Sabot Slugs Again, but Different

[kBob]

I see numerous posts about what slug to use in a smooth bore and which to use in a rifled barrel or rifled choke.

I always see "Ugh, Ungowa, Sabot in rifled never smooth bore, Ungalla!"

Is it just me or has everyone on the planet forgotten the old BRI sabot slugs and the licensed copies made by big brands in the late 1970s, 80's and early 90's?

These were a wasp waisted .50 cal slug in a multi part plastic Sabot. The oblong hourglass shape also featured a hollow tail with some light weight filler. They were intended for smooth bore barrels, rifled shotgun barrels being rather odd and rare when the BRI design first came out.

I found them to be "minute of paper desert plate" at 100 yards from my Mossberg 500 GR when I first got it.

I fully under stand how the various over sized pistol bullets used in most sabot loads need rifling to stablize, but those long thin cut diamond on a pedistal shaped slugs flew pretty darned straight from the smooth bores they were designed for.

Does no one make this design of slug any more?

Also wouldn't the Lee slug for home casting and reloading that resembles a Diablo style air gun pellet ( only larger) and can be frired in a standard power piston type wad be technically a saboted slug? I understand those are intended for smoothbores. I have not heard any reviews on that slug and would like to. Anyone?

Be nice, I am still new around here.

Comments?

 

[Dave McCracken]

Welcome aboard, kBob. I recall those BRIs, in fact I shot some. Sccurate for the time. However.....

The alloy used had stuff in it other than lead and/or antimony. Tin was used to make a low grade pewter and the slugs had a tendency to fragment and break up close to the surface.

Some anecdotal info at the time indicated the wounding rate on whitetails was unacceptable. Also, the things were intended for LE use, to turn a cruiser shotgun into a crude carbine. All in all, they were lacking something, though the concept has merit.

I've seen a guy bench those Lee slugs in an old Martini Action Greener single and get good results. Dunno his load info. IIRC, he cut the hulls back to 2.5" to fit the chamber.

HTH....

 

[gns4me]

If you look into slug molds from Lyman I think that they are the type of slug that your describing. I have been molding and losding the Lee's and have not been to disappointed so far. It all is in what you are looking for in a slug. With the sabot slugs and rifled slug guns you may be able to triple the shotguns range in which to be able to take a deer sized animal. With an 18" HD type SG and my self loaded Lee slug's I can hold all shots in a torso at 50yrds. MOA it is not but then again its a smooth bore.And 1 oz. hard lead slug at 1500 fps is going to bee a pretty destructive force. All in what tyou want and what you expect to be able to achieve.

 

[Speer]

I always see "Ugh, Ungowa, Sabot in rifled never smooth bore, Ungalla!"

Ha!