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separates from the slug after it departs the muzzle.
Sabot slugs red from ri ed bores are far superior
in accuracy and range over any smoothbored slug
alternatives. e accuracy attained with sabot slugs in
ri ed barrels actually approaches that of low-velocity
ri e calibres.
BARREL TYPES
To get the best performance, the type of slug you use
needs to be matched to the barrel type you will be
shooting with. Generally speaking there are three types
of shotgun barrels available for slug shooters: your runof
the-mill smoothbore barrel, a smoothbore with a
screw-in ri ed choke and a full-length ri ed barrel.
As the name suggests, a regular shotgun barrel is
smooth and so not ri ed in any way. is is perfect for
cartridges lled with shot, but not exactly ideal when
shooting one solid slug since the smooth barrel does
not impart spin on the projectile. is is why e ective
range is typically limited when shooting slugs with a
smoothbore barrel.
Moving up the ladder we have a smoothbore barrel
tted with a screw-in ri ed choke. Although limited
in length, a ri ed choke will at least impart some spin
on a slug as it exits the barrel, stabilizing its ight. In
an ideal situation full-length ri ed barrels are the way
to go as it imparts spin to the projectile all the way
through the barrel, stabilizing the projectile’s ight and
thus maximizing its accuracy and e ective range.
APPLICATIONS
Although a shotgun loaded with slugs is sometimes
considered a “poor man’s ri e”, slugs certainly have
merits for hunting, law enforcement as well as selfdefence.
For example where the use of ri es is not
allowed for hunting, slug guns are one of the best
solutions for hunters wanting to ‘reach out’.
Slugs are also one of the medicines of choice in
dangerous game country where massive knockdown
power is needed.
Law enforcement o cers meanwhile use slugs to
disable vehicles by penetrating engines. e versatility
of the humble shotgun loaded with the appropriate
ammunition is nearly endless.
MIX AND MATCH
By now it should be clear that whatever type of slug
you might choose, shooting it in a full-length ri ed
barrel will generate the best results, both in accuracy as
well as in range. A smoothbore barrel with a screw-in
ri ed choke will be somewhat less accurate than a fulllength
ri ed barrel while a pure smoothbore will o er
the least accuracy of the three barrel types.
Although you can safely shoot all types of shotgun
slugs in all three types of barrels mentioned before,
it would not make sense to shoot sabot slugs in a
smoothbore barrel. Sabots need ri ing to impart spin,
stabilize their ight and provide optimal performance.
All in all, ri ing is the name of the game.
SLUGS FOR YOUR
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