slugs

[figplucker]

I was sighting in my rifled slug barrell this morning and was shooting Winchester sabot 2 3/4" supreme (i think they were called supreme, they were in a black box) 1900 fps. A friend was out also with me and he was shooting remmington rifled slugs out of a plain barrell, (they were 2 3/4" rifled slugs, don't know anymore about them other than he said they were the cheapest he could find). At 50 yards the hole in the card board from his rifled slug was almost twice as large in diamater than the hole from my sabot. We were both shooting 12 gauges. Why the difference in hole size? Is there a noticable difference in knock down power due to the larger hole or do the sabot's expand when they make contact with something thicker than cardboard? Thanks.

[catman71]

if it is safe, go look on the ground about 20 yards downrange. your sabots have a thick plastic jacket that surrounds your slug. The rifled slugs have a much thinner jacket or wad. don't worry, your sabot will expand, it is probably much faster as well. You have a rifled barrel i presume?

[climbmda]

The whole point of sabots is that it is a sheathed projectile. This allows you to fire a smaller diameter, faster projectile, with much less drop, and much more accuracy than a standard slug. Assuming you are using a rifled barrel (if not, switch to regular slugs), you should be accurate out to a much longer range than with a rifled slug.

It will expand, but not a great deal, since most are solid copper. However, the added accuracy and speed will more than make up for the smaller hole.

I am pretty confident out to 150 yds with 3" sabots.

[CodyDawg]

I just sighted my shotgun in as well with Federal Barnes Expander Sabots that fly 190 fps. Really happy with the results. To answer your question another way, energy is the key in talking "killing" power. Your bullet prolly weighs 3/4 oz compared to your buddies 1 oz load. Your bullet travels 1900 fps, his around 1400. Because the energy equation is 1/2 mass times velocity squared, you get more energy out of your load than he does. In fact, according to Federal's HSOforum, I have more energy at 125 yards than the old sabots that went 1450 fps (1 oz) did at 50 yards. Dont worry about the diameter of the bullet, a rifle has a tiny hole compared to your hole and much more energy (again because of higher velocity).

[figplucker]

Cool, thanks for the replies guys, I think I understand now.

I am shooting a rifled slug barrell and there was a noticeable difference in accuracy/consistency between his gun and mine at 100 yards.

[Bassboy1645]

sighted in last weekend. switched over from remington 2 3/4'' one ounce slugs to 3" one and 1/4 ounce slugs by federal. good accuracy out of my gun from both but the federals were seven inches lower!!!!!!! four clicks on the scope took care of that