Wad slugs Shotgun slug

from left, plumbata discarding sabot (#1); plumbata slugs (#2, #5); wad slug (#3), sabot slugs (#3, #4)

a modern variant between foster slug , sabot slug wad slug, called drive key slug , or key slug . type of shotgun slug designed fired through smoothbore shotgun barrel. traditional foster slug, deep hollow located in rear of slug, serves retain center of mass near front tip of slug foster slug. however, unlike foster slug, wad slug additionally has key or web wall molded across deep hollow, spanning hollow, serves increase structural integrity of slug while reducing amount of expansion of slug when fired, reducing stress on shot wad in rides down barrel. also, unlike foster slugs have thin fins on outside of slug, on brenneke, wad slug shaped ogive or bullet shape, smooth outer surface. wad slug loaded using standard shotshell wad, acts sabot. diameter of wad slug less nominal bore diameter, being around 0.690 inch 12-gauge wad slug, , wad slug cast solely pure lead, necessary increasing safety if slug ever fired through choked shotgun. common 12 gauge wad slug masses include  ⁄8-oz. , 1-oz. wad slugs, , loaded in traditional shotshell wad intended variously loading among  ⁄8-oz., 1-oz., or 1 ⁄8-oz. shotshells. depending on specific stack-up, card wad located between slug , shotshell wad, depending largely on hull specified, primary intended purpose of improving fold crimps on loaded wad slug shell serves regulate fired shotshell pressures , improve accuracy.

it possible fire wad slug through rifled slug barrels, and, unlike foster slug lead fouling problem, wad slug typically causes no significant leading, being nested inside traditional shotshell wad functioning sabot travels down shotgun barrel.

published load recipes wad slugs available on hodgdon website under shotshell reloading, lee precision, additionally sells molds casting drive key slugs pure lead.

accuracy of wad slugs falls off @ ranges beyond 75 yards (70 m), thereby largely equaling ranges possible foster slugs, while still not reaching ranges possible traditional sabot slugs using thicker-walled sabots.

unlike foster slug traditionally roll-crimped, wad slug fold-crimped. because of important difference, , because uses standard shotshell wads, wad slug can reloaded using standard modern shotshell reloading press without requiring specialized roll-crimp tools.