Lead non-rifled slugs in a rifled barrel.

Nickel Plated · November 27, 2013, 03:05 PM

So I was thinking of getting another barrel for my shotgun to turn it into a half decent rifle. I only shoot it at the range, no hunting or anything. Shooting clays is fun but I figured letting loose some stout slugs once in a while would be interesting too.

So I was thinking of my options for some relatively accurate cheap plinking ammo.

For accuracy obviously a rifled barrel would be a great start.
Now usually the choice of projectile for rifled barrels is sabot slugs, but those are pricey as hell. Fine if you just shoot 4 or 5 out hunting. But blasting through 50 or 100 in a range session ain't gonna happen.

Using lead rifled slugs in a rifled barrel is pointless I hear. The fins on the slug mean there's not enough contact area to engage the barrel's rifling so you don't get any spin. Just get leading in your rifling.

I was thinking of casting some plain smooth lead slugs with no fins. So it would act like just a regular lead rifle or pistol bullet, just bigger. Would have the surface area to grip the rifling for accuracy and still be way cheaper than a sabot slug.

Anyone try that? Any opinions. Want to do some big-bore rifle shooting and figured an extra barrel for my pump gun is cheaper than a 45-70 lever action and the setup to load for it. Though that's on my wish list too.

Doyle · November 27, 2013, 03:23 PM

Rifled slugs don't really "spin" the way you think they do. More like "stabalized" like a badmitton shuttlecock. You can shoot rifled slugs out of a rifled barrel but you're likely to get lead fouling so be prepared for lots of cleaning.

zippy13 · November 27, 2013, 03:41 PM

A few years ago, a member reported outstanding accuracy with home cast slugs (Lee mold) and a smooth barrel. I don't recall anyone commenting on a similar load in a rifled barrel. If you give it a try, please post your findings.

g.willikers · November 27, 2013, 05:43 PM

It sounds like an experiment worth trying.
The hassle might be figuring out the actual diameter of the slug that works best.
What are you going to use for a mold?

jaguarxk120 · November 27, 2013, 05:46 PM

Lyman makes a mold for 12 gauge that is used with standard shot cups. The Lyman shotgun manual has loading data for it.

Nickel Plated · November 28, 2013, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Rifled slugs don't really "spin" the way you think they do. More like "stabalized" like a badmitton shuttlecock. You can shoot rifled slugs out of a rifled barrel but you're likely to get lead fouling so be prepared for lots of cleaning.

I didn't think they do. That's why I dislike the term "rifled slug" because it doesn't actually do what rifling in a gun is supposed to do. And the leading is why I'm asking for alternatives to the rifled slug.

Quote:

The hassle might be figuring out the actual diameter of the slug that works best.
What are you going to use for a mold?

I guess measure the diameter of a sabot slug with the sabot and a rifled slug at it's widest point and use that as a place to start.

As for molds. Try some of the commercial non-rifled slug molds.
Lyman actually makes a mold for a foster slug with no rifling. Seems like that's just what I'm looking for
http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/b...php?entryID=85

Or perhaps the one jaguarxk120 mentioned. That uses a standard shot cup as the sabot.
http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/b...php?entryID=86

g.willikers · November 28, 2013, 09:04 AM

Here's an interesting youtube page on home made slugs and molds:
http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...ug%20mold&sm=1

Nathan · November 28, 2013, 09:37 AM

IMO, the rifled slug in a rifled barrel are good to 75 yards.

The Lyman wad sabot slug to 100.

Real sabot slugs to 125 or so. This is with my 930 YMMV.

November 27, 2013, 03:05 PM	#1
Nickel Plated Senior Member Join Date: January 17, 2010 Location: Brooklyn, NYC Posts: 610	Lead non-rifled slugs in a rifled barrel. So I was thinking of getting another barrel for my shotgun to turn it into a half decent rifle. I only shoot it at the range, no hunting or anything. Shooting clays is fun but I figured letting loose some stout slugs once in a while would be interesting too. So I was thinking of my options for some relatively accurate cheap plinking ammo. For accuracy obviously a rifled barrel would be a great start. Now usually the choice of projectile for rifled barrels is sabot slugs, but those are pricey as hell. Fine if you just shoot 4 or 5 out hunting. But blasting through 50 or 100 in a range session ain't gonna happen. Using lead rifled slugs in a rifled barrel is pointless I hear. The fins on the slug mean there's not enough contact area to engage the barrel's rifling so you don't get any spin. Just get leading in your rifling. I was thinking of casting some plain smooth lead slugs with no fins. So it would act like just a regular lead rifle or pistol bullet, just bigger. Would have the surface area to grip the rifling for accuracy and still be way cheaper than a sabot slug. Anyone try that? Any opinions. Want to do some big-bore rifle shooting and figured an extra barrel for my pump gun is cheaper than a 45-70 lever action and the setup to load for it. Though that's on my wish list too.

November 27, 2013, 05:43 PM	#4
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	It sounds like an experiment worth trying. The hassle might be figuring out the actual diameter of the slug that works best. What are you going to use for a mold? __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

November 28, 2013, 09:04 AM	#7
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Here's an interesting youtube page on home made slugs and molds: http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...ug%20mold&sm=1 __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

November 27, 2013, 03:23 PM	#2
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	Rifled slugs don't really "spin" the way you think they do. More like "stabalized" like a badmitton shuttlecock. You can shoot rifled slugs out of a rifled barrel but you're likely to get lead fouling so be prepared for lots of cleaning.

November 27, 2013, 03:41 PM	#3
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	A few years ago, a member reported outstanding accuracy with home cast slugs (Lee mold) and a smooth barrel. I don't recall anyone commenting on a similar load in a rifled barrel. If you give it a try, please post your findings.

November 27, 2013, 05:46 PM	#5
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	Lyman makes a mold for 12 gauge that is used with standard shot cups. The Lyman shotgun manual has loading data for it.

November 28, 2013, 09:37 AM	#8
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,331	IMO, the rifled slug in a rifled barrel are good to 75 yards. The Lyman wad sabot slug to 100. Real sabot slugs to 125 or so. This is with my 930 YMMV.