Optimal barrel length for sabot slugs

Noreaster · November 17, 2015, 05:57 PM

Looking at a dedicated Remington slug gun in 12 gauge and I see fully rifled barrels from 20-25 inches, (the SPS shurshot is 25 inches.) For a scoped rifled barrel is there a real performance difference between the barrel lengths.

MarkCO · November 17, 2015, 06:45 PM

Not really. The velocity difference is minimal and the sabots are going fast enough that you really can not move the barrel appreciably due to recoil.

With low recoil slugs, you want a shorter barrel length are you start to affect accuracy due to movement of the gun while the slug is still in the barrel. I have found that 24" is about as long as you want to be with low recoil slugs.

Noreaster · November 17, 2015, 07:08 PM

I read somewhere that shotgun slugs get all they need out of 18-20 inch barrels but I don't know if that was for rifled or sabot slugs. Some manufacturers have 26 & 28 inch rifled slug barrels so I wasn't sure. I'm looking at the 18.5-23 inch range from Remington.

MarkCO · November 17, 2015, 08:11 PM

From 21 to 22 to 24 to 26 inches, I see marginal increases in velocity. Not enough to matter.

**JohnKSa** · November 17, 2015, 10:14 PM

Larger bores and faster powders tend to decrease gains from barrel length increases.

kozak6 · November 18, 2015, 05:32 AM

Barrel length doesn't make much difference until you get down into NFA territory.

Gdawgs · November 18, 2015, 07:54 AM

The Savage 212 and 220 are 22", so I'm going to go with that.

November 17, 2015, 05:57 PM	#1
Noreaster Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2011 Location: New England Posts: 1,449	Optimal barrel length for sabot slugs Looking at a dedicated Remington slug gun in 12 gauge and I see fully rifled barrels from 20-25 inches, (the SPS shurshot is 25 inches.) For a scoped rifled barrel is there a real performance difference between the barrel lengths.

November 17, 2015, 06:45 PM	#2
MarkCO Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 1998 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 4,308	Not really. The velocity difference is minimal and the sabots are going fast enough that you really can not move the barrel appreciably due to recoil. With low recoil slugs, you want a shorter barrel length are you start to affect accuracy due to movement of the gun while the slug is still in the barrel. I have found that 24" is about as long as you want to be with low recoil slugs. __________________ Good Shooting, MarkCO www.CarbonArms.us

November 17, 2015, 08:11 PM	#4
MarkCO Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 1998 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 4,308	From 21 to 22 to 24 to 26 inches, I see marginal increases in velocity. Not enough to matter. __________________ Good Shooting, MarkCO www.CarbonArms.us

November 17, 2015, 10:14 PM	#5
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,989	Larger bores and faster powders tend to decrease gains from barrel length increases. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

November 17, 2015, 07:08 PM	#3
Noreaster Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2011 Location: New England Posts: 1,449	I read somewhere that shotgun slugs get all they need out of 18-20 inch barrels but I don't know if that was for rifled or sabot slugs. Some manufacturers have 26 & 28 inch rifled slug barrels so I wasn't sure. I'm looking at the 18.5-23 inch range from Remington.

November 18, 2015, 05:32 AM	#6
kozak6 Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2005 Location: AZ Posts: 3,113	Barrel length doesn't make much difference until you get down into NFA territory.

November 18, 2015, 07:54 AM	#7
Gdawgs Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2009 Location: MN Posts: 656	The Savage 212 and 220 are 22", so I'm going to go with that.