Sabot slug help!!

[Nilsfisher]

I recently purchased a 12 gauge Mossberg 500a for a deal that I couldn't pass up. (please don't give me a hard time about getting a mossberg, thats not the point of this post)

I purchased Federal 2 3/4 inch 3/4 oz barnes expander tipped slugs and shot them. Of the 15 I shot, almost half hit the target keyholed at 50 and 100 yards.

I don't plan on getting the federals that I got again if I am going to get the same results.

Does anybody have any comments/suggestions on the type of ammo that works good in these guns?

[picksbigwagon]

I am going on the assumption that you have a rifled barrel....if so, I have had good success with the winchester plantium series and have not yet tried the hornady sst slugs, but I have heard a lot of people have liked them.

[NaturesRespect]

I recently purchased a 12 gauge Mossberg 500a for a deal that I couldn't pass up. (please don't give me a hard time about getting a mossberg, thats not the point of this post)

I purchased Federal 2 3/4 inch 3/4 oz barnes expander tipped slugs and shot them. Of the 15 I shot, almost half hit the target keyholed at 50 and 100 yards.

I don't plan on getting the federals that I got again if I am going to get the same results.

Does anybody have any comments/suggestions on the type of ammo that works good in these guns?

when the gun is not loaded adn the action is opened stick your finger into the barrel at the top were the projectile leaves and if the barrel has grooves then you have a rifled barrel if the barrel walls feel smooth you have a smoothbore

only thing i can come up with here is that you have a smoothbore shotgun thats why the bullets are key holing

the only single projectile bullet you can use with smoothbores is a rifled slug to shoot sabots you need a rifled barrel to impart spin to the projectile so they wont key hole... shoot a sabot out of a smoothbore they will always key hole on you

[reinhard1]

i use a hornady sst slug in my rifled barrel. i find to have the accuracy and power i am satisfied with. good luck.

[Esox_Magnum]

Ever gun shoots different, what works for me might be way off for you. If you have a rifled barrel start buying and trying, if it smothbore don't use Sabots but again buy and try fosters untill you find the brand your gun likes. My rifled and smooth both like the old Brenekkee mag's, for Sabots it loves Barnes Expanders.

[Nilsfisher]

Thanks guys. I have a full rifled barrel. I used to use my 870 smooth bore with rifled slugs and that shot great with just about any slug brand as long as they were 2 3/4 inch. 3 inch slugs shot like [PoorWordUsage].

I'll try the hornady and see how those go. if not, I'll keep going from there.

[slabchaser]

Im not an expert but I liked hornady. I thought they shot a little high under 30 yards, but im sure it was just me. Lots of knockdown power.

[Jameson]

Don't be afraid to try the cheapest Federal sabots available. I do believe a friend may have the same gun and he settled on the cheapest Federal sabots available.

[PurpleFloyd]

There is a brand of slug i encourage everytone to try. It is called the Quik Shok and it made by a company called PolyWad. They are based in Georgia and are a small company that IMHO make some great ammo for a great price.

I bought a few boxes of these about 4 or 5 years ago and will never go back. The slugs are pre-scored(Similar to the Federal .22 shells of the same name. They break into 3 separate petals when they enter the deer and the results are very devastating internally. The first year with them I shot a buck at 5 paces and the petals all separated and ended up stopping at the opposing rib cage of the deer and had a 10 inch radius of separation. The added plus is if you miss they don't ricochet like the fosters and sabots which is a plus.

[picksbigwagon]

PFloyd, are they sabots?

[PurpleFloyd]

PFloyd, are they sabots?

Yes, they are.

Great for big game hunting, Polywad's Quik-Shok Sabot Slugs are loaded to 1,500 fps. The patented Quik-Shok slug is .68 caliber as opposed to the .50 caliber slug that most other 12 Gauge sabot slugs use.

The Quik-Shok slug weighs 1-1/8 oz. (492 grains) and splits into three massive segments after penetrating liquid or tissue, even at ranges beyond 100 yards.

One of the more important Quik-Shok advantages gained by big game hunters is the rapid energy transfer which is diffused over a large area within the target. The dispersion action of the sheared segments creates massive hemorrhaging. Each of the three segments promote compression of nerve-laden tissues which become trapped between expanding temporary cavities, resulting in maximum motor interruption.

Most deer shot with the Quik-Shok 12 gauge Sabot slug are dropped in their tracks!

These three recovered pieces

of the QS12MPRS Sabot Slug

each average over 160 grains

in weight. This is the

equivalent of shooting three

30/06 160 gr. projectiles!

The projectile segmentation also increases the probability of striking or affecting one or more vital organs.

The Quik-Shok Sabot Slug was designed to eliminate over-penetration and minimize ricochet. The Quik-Shok projectile either separates into three pieces when penetrating a liquid or tissue target, or expands to a large, ellipsoidal shape when impacting a hard surface. This transformation drastically reduces its velocity and energy and limits its post-impact range. This, of course, minimizes the threat to downrange bystanders and property.

Quik-Shok sabot slugs come in the convenient 10-round field size boxes.(#QS12MPRS)

[picksbigwagon]

Yeah I checked their site, they drop 11" at 100 yards.....price seems right though......Might have to order a box or two and see how they work.

[RumRiverRat]

What length is the barrel?

[Nilsfisher]

24 inch fully rifled barrel.

Federal says: "Most likely going to a 3" shell will improve accuracy. Sometimes the excess space jumping from a 2 3/4" shell into a 3" chamber can alter the sabot/slug enough to cause wobble."

I find that hard to believe. of the 4 wad pedals, I would find 1 of the pedals down by the target. I think that the sabot is sticking to the wad and tearing off one of the petals from the wad and that is causing the tumbling of the sabot. we'll see what happens.

[candiru]

I use currently use Hornadys. Remington Buckhammers have also been a real accurate one.

[96trigger]

Almost everyone in my party has at least a 3 inch chamber, we all shoot 2 3/4 inch shells. Less recoil and are every bit as accurate as the 3 inchers. If you haven't shot the gun, go and pick up a box of everything, strap it to a bench, and see what it likes. Mine winchester and beretta likes hornady SST's and winchester partition golds. I couldn't get a good group with remingtons or with federals.

[The_Duckslayer]

Things that make ya go Hmmmm. i have a Mossberg 835 Ulti Mag and it shoots federal sabot slugs in a 2 inch patern at 50 yards no key holes! Things that make ya go Hmmmmm

[mrklean]

when i was slug hunting i like the winchesters as well, might have to get a few different boxes of slugs to see what shoots best for your gun

[jigging-matt]

I have a Mosseberg and have shot the Remmington Buckhammers and love them. Accurate and lots of knockdown power.

[Finlander]

Hornady SST is the way to go!

[Nilsfisher]

well, since federal is a great company, they are sending me a few boxes of 3 inchers, or thats what they said anyway. they think that will fix the problem. I'm still going to try a couple other brands and see how those shoot. I'll try the hornady sst and the remingtons. I hate to use something other than federals since I have been using them for 18 years, but if something shoots better, it's probably worth it. thanks everyone for your input.