Savage 220 slug gun reloading?

[THBailey]

I picked up a Savage 220 slug gun and am going broke buying the copper sabot rounds for it. My efforts on the internet search has yielded scant results. Anyone rolling there own for this application?

[NapalmCheese]

I picked up a Savage 220 slug gun and am going broke buying the copper sabot rounds for it. My efforts on the internet search has yielded scant results. Anyone rolling there own for this application?

I plan to (for a different gun, but still copper 20 gauge slugs) but have not yet. I've not done any real research yet. I load other shotgun rounds, but I've never loaded slugs (sabot or otherwise).

[freedom_fighter]

OP, other than the cost of ammo, are you happy with the 220? Considering getting one myself and the reviews I've seen have been great.

[THBailey]

OP, other than the cost of ammo, are you happy with the 220? Considering getting one myself and the reviews I've seen have been great.

Generally, yes. Have not shot it very much, just to sight it in at 100 yards. With the 3" Federal Premium Vital-Shok Copper it drives tacks. Unfortunately, as you probably know, these are $16 for a five pack (hence my search for suitable reloading components) and they kick like a mule. I am a little disappointed that the gun does not cycle a bit more smoothly. I am hopeful this will improve with more use. And you do need to pull the bolt back with enthusiasm for the empty to eject cleanly. All said and done, I am happy with it and will carry it deer hunting when going to shotgun only areas.

[freedom_fighter]

Thanks for the feedback! Most folks seem to be happy with it from the reviews I've seen. I'll be getting one before next deer season

[THBailey]

Thanks for the feedback! Most folks seem to be happy with it from the reviews I've seen. I'll be getting one before next deer season

And just FYI, I got mine going through:

https://www.galleryofguns.com/default.aspx

I used their "Gun Genie" and found it over $100 back from the best price I found elsewhere. Delivered and dros'd at Foothill Firearms in Newcastle.

[W.R.Buchanan]

I picked up a Savage 220 slug gun and am going broke buying the copper sabot rounds for it. My efforts on the internet search has yielded scant results. Anyone rolling there own for this application?

Go over to the "Casting for Shotguns" forum at http://castboolits.gunloads.com/foru...g-for-Shotguns

We are actively loading, testing, and shooting slugs of all types.

All the info you need to get addicted to this part of the sport.

Your's is a 20 ga? plenty of those there too.

The .73 Caliber Rifle is a formidable weapon. For others I highly recommend that if you are considering a Slug Gun that you go with a 12 ga (Savage 210) as there is many times more components to choose from for 12 ga as opposed to 20ga. 12 ga can be loaded from mild to wild and it gives you the flexibility of shooting loads on par with Walmart #8 Dove loads, to stuff that will stop a car. I have slugs ranging from 400 gr to 700 gr. and many in between.

My go to slug gun is a Browning A5 with a Hastings Rifled Barrel.

I also load for a M500 20"Tactical and a M500 18" HD gun. Buckshot and slugs for everything and many work great in either a Smooth Bore or Rifled Barrel..

Ballistic Products Inc is the best source for components in the US. https://www.ballisticproducts.com/

Lots to learn over there and we can put on to the best stuff out there that won't break the bank. Typical slugs load for .20 to .50 cents a round with home cast slugs or .70-.90 cents with store bought slugs. You'll see all of these when you go to the BPI site above.



Randy

[langss]

Randy: Speaking of Slugs, It seems that Ballistic Products is always out of everything that I can find loading data for. I wanted to buy "Primed Hulls" but it appears that load data for the newer brands (which my be in stock) is non existent. Since this is all pretty new to me I don't want to buy hulls or wads that I cannot find data for. I have the data that came with the molds, but even data from Hodgdon's https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/ is no real help. Any suggestions ????

[THBailey]

Well thanks for the input WR. I am specifically looking for a 20 ga sabot that will hold a 250 or 300 gr all copper bullet with a decent ballistic coefficient. I have a sample pack of the Sabot Tech product coming, but they were not real optimistic their product would work well with the all copper.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Randy: Speaking of Slugs, It seems that Ballistic Products is always out of everything that I can find loading data for. I wanted to buy "Primed Hulls" but it appears that load data for the newer brands (which my be in stock) is non existent. Since this is all pretty new to me I don't want to buy hulls or wads that I cannot find data for. I have the data that came with the molds, but even data from Hodgdon's https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/ is no real help. Any suggestions ????

Langss: BPI has a Slug Loading Manual with data for every slug they sell in just about every hull you could use including ones they sell that are already primed.

I just bought a "Thug Slug Kit" with 25 1 1/8 oz. "Thug Slugs" and 25 Primed Cheddite Hulls. Also included was all the Data from the Slug Manual for these Slugs and hulls and some different powders.. It was $21 for the kit. Slugs alone would be $17 All you add is the powder of your choice, to yield the Velocity you can stand to shoot, and insert the Slug which has the Wad attached into the hull and crimp it closed. See Pic

The two slugs in the last picture are the Lyman Sabot Slug and the Lee 1 oz Slug both of which I cast myself. The Lee is the easiest as the mould is only $25 and works perfectly. both of these slugs are designed to be loaded into a Normal Trap Load using the same wad by simply replacing the shot with the slug and closing the crimp. Both will work for either a smooth or Rifled barrel and go thru chokes as tight as modified. (IC works best.) They are also available in 12 and 20 ga.

Most of the slugs in the other picture are ones I cast and will be being tested in all 3 of my shotguns that I use for Competition and possibly hunting if I get a chance at some pigs this year. They are an M500 Tactical with 20" Vang Comped Barrel, an 18" M500 HD gun with a cylinder bore, and a Browning A5 with both a smoothbore Slug Barrel and a Hastings Rifled Slug Barrel.

Lots to learn here and I invite you to come over to the Castboolits link above and start asking questions. We will fix you right up!

Randy

[W.R.Buchanan]

THBaily: I see you found Sabot Technologies I have some of those as well and I got 100 Sabots and the Lee Mould to make the Boolit inserts. They also sell some Frangable slug inserts and Brass inserts for those sabots.

I assume you are looking for shotgun slugs for hunting here in CA. We have guys over at Castboolits who have shot these thru Savage guns and gotten 2-3" at 100 yards accuracy.

I own a Machine shop so I will be turning Brass ones for my Upcoming Pig Hunt.

The 12 ga sabots use a .500 insert so .50 cal bullets will work, pretty sure the 20 ga ones are for either .44 or 45 cal bullets or machined inserts.

Go here and look at all the combinations they have tried. http://www.slugsrus.com/

I can already tell you that you will get the best accuracy out of the sabots using the turned Brass or Copper inserts. They will yield the highest BC and greatest Penetration.

The Max "ethical" distance you will get out of any of these is around 100 yards, but we have seen guys shooting 6" groups out to 150 yards, but the trajectory is a rainbow.

Note: the 150 yard loads were "stout" at 15-1600 fps with with a 1 1/4 oz slug which is pretty lively on the back end. 20 ga loads are more like 1800-1900 fps and are very noticeable on the back end on par with 3" magnums .

Come on over http://castboolits.gunloads.com/foru...g-for-Shotguns

Randy

[langss]

Langss: BPI has a Slug Loading Manual with data for every slug they sell in just about every hull you could use including ones they sell that are already primed.

I just bought a "Thug Slug Kit" with 25 1 1/8 oz. "Thug Slugs" and 25 Primed Cheddite Hulls. Also included was all the Data from the Slug Manual for these Slugs and hulls and some different powders.. It was $21 for the kit. Slugs alone would be $17 All you add is the powder of your choice, to yield the Velocity you can stand to shoot, and insert the Slug which has the Wad attached into the hull and crimp it closed. See Pic

The two slugs in the last picture are the Lyman Sabot Slug and the Lee 1 oz Slug both of which I cast myself. The Lee is the easiest as the mould is only $25 and works perfectly. both of these slugs are designed to be loaded into a Normal Trap Load using the same wad by simply replacing the shot with the slug and closing the crimp. Both will work for either a smooth or Rifled barrel and go thru chokes as tight as modified. (IC works best.) They are also available in 12 and 20 ga.

Most of the slugs in the other picture are ones I cast and will be being tested in all 3 of my shotguns that I use for Competition and possibly hunting if I get a chance at some pigs this year. They are an M500 Tactical with 20" Vang Comped Barrel, an 18" M500 HD gun with a cylinder bore, and a Browning A5 with both a smoothbore Slug Barrel and a Hastings Rifled Slug Barrel.

Lots to learn here and I invite you to come over to the Castboolits link above and start asking questions. We will fix you right up!

Randy

Randy: Thank you for the reply and information. I am a member of Castboolits. The only problem is I am totally swimming in the information when it comes to Shotguns. What seems to be just common sense in regard to Rifle and Pistol reloading (I have been into that since the early 70's), is a whole lot different when it comes to Shotguns. I have experience casting bullets, so using my new molds should not be a big deal, I will look into the book you mentioned. Thank You again.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Don't get all caught up in the "you must follow the Recipe exactly" way of thinking. There is plenty of room in lower pressure loads for "Interpolation" just like you do with handgun or rifle rounds.

Lots of times you will see the same components with various charge weights and see how velocity is affected. This is where interpolation comes in, except they are doing it for you.

Where you can get bit is pushing the top end looking for that extra few FPS. The back side of this is that,,,with more velocity comes more recoil and we aren't talking wuss stuff here either it builds up quickly in a 7 lb gun.,. High base slugs kick hard !!! I fired two Federal Maximum 1 oz. slugs (1610 fps) at a steel target and had to go to my Chiropractor 3 times to get put back together.

I can shoot the same slugs at 1300 fps all day with no after effects.

With shotgun slugs the amount of power you are putting on a target is way beyond all but the largest rifle calibers.

A 1 1/8 oz slug at 1300 fps has nearly as much knockdown power as a .458 Win Mag 500 gr bullet at 2150. 66.5 TKO versus 70 TKO for the rifle. The rifle has twice as much ftlbs but doesn't have the Frontal Area that the slug does, so it goes right thru the target and ends up expending its energy in the dirt beyond. The slug dumps it's energy on the target quickly, seldom making complete penetration. Bigger hole too! The .73 caliber Rifle is no joke!

A 400 gr boolit out of a .45-70 at 1600 fps which we all know will take down anything on this planet has 35% less knock down power than a 1 oz. 12 ga slug at 1300 fps which is what most 'Low Recoil" ammo is loaded to.

A high base 12ga slug 1 1/4 oz at 1600 fps is at 91.7 TKO !!! and the same slug at 1800 fps (3" Magnum) is 104 TKO ! That will stop a Pickup Truck !

Point of all this is that you don't have to load the 12 ga up to max to get the results. In fact trap loads with a slug payload instead of the shot are more than sufficient for 99% of Deer or Pig or Black Bear hunting anyone may encounter in the lower 48. Having a few high base rounds with you in case you run into a Griz or Brown Bear or Polar Bear is the prudent course of action there.

Most people can't fire more than a couple of those in one sitting anyway.

Guides in Polar Bear Town Churchill Manitoba all carry 12 ga pump action Shotguns for protection.

To all: People don't realize the amount of power that the most commonly owned gun, a 12 ga shotgun, can deliver on a target. It is far above all but the largest of rifles even with the lightest loads available. The number of different types of rounds that can be fired is large which makes even the cheapest single barrel gun more versatile than any other weapon .

Under 100 yards shotguns are king!

Something to think about.

Randy

[langss]

Thanks Again... I'm going to order this manual first, https://www.ballisticproducts.com/Sl...tinfo/00MSLUG/ and hopefully I can find something they have in stock to use.....

[W.R.Buchanan]

That's the one, and the other one is the Lyman Shotshell Loading Manual which has data for Loading the Lyman Sabot Slug and Lyman Foster Slugs as well as lots of other shotshells too.

I believe BPI sells that one as well.

Good luck and if you need help just ask.

Randy.