Rifled barrel

bitttorrrent · December 4, 2011, 10:25 PM

Ok, I am new to shotguns, but just want a clarification. A rifled barrel is for deer slugs only?

Or what is different uses for the smooth vs. rifled barrel and what can you and can't you shoot with each?

redstategunnut · December 4, 2011, 10:38 PM

A rifled barrel is for shooting sabot slugs.
An unrifled barrel is for everything else, including rifled slugs.
I know, it's a paradox.

jrothWA · December 5, 2011, 09:46 AM

plastic sabot to grip and spin the enitre sabot/bullet assembly, as it travels down the barrel.

A lead slug (Foster or Brenneke) will pass thru BUT no improvement in accuracy.

A smoothbore barrel is best with the foster / brenneke styles.

With tightening restrictions on lead in bullets you may want the rifles barrel, then the homogeneous non-lead bullets can be handled aand you get better accuracy with more range.

mete · December 5, 2011, 12:08 PM

Paradox ? No that's a different type of barrel !! The old "Paradox" guns had rifling in the last few inches of the barrel and could be used for slug, buckshot, or shot.

Actually the "rifled" slugs are a misnomer as the "rifling" has nothing to do with rotating the slug .It's there so the slug can be used in various choked barrels.

zippy13 · December 5, 2011, 01:11 PM

Anything other than sabot type slugs will muck up a rifled shotgun barrel. Traditional slugs use soft lead so they can pass a variety of choke constrictions. They will work in rifled barrels; but, you may curse them afterwards while trying to get the lead out of the rifling.

December 4, 2011, 10:25 PM	#1
bitttorrrent Senior Member Join Date: April 21, 2011 Location: Chicago Posts: 703	Rifled barrel Ok, I am new to shotguns, but just want a clarification. A rifled barrel is for deer slugs only? Or what is different uses for the smooth vs. rifled barrel and what can you and can't you shoot with each?

December 5, 2011, 09:46 AM	#3
jrothWA Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2006 Posts: 2,519	The rifles barrel will allow the... plastic sabot to grip and spin the enitre sabot/bullet assembly, as it travels down the barrel. A lead slug (Foster or Brenneke) will pass thru BUT no improvement in accuracy. A smoothbore barrel is best with the foster / brenneke styles. With tightening restrictions on lead in bullets you may want the rifles barrel, then the homogeneous non-lead bullets can be handled aand you get better accuracy with more range.

December 5, 2011, 12:08 PM	#4
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	Paradox ? No that's a different type of barrel !! The old "Paradox" guns had rifling in the last few inches of the barrel and could be used for slug, buckshot, or shot. Actually the "rifled" slugs are a misnomer as the "rifling" has nothing to do with rotating the slug .It's there so the slug can be used in various choked barrels. __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

December 4, 2011, 10:38 PM	#2
redstategunnut Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2009 Location: see name Posts: 405	A rifled barrel is for shooting sabot slugs. An unrifled barrel is for everything else, including rifled slugs. I know, it's a paradox.

December 5, 2011, 01:11 PM	#5
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Anything other than sabot type slugs will muck up a rifled shotgun barrel. Traditional slugs use soft lead so they can pass a variety of choke constrictions. They will work in rifled barrels; but, you may curse them afterwards while trying to get the lead out of the rifling.