Types Shotgun slug

1 types

1.1 full-bore slugs

1.1.1 brenneke slugs
1.1.2 foster slugs


1.2 saboted slugs
1.3 wad slugs
1.4 plumbata slugs
1.5 steel slugs
1.6 improvised slugs

1.6.1 wax slugs
1.6.2 cut shell slugs

types
full-bore slugs

full-bore slugs, such brenneke , foster types use shuttlecock method of stabilization placing mass @ front of projectile. lightweight rear automatically corrects through aerodynamic forces keep nose pointed forward. saboted slugs designed rifled shotgun barrels , stabilized through gyroscopic forces spin.

brenneke slugs

a 12 gauge brenneke slug

the brenneke slug developed german gun , ammunition designer wilhelm brenneke (1865–1951) in 1898. original brenneke slug solid lead slug ribs cast onto outside, rifled foster slug. there plastic, felt or cellulose fiber wad attached base remains attached after firing. wad serves both gas seal , form of drag stabilization. ribs impart small amount of rotation projectile travels down bore. rotation not impart gyroscopic stabilization, rather improves accuracy correcting manufacturing irregularities. additionally, ribs decrease contact surface bore, reducing friction , increasing velocity. ribs deform through choke more readily solid slug would, reducing pressure , wear on choke safe levels.

since brenneke slug solid, rather hollow foster slug, brenneke deform less on impact , provide deeper penetration (see terminal ballistics). sharp shoulder , flat front of brenneke (similar in dimensions wadcutter bullet) mean external ballistics restrict short-range use, accuracy similar of american foster slug while retaining improved penetration , slug integrity of brenneke design.

foster slugs

a foster slug, invented karl m. foster in 1931, , patented in 1947 (u.s. patent 2,414,863) type of shotgun slug designed fired through smoothbore shotgun barrel. designed enable deer hunting in great depression using smoothbore, choked shotguns. foster cast them hand soft lead, filed grooves on exteriors, , sold them neighbors improve hunting potential feed families. foster standard american domestic shotgun slug; referred american slugs differentiate them standard european slug design popularized earlier brenneke. sportswriters have consistently referred these slugs forster slugs, conflating name forster brothers manufactured reloading tools during same time frame, forster slug alternate spelling commonly seen in popular press of 1930s describing these slugs.

the defining characteristic of foster slug deep hollow in rear, places center of mass near front tip of slug, shuttlecock or pellet airgun. if slug begins yaw in flight, drag tend push lightweight rear of slug straight flight, stabilizing slug. gives foster slug stability , allows accurate shooting through smoothbore barrels out ranges of 75 yards (69 m).

most foster slugs have rifling , consists of ribs on outside of slug. brenneke, these ribs impart rotation on slug correct manufacturing irregularities, improving precision (i.e., group size.) unlike traditional rifling, rotation of slug imparts no significant gyroscopic stabilization. ribs minimize friction on both barrel , projectile , allow slug swaged down safely when fired through choke, although accuracy suffer , choke wear may progressively accelerated when fired through gauge choked tighter improved cylinder. foster slugs can safely swaged down more brenneke slugs, when fired through choke, being hollow. amount of wear on choke therefore less of problem when shooting brenneke slugs. safe fire foster slugs through rifled slug barrels.

roll-crimping traditionally used close shotgun shell containing foster slug. increases difficulty handloading foster slugs. during 1930s, though, many if not shotgun shells roll-crimped on overshot card, , hand tools putting roll crimp on paper shell readily available , inexpensive.

saboted slugs

saboted slugs shotgun projectiles smaller bore of shotgun , supported plastic sabot. sabot traditionally designed engage rifling in rifled shotgun barrel , impart ballistic spin onto projectile. differentiates them traditional slugs, not designed benefit rifled barrel (though neither other damage). due fact not contact bore, can made variety of materials including lead, copper, brass, or steel. saboted slugs can vary in shape, typically bullet-shaped increased ballistic coefficient , greater range. sabot plastic , serves seal bore , keep slug centered in barrel while rotates rifling. sabot separates slug after departs muzzle. saboted slugs fired rifled bores superior in accuracy on smooth-bored slug options accuracy approaching of low-velocity rifle calibers.

sabot variations

bri
brenneke rubin
gualandi / palla gualbo

wad slugs

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.

plumbata slugs

a plumbata slug has plastic stabilizer attached projectile. stabilizer may fitted cavity in bottom of slug, or may fit on slug , external notches on slug. first method discarding sabots may added. , second, stabilizer may act sabot, remains attached projectile , commonly known “impact discarding sabot” (ids).

plumbata variations

brenneke plumbata
dangerous game (a.k.a. gualandi boar)
impact discarding sabot (ids)

steel slugs

there types of all-steel subcaliber slugs supported plastic sabot (the projectile damage barrel without sabot). examples include russian tandem wadcutter-type slug (the name historical, versions consisted of 2 spherical steel balls) , ogive udar ( strike ) slug , french spool-like balle blondeau (blondeau slug) , balle fleche sauvestre (sauvestre flechette) steel sabot inside expanding copper body , plastic rear empennage. made of non-deforming steel, these slugs well-suited shooting in brush, may produce overpenetration. may used disabling vehicles firing in engine compartment or defeating hard body armor.

improvised slugs
wax slugs

another variant of great depression–era shotgun slug design wax slug. these made hand cutting end off standard birdshot loaded shotshell, shortening shell slightly, pouring lead shot out, , melting paraffin, candle wax, or crayons in pan on stovetop, mixing lead birdshot in melted wax, , using spoon pour liquified wax containing part of birdshot shotshell, while not overfilling shotgun shell. once shell cooled, birdshot held in mass cooled paraffin, , formed slug. no roll or fold crimp required hold wax slug in hull. these used poach deer during depression.

cut shell slugs

yet expedient shotgun slug design cut shell. these made hand standard birdshot shell cutting ring around , through hull of shell encircles shell, cut traditionally located in middle of wad separating powder , shot. small amount of shell wall retained, amounting 1/4 of circumference of shotshell hull. when fired, end of hull separates base , travels through bore , down range. cut shells have advantage of expedience. can handmade on spot need arises while on hunt small game if larger game animal such deer or bear appears. in terms of safety, part of shell may remain behind in barrel, causing potential problems if not noticed , cleared before shot fired.