
Fred
The best group I've gotten (and it's been awhile since I really messed with them) was just under 3" for 5 shots at 100 yards. That's with a scope, rifled barrel and using a sandbag rest. The only deer I ever shot with them was just over 120 yards in the sand dunes here on the coast. That's the only shotgun only area we have, which is why I set up the shotgun.
I used the data from the Lyman Shotshell Reloading Manual, using Blue Dot. I tried some other powders, but the hot Blue Dot load was the most accurate. It also kicks like a mule on both ends of the gun.
I've shot those same loads from my smoothbore 870 and they were surprisingly "accurate", meaning they were as accurate as rifled slugs in the same gun. I expected flyers, but didn't have any.
Hope this helps.
Fred
ReloaderFred
Member
I forgot to address trajectory. It's like any other slug, a rainbow arc. The deer I got was hit about 4" below where I aimed, because I under estimated the distance. The Lyman Manual says my load is going right around 1,474 fps, but I didn't chronograph it. A big, flat slug at that velocity is brutal, but still slow compared to rifle bullets, so there is a lot of drop after you get past 100 yards.
The nice thing about the Lyman slug is you can use regular AA hulls and AA wads, with a star crimp. It makes loading them really easy.
Hope this helps.
Fred
The nice thing about the Lyman slug is you can use regular AA hulls and AA wads, with a star crimp. It makes loading them really easy.
Hope this helps.
Fred
Schofield3
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