slugs ?

stegar1 · September 8, 2010, 09:54 AM

might be a dumb question . can you shoot slugs out of a smooth bore ?

Jesse1973 · September 8, 2010, 09:58 AM

Was wondering the same thing myself .I have a Mossberg 500 with 8 shots.From what I could tell no one makes a rifled barrel for it to shoot slugs.Would like more of a variety of ammo for it then just buck of any number.

Scattergun Bob · September 8, 2010, 09:59 AM

Yes, provided they are of the correct gauge for your scattergun.

stegar1 · September 8, 2010, 10:00 AM

i have the same gun. gonna hunt public lands this year and that is all you can use. dont want to buy another one if i dont have to.

oneounceload · September 8, 2010, 10:03 AM

With a smoothbore, you use the rifled slugs; with a rifled slug barrel, you use the sabot-type slugs. Don't use the wrong one or your accuracy will suffer

Brian Pfleuger · September 8, 2010, 10:04 AM

Most slugs are made to be fired in smooth bore guns.

The exception are the expensive "sabot" slugs. They are a smaller bullet wrapped in a plastic shell that is designed to be spun by rifling like a rifle bullet.

Then, there's the exception to the exception,

in that some sabot slugs (not many) can also be fired in a smooth bore gun and say so right on the box.

Then there's the other exception that some of the sabot slugs that "can't" be fired in a smooth bore gun will actually perform just fine in a smooth bore gun, particularly if distances are kept to typical smooth bore distances, like 60-75 yards.

Short answer: Yes, but just like a rifle there will be brands that your gun "just doesn't like" and brands that it will shoot lights out. You just have to try a few and see.

Pahoo · September 8, 2010, 10:06 AM

Yes, you can shoot or should shoot Rifled Slugs out of a smooth bore. You "could" also shoot sabot slugs out of a smooth bore but it's a waste of your money with questionable performance.

Be Safe !!!

stegar1 · September 8, 2010, 10:11 AM

outstanding. thanks guys!

DPris · September 8, 2010, 12:35 PM

And, you can shoot rifled slugs in a rifled barrel just fine, too.
People have been doing it for many years.
Denis

Brian Pfleuger · September 8, 2010, 12:39 PM

Quote:

And, you can shoot rifled slugs in a rifled barrel just fine, too.
People have been doing it for many years.

Yes, it does "work" but it's not fun removing the lead fouling from the rifling.

I won't do it because of that reason alone, not to mention that smoothbore guns are generally quite a bit cheaper so why would you bother buying an expensive gun and then shoot slower, heavier, less accurate ammo?

Anyway, yes, you can do it but it certainly lacks in logic.

Pahoo · September 8, 2010, 12:58 PM

Quote:

And, you can shoot rifled slugs in a rifled barrel just fine, too.

Yes, but don't go out of your way to buy any for your smoothbore. If I want performance out of my rifled barrel, I will only shoot sabots. Or as they say in Spanish; "Sabotos" .....

Be Safe !!!

thesheepdog · September 8, 2010, 01:14 PM

Yes rifled slugs work. Just make sure you read on the box which choke you need to use (if you don't have a choke, then disregard)

Old Grump · September 8, 2010, 02:04 PM

It wasn't a dumb question and the only thing I will add to what is already posted is I don't recommend shooting slugs with a full choke, especially screw in chokes. Other than that go for it. I have the best luck with a choke between IM and IC. A cylinder bore, at least in my guns tend to be inaccurate but a slight choke seems to tighten the groups up nicely.

hogdogs · September 8, 2010, 08:00 PM

Quote:

(if you don't have a choke, then disregard)

All shot guns with smooth bore have a choke designation even if it is "cylinder" choke or no constriction at all.

A rifled choke for smoothbore barrel will be safe thru all choke constrictions up to and including "full" for sure. Mossberg claims...
"The *Improved Cylinder* choke tube will produce the best accuracy with most slugs."
Straight from the owners manual.

Brent

gotigers · September 9, 2010, 06:55 AM

yes, but i would not shoot slugs in full choke or tighter.

DPris · September 9, 2010, 12:15 PM

There is a risk of lead buildup in rifling when using a rifled slug.
How much depends on the rifling (smooth or rough), the type of rifled slug (soft Foster or harder Brenneke), and how much you shoot those slugs through that bore before cleaning.

I would not let potential lead buildup be the sole determinant in deciding whether or not to use rifled slugs in a rifled barrel.

Denis

September 8, 2010, 09:54 AM	#1
stegar1 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2010 Location: Dallas , TX Posts: 144	slugs ? might be a dumb question . can you shoot slugs out of a smooth bore ? __________________ YAT YAS Semper Fi

September 8, 2010, 09:58 AM	#2
Jesse1973 Junior Member Join Date: July 11, 2010 Posts: 3	Slugs Was wondering the same thing myself .I have a Mossberg 500 with 8 shots.From what I could tell no one makes a rifled barrel for it to shoot slugs.Would like more of a variety of ammo for it then just buck of any number.

September 8, 2010, 09:59 AM	#3
Scattergun Bob Senior Member Join Date: February 29, 2008 Location: Nine Mile Falls, Washington Posts: 1,186	Yes, provided they are of the correct gauge for your scattergun. __________________ First, with the most, WINS! Regards, Scattergun Bob

September 8, 2010, 10:00 AM	#4
stegar1 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2010 Location: Dallas , TX Posts: 144	i have the same gun. gonna hunt public lands this year and that is all you can use. dont want to buy another one if i dont have to. __________________ YAT YAS Semper Fi

September 8, 2010, 10:04 AM	#6
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	Most slugs are made to be fired in smooth bore guns. The exception are the expensive "sabot" slugs. They are a smaller bullet wrapped in a plastic shell that is designed to be spun by rifling like a rifle bullet. Then, there's the exception to the exception, in that some sabot slugs (not many) can also be fired in a smooth bore gun and say so right on the box. Then there's the other exception that some of the sabot slugs that "can't" be fired in a smooth bore gun will actually perform just fine in a smooth bore gun, particularly if distances are kept to typical smooth bore distances, like 60-75 yards. Short answer: Yes, but just like a rifle there will be brands that your gun "just doesn't like" and brands that it will shoot lights out. You just have to try a few and see. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

September 8, 2010, 10:03 AM	#5
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	With a smoothbore, you use the rifled slugs; with a rifled slug barrel, you use the sabot-type slugs. Don't use the wrong one or your accuracy will suffer

September 8, 2010, 10:06 AM	#7
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	Yes, you can shoot or should shoot Rifled Slugs out of a smooth bore. You "could" also shoot sabot slugs out of a smooth bore but it's a waste of your money with questionable performance. Be Safe !!!

September 8, 2010, 10:11 AM	#8
stegar1 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2010 Location: Dallas , TX Posts: 144	outstanding. thanks guys! __________________ YAT YAS Semper Fi

September 8, 2010, 12:35 PM	#9
DPris Member Emeritus Join Date: August 19, 2004 Posts: 7,133	And, you can shoot rifled slugs in a rifled barrel just fine, too. People have been doing it for many years. Denis

September 8, 2010, 01:14 PM	#12
thesheepdog Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2010 Location: DFW Texas Posts: 1,996	Yes rifled slugs work. Just make sure you read on the box which choke you need to use (if you don't have a choke, then disregard) __________________ Krav Maga/Judo Qualified Rifleman/Marksmanship Instructor/Lic. Medic "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" Romans 8:1

September 8, 2010, 02:04 PM	#13
Old Grump Member in memoriam Join Date: April 9, 2009 Location: Blue River Wisconsin, in Posts: 3,144	It wasn't a dumb question and the only thing I will add to what is already posted is I don't recommend shooting slugs with a full choke, especially screw in chokes. Other than that go for it. I have the best luck with a choke between IM and IC. A cylinder bore, at least in my guns tend to be inaccurate but a slight choke seems to tighten the groups up nicely. __________________ Good intentions will always be pleaded for any assumption of power. The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern will, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. --Daniel Webster--

September 9, 2010, 06:55 AM	#15
gotigers Senior Member Join Date: April 30, 2009 Location: Memphis Posts: 353	yes, but i would not shoot slugs in full choke or tighter.

September 9, 2010, 12:15 PM	#16
DPris Member Emeritus Join Date: August 19, 2004 Posts: 7,133	There is a risk of lead buildup in rifling when using a rifled slug. How much depends on the rifling (smooth or rough), the type of rifled slug (soft Foster or harder Brenneke), and how much you shoot those slugs through that bore before cleaning. I would not let potential lead buildup be the sole determinant in deciding whether or not to use rifled slugs in a rifled barrel. Denis