Rifled BBL Only Slugs?

[Gringo Ed]

I bought an assortment of slugs and 00 Buck to try in my M4 Benelli. Some of the boxes of slugs have warnings to use only in fully rifled barrels. Is this a safety issue or an accuracy issue? It seems to be on the boxes of sabot style projectiles. Thanks!

[Gbro]

Chuck out this link,

>>>:) (http://www.chuckhawks.com/shotgun_slugs.htm)<<<

The Buckhammer lead slug itself is a short truncated cone, rather like a lead "Keith" style revolver bullet. Attached to the base of this is a long, plastic "stabilizer" wad. Remington says that the Buckhammer was designed for use in fully rifled barrels,

[Ruger4570]

It gets confusing but here goes with an explination. Rifled Slugs are meant for smooth bores. It actuality, the rifling on them contribute little or no effective spin on the slug. It serves more for a way for the slug to "swage" down in any barrel or choke and not create a problem, in spite of what some armchair experts claim. Sabot Slugs on the other hand are designed for rifled barrels only. Sabots shot out of a smoothbore will most likely tumble without the gyroscopic spin imparted by the rifled barrel. Now of course, you CAN shoot rifled slugs in a rifled barrel with no harm, but the barrel will lead up a lot and fast so accuracy tends to be less than if shot in a smooth bore. I hope this helps.

[10to50]

I would add one interesting exception. I still have a couple boxes of the BRI Sabot slugs and they clearly stipulated use in cylinder bores.

The box reads "BRI SABOT BULLETS - 12 Gauge/.500 445-grain Shock Point." On the back of the box is a block of text that says the following:

"12 Gauge/.500 projectiles have the range, accuracy and penetrating force usually associated with high powered rifles.

"The bullet is a .50-caliber aerodynamically stabilized projectile which is centered in the shotgun bore by a 12 gauge plastic sleeve (sabot) which breaks away when the projectile leaves the muzzle.

"Sabot bullets are intended for cylinder and 'improved cylinder' bore shotguns. FOR BEST ACCURACY USE CYLINDER AND IMPROVED CYLINDER BORE GUNS."

End quote. These BRI Sabots do have a unique shape; I don't suggest that other sabot rounds shoot best from cylinder bores. But there's no mistaking in this particular case.