The truth about RIFLED SLUGs ???

[15thaf5thbw]

So Freedom Munitions has non-rifled, copper-plated 12ga slugs on sale and I'm wanting to get SOME sort of slug for HD using my Winchester 1300 or Mossberg 500, but, it occurred to me that at one time they had RIFLED slugs on sale and I thought ... Do rifled slugs SIGNIFICANTLY out-perform non-rifled slugs? And so should I wait to get those?

Anyone have any real data on this?

And yes, I already did a search here and did not find the answer to this question.

[dominic]

Rifled slugs can be slightly more accurate out of smooth bored shotgun barrels, of course they do make rifled slug barrels for both those shotguns that you can accurately use non-rifled slugs in, otherwise out of a smooth bore shotgun barrel, non-rifled slugs are not going to be very accurate. That aside, slugs are over-penetrative for Home Defense, just get some #4 buck for HD.

[afteractionreport]

Use 00 buck....

[Grumpy_Hippie]

Slugs would be a overkill as far as indoor home protection, your longest range is probably what . . . 25 feet, almost any 12 guage shell at that range will have opened up probably not much bigger than 6 - 8 inches at that range out of most barrels. I just use my regular sporting clay loads for my indoor HD shotgun 7.5 or 8's is what they are.

Go to the range and check it out yourself, that's what I did cuz I didn't beleive it until I did

[12voltguy]

Rifled slugs can be slightly more accurate out of smooth bored shotgun barrels, of course they do make rifled slug barrels for both those shotguns that you can accurately use non-rifled slugs in, otherwise out of a smooth bore shotgun barrel, non-rifled slugs are not going to be very accurate. That aside, slugs are over-penetrative for Home Defense, just get some #4 buck for HD.

+1
HD
don't see how you need rifled slugs for inside the home
00buck,unless you want to shot through 4 walls to hit someone

[15thaf5thbw]

Ok, thanks for the replies. I guess I should have said that I want to use the slugs for those things that perhaps would respond better to a slug than buck. I already have plenty of 00-buck, full and reduced power, and so yes for HD that would be my first choice over a slug. So I don't need anymore recommendations to NOT use a slug. But any actual data regarding how a rifled slug performs (vs. a non-rifled slug) using a smooth-bore barrel would be appreciated.

What I'm hearing is that from a smooth-bore barrel a rifled shotgun slug will perform SLIGHTLY better than a non-rifled slug. What I am really interested in is how does that slight difference manifest in, say, the 50 to 100 yard range. To be able to reach out and touch somebody at those distances, using a shotgun, is the reason I am interested in a slug round for these HD shotguns. It is an "options" thing.

Sorry, I guess I should have been more clear.

[bigbearbear]

The rifling on rifled slugs is not for spinning the slug itself, but to make it more easily deformed when the slug has to pass through chokes in the barrel.

So if you're using a shotgun with a choked barrel, the rifled slugs should perform better but this will also depend on the slug you're comparing it to. If you're using certain types of steel slugs like the DDuplex Hexolit32 (awesome slug BTW) for example, those are designed to be narrow enough to pass through chokes anyway so they don't have rifling since they don't need it.

The Freedom Munitions copper plated slugs are good, I bought a case some time ago and have shot around 50 of those. They don't foul up your barrel like other unplated lead slugs.

If you don't mind a little lead fouling, you can also consider the Remington Slugger, Target Sports USA is selling them for a good price ($150 for a case) with free shipping: http://www.targetsportsusa.com/remin...rs-p-2474.aspx

[epilepticninja]

Use 00 buck....

This.

[Oceanbob]

Good info gentlemen.!

Home defense is one issue. What about car door penetration?

What's the recommendations on 12 gauge ammo for that?

[kcjr1125]

You are not talking about sabot slugs when you say "non rifled slugs" right?

I was told that the rifling on rifled slugs were just for aesthetics and to help them pass through different chokes. They don't actually help spin the slug. There accuracy is coming from the fact that they are very front heavy and light in the back. Think of a dart, same concept here.

[LCU1670]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shotgun_slug

[sonofeugene]

The rifling on rifled slugs is not for spinning the slug itself, but to make it more easily deformed when the slug has to pass through chokes in the barrel.

So if you're using a shotgun with a choked barrel, the rifled slugs should perform better but this will also depend on the slug you're comparing it to. If you're using certain types of steel slugs like the DDuplex Hexolit32 (awesome slug BTW) for example, those are designed to be narrow enough to pass through chokes anyway so they don't have rifling since they don't need it.

The Freedom Munitions copper plated slugs are good, I bought a case some time ago and have shot around 50 of those. They don't foul up your barrel like other unplated lead slugs.

If you don't mind a little lead fouling, you can also consider the Remington Slugger, Target Sports USA is selling them for a good price ($150 for a case) with free shipping: http://www.targetsportsusa.com/remin...rs-p-2474.aspx

Yep, rifled slugs really aren't going to put any significant spin on the slug. You need a rifled barrel where the projectile expands a bit and the rifling in the barrel then "grips" the projectile, and thereby applies a spinning force to it.

[hardlyworking]

I've tested several different kinds of slugs:

Fiocchi rifled
Rio Low Recoil
Rio ... regular
Federal Trueball
DDuplex Hexolite 28
Brenneke Special Forces Short Magnum

Oh my, the fouling, THE FOULING after roughly 40 Federal Trueballs... 4 hours scrubbing with M7 and a Tornado Brush and I finally got the bore clean. Never. Again.

DDuplex: ho baby, steel "under slug" penetrator was found on the far side of 4x railroad ties.

Brenneke SFSM: powdered those same railroad ties. Clover-leaf pattern 5-shot group at 30 yards.

Those last 2 are my go-to. DDuplex fairly hard to find, imported from Croatia I think. And not cheap, neither are the Brennekes. But day-um they are fun.

[sl0re10]

Good info gentlemen.!

Home defense is one issue. What about car door penetration?

What's the recommendations on 12 gauge ammo for that?

Probably also the same as what I've found to be the most accurate 'slug' out of a 12g smooth-bore. A 69 cal ball. But if the only options are factory slugs... doesn't help OP. Then again; OP you could reload your own with $35 in small tools that would fit in a letter sized desk drawer (no bulky press required).

[ElDub1950]

Home defense, by definition is close range. Shooting across the room, no one could measure the difference in accuracy.