Slug Types

Personally I am not a big fan of slugs, although growing up in Ohio forced me to use them.  They are the mandatory choice in states where population density suggests slugs that travel shorter distances are safer, but they are more dangerous for hunters in the woods as they carry farther in the brush.


Slugs have to be used to be used on the Hagerman National Wildlife Preserve where part of The Hunting Brotherhood is going so I'm back to the shotgun in Texas of all the places!  This feral hog hunt is offered only twice a year on March 4-6 and 18-20.  Kirk has been nice enough to set this hunt up the hunt by researching and putting in our names in for the tag drawing.  Last year everyone that put in for the drawing got to hunt so we're hopeful we will make it

 

 There are over 11,000 acres to hunt in the Hagerman.  If things go well this year for the three of us going it may have to become a yearly event!

I'm staying with my Thompson-Center platform for this hunt.  I will be switching my 45-70 out for a rifled 20 gauge barrel.  The nice thing about this switch is that the DNZ mount and Leupold scope can be transferred, although the Encore platform will need a different forearm for the shotgun.  In Ohio I always used 12 gauge shotguns, but the research I did on 20 gauge guns says they are more accurate without the recoil.  I don't mind recoil, but I will do about anything for better accuracy! Check out this article on 12 vs 20 gauge slugs for more information.

Slug selection was my next challenge.  It's been interesting following slug development over the years as a shotgun hunter in the Buckeye State.  We all started with traditional slugs until Foster slugs became available.  They had been developed in the 1930s by Karl Foster.  The "rifling" or fins do NOT spin the slug as many people think.  Their purpose is to allow the slug to squeeze through different shotgun chokes.  They are however hallow which made them more accurate, sort of like a badminton bird flies through the air with its heavy front end.

I remember being excited for the Brenneke slug when they came out as they were suppose to be more accurate which seemed to be true at the time.  I was surprised to find when researching this post that  Brenneke slugs weren't new in the late 1970s - early 1980s, just new from the Rottweil company at that time.  It's invention goes by to German gun and ammunition designer Wilhelm Brenneke (1865–1951) in 1898.  It's design is to attach a paper wad to the rear of the slug in order to improve its flight like the feathers of a badminton bird.  This setup also improves the slug's ballistic coefficient so it will retain its velocity better as it flies downrange from the muzzle, will resist the wind better, and will “shoot flatter.”

Both of these first two slug types are good only for short range shooting, but I want more distance.  My goal with the new TC Encore barrel is to use Sabot slugs in order to greatly improve the range I can shoot.

Sabot slugs are lead-cored, full copper-jacketed or solid copper projectiles supported by a plastic sabot, which is designed to engage the rifling in a rifled shotgun barrel and impart a ballistic spin onto the projectile.  Sabots are also used in muzzle loaders.

Here is a great article that tests sabots versus other slug types from both smooth and rifled barrels.  The main lessons from the test were sabots in smooth bores are not effective and a waste of money since they cost much more.  However sabots in a fully rifled barrel are extremely effective and greatly increase the range of shotgun slugs.

 

 The above table is from Hornady test of their Superperformance slug in 20 gauge.  200 yards is a realistic shot, but there is a heavy financial cost.  This type of ammunition runs $15-$20 for a five round box!  By the time to sight in your weapon, practice, and go on the hunt, you will have a small fortune invested.

Bottom line, if accuracy is your goal and slugs must be used, sabots are the way to go!