GREAT
GEAR
CHOOSE THE RIGHT SLUGS Shotguns are the gun world’s versatility kings – with ammunition
ranging from birdshot to buckshot to slugs, they o er an extremely
broad field of possible applications. In this month’s Great Gear, we focus
on the various types of slug ammunition.
SLUG TYPES
Although there are numerous makes, models and
types of slugs on the market today, all these can be
roughly divided into two broad categories: sabot slugs
that feature sub-bore diameter projectiles encased
in a sleeve and non-sabot slugs featuring full-bore
diameter projectiles.
Let’s start with the latter. Back in the early days,
round balls were red from smoothbore barrels. is
combination was all but the epitome of accuracy so
use was restricted to short ranges only. To improve
upon this, Karl Foster from the USA designed a
new type of full-bore slug, still known as the Foster
slug, which features a deep hollow in the rear of the
projectile placing the centre of mass near the front of
the slug. is concept is actually very similar to that of
an airgun pellet, since drag will push the lightweight
rear back in to straight ight, stabilizing the projectile.
Additionally, many Foster type slugs feature ri ing on
the outside of the projectile. Not only does this ri ing
impart (limited) rotation on the slug, these ribs also
minimize friction between barrel and projectile and
allow the projectile to be swaged down when red
through a choke.
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In Europe meanwhile, Wilhelm Brenneke came
up with another full-bore slug design. e original
Brenneke design features a solid lead slug with
ribs cast onto the outside of the projectile. What’s
more, a bre wad was attached to the base of the
slug that remains attached after ring, serving both
as a gas seal but also, more importantly, to generate
drag, stabilizing the projectile in its ight. Since the
Brenneke design is solid, rather than hollow such
as the Foster design, the former will deform less on
impact and provide deeper penetration than the latter.
Next to the full-bore Foster and Brenneke designs,
sub-bore sabot designs really set the slug world on
re. A sabot slug consists of a projectile smaller than
the bore of the shotgun encased by a plastic sleeve.
is sleeve is also known as a sabot. e idea of a
sabot is to engage the ri ing in a ri ed shotgun barrel
so as to impart a ballistic spin onto the projectile.
As the slug itself does not come in contact with
the bore, it can be made from a variety of materials
including lead, copper, brass or even steel. Sabot slugs
are typically bullet-shaped but come in a variety of
designs, including controlled-expansion projectiles
and even dart-like slug featuring tail ns. e sabot
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