Rifled Barrel Shotguns

[Elessar]

I was just reading about saboted shotgun slugs (particularly some new model at Remington.com that like ANNIHILATES ballistic gelatin).

All I can find is that many of these slugs require a shtogun with a rifled barrel but when I look at shotguns, I don't see anything that says they do or do not have rifled barrels. I've looked at Remington, Benelli and Mossberg and I can't find anything that indicates a rifled barrel or not.

You shotgun country boys , got any ideas?

[CX]

Yeah, when you look down the barrel (from the action end) into a light, you should be able to see rifling if there is any. Can't say as I ever heard of a rifled shotgun though.

[Elessar]

lol, I know what rifling IS, I'm asking though if anyone knows of like specific models that are rifled or if they're typically sport models or military/law enforcement models or what.

The wikipedia article on shotgun slugs talks about rifled shotgun barrels.

[blacknblue]

There are two kinds of slug barrels. Smooth bore and rifled. Smooth bore is used for the common el cheapo slugs that you buy at the department store. You can also use a smooth bore slug barrel for pellet shot.

A rifled barrel is used ONLY for sabot slug. A sabot slug is a carefully shaped, extremely expensive, and in my opinion overpriced shell that is shaped somewhat like the old minie ball of muzzle loading days. It supposedly flies farther and straighter than a common slug and gives better penetration.

(Yes. I know. Better penetration from a shotgun slug? That's like talking about better penetration from a sledgehammer.)

It is entirely up to you based on your preferred application. If you are looking for something to take into battle and price is no object, and you are never ever going to be caught in a situation where you will ever see any chance WHATSOEVER of using that gun to fire buckshot, then a rifled barrel would work fine. Otherwise, go with a smooth bore slug barrel and and shoot the standard slugs (pumpkin balls to us hicks).

The difference in range and penetration is simply not that great, according to the reports I have heard from men who have tried both. I have only used standard slugs, so this is second hand from me. But considering that the extreme effective range of a shotgun is about 100 meters, maybe 150 at the absolute most, you are not likely to see a huge difference.

Just don't shoot a slug through any barrel that wasn't designed for it. Shooting a slug through a barrel that was designed for pellets only will do nasty, nasty things. *shudder*. Especially with a tight choke.

[Elessar]

There are two kinds of slug barrels. Smooth bore and rifled. Smooth bore is used for the common el cheapo slugs that you buy at the department store. You can also use a smooth bore slug barrel for pellet shot.

A rifled barrel is used ONLY for sabot slug. A sabot slug is a carefully shaped, extremely expensive, and in my opinion overpriced shell that is shaped somewhat like the old minie ball of muzzle loading days. It supposedly flies farther and straighter than a common slug and gives better penetration.

(Yes. I know. Better penetration from a shotgun slug? That's like talking about better penetration from a sledgehammer.)

It is entirely up to you based on your preferred application. If you are looking for something to take into battle and price is no object, and you are never ever going to be caught in a situation where you will ever see any chance WHATSOEVER of using that gun to fire buckshot, then a rifled barrel would work fine. Otherwise, go with a smooth bore slug barrel and and shoot the standard slugs (pumpkin balls to us hicks).

The difference in range and penetration is simply not that great, according to the reports I have heard from men who have tried both. I have only used standard slugs, so this is second hand from me. But considering that the extreme effective range of a shotgun is about 100 meters, maybe 150 at the absolute most, you are not likely to see a huge difference.

Just don't shoot a slug through any barrel that wasn't designed for it. Shooting a slug through a barrel that was designed for pellets only will do nasty, nasty things. *shudder*. Especially with a tight choke.

Gotcha - extremely useful, thank you. Yeah, I just came across some reading regarding the difference between smoothbore barrels/cheap slugs and rifled barrels/saboted slugs. Have you seen stuff on this new one I was talkin about though, the thing on Remington's mainpage? I didn't catch the name. You should check out that flash vid. I think they claim a range of 200 yards.

Anyway, thanks for the info! I get now that if you're gonna fire saboted slugs you gotta do it from a rifled barrel or bad things happen. I can see now why only hardcore money-droppers buy rifled barrels, since you can't fire shot out of em.

[hth2k]

My understanding is that you may also consider a rifled choke for the regular smooth barrel shotgun.

Yes, you need an open chole, like cylinder or sleet for slugs. Screw in chokes are good but make sure they don't come loose.

Firing slugs from anything tighter than skeet or cylinder chkes is looking to damage the barrel.

Note firing slugs generates prodigeous recoil. Fire it standing only and let it move you hack. Do not ever brace yourself or fire from a bench. Ouch!!!

Most slugs I have seen or fired were 1 oz, or 1 1/8 oz.
used a sabot and were fired from non-rifled barrels.
I used a Bennelli M1 S90.

A friend carried a Remmington 870 in Viet Nam and used the beehive rounds, (Fleschettes). and #4 buck.

In a war zone they have other toys that render the use of slugs as mostly redundant. Check out the 12 ga grenade round.

If you need 200 yards, use a rifle or call in arty or air support.

HtH

[CX]

I just use regular pellet shot, personally. Don't know what you're planning on using it for, but using a shotgun as an actually scatter gun makes it that much easier to hit anything of the winged variety (and even the rodent variety as some gophers found out this summer). Plus a shotgun is pretty much meant as an up close and personal weapon anyway.

[Elessar]

I just use regular pellet shot, personally. Don't know what you're planning on using it for, but using a shotgun as an actually scatter gun makes it that much easier to hit anything of the winged variety (and even the rodent variety as some gophers found out this summer). Plus a shotgun is pretty much meant as an up close and personal weapon anyway.

Personal defense/home defense, I just thought this sounded a lot more lethal than a load of birdshot or buckshot... but it sounds like an expensive setup. Special barrel, etc. I would probably be satisfied by a reg. shotgun with maybe a smoothbore so that cheap slugs are at least an option.

Then again people say the reason a shotgun is a good personal defense/home defense option is that it spreads and you don't have to worry about overpenetration. Not the case w/ a single sabot round.

[blacknblue]

For personal/home defense you can't beat buckshot.

[blacknblue]

Note firing slugs generates prodigeous recoil. Fire it standing only and let it move you hack. Do not ever brace yourself or fire from a bench. Ouch!!!
HtH

And firing magnum anything makes it worse.

[CX]

Normal lead shot would be a lot better for home defense, because in a panic and in close quarters you're more likely to hit something. And in that case you'd want something that has a fairly short overall length. And frankly a slug would be overkill, not that lead shot would do very pretty things either.

[Elessar]

Normal lead shot would be a lot better for home defense, because in a panic and in close quarters you're more likely to hit something. And in that case you'd want something that has a fairly short overall length. And frankly a slug would be overkill, not that lead shot would do very pretty things either.

Roger. Sounds like I can drop the $300 on a basic shotgun and get the "BOOM SHAKALAKA" effect I'm lookin for.

[blacknblue]

FYI, A load of buckshot will disembowel a man at close quarters. A slug will cut him in half.