shooting patched slugs in smooth bore?

[jmars]

I have a Lee slug mold that casts 12 gauge 7/8 oz shotgun slugs that are about .680" diameter.

In case you're not familiar with these slugs, they are that small in diameter because they're supposed to be loaded in plastic wads.

Is there any reason that I can't load these in a muzzle loading shotgun using a thick
cloth patch (denim, maybe)?

I was about to order a Lee .690" round ball mold; these slugs may be a better option.

thanks for any comments!

 

[hawg]

They should do ok. Hollow based slugs act more like a round ball anyway. Try it and see.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Why not use them in a plastic wad like they're intended? I use plastic wads in my double barrel with shot.

 

[noelf2]

Should be ok out to 60 yards or so. Probably won't be very accurate, but kill zone on a deer or bear should be do-able. Give it a try, and let us know. As Jackrabbit said, you might do better with the plastic wads if they fit your 12 gauge bore. The plastic wads are meant to fit in a plastic hull though, and may not be a snug fit in your bore depending on the actual bore diameter.

 

[PapaG]

Been there, done it. Works way better than prb. If using a double, check second barrel before firing to be sure slug hasn't become unseated due to recoil. I used Lyman Foster type slugs I cast in a Navy Arms double. IIRC, about 3 1/2 drams ffg, two .070 card, 1 1/2" fiber, tightly patched slug. NO wad over the slug unless you want to risk a raised dent when the slug overruns the wad. Mine didn't come unseated but they were tight.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

If the ball weighs more than a 7/8 ounce I'd go with the ball. I forget what a .690" ball weighs, but I bet it's around one ounce or maybe a bit more. I think it would perform better on game than a hollow base shotgun slug. If your bore is true .72", you won't need a patch as thick as denim. The bore of my Bess is .75" and the .690 ball is a good fit with denim, but a .020" patch works too, especially with a "chewed" .690". So I'm guessing that in a .72" bore a thinner patch than .020" will work...depending on how tight you want to patch it.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Oh dang, now I see you were talking about patching the .680" slug. Duh. As the chamber of a shell-gun is bigger than the bore, a shot cup should be a good fit in the bore. But as I recall, the slugs are not loaded in shot cups. ?

Not sure how patching will/would work with a slug. Might tend to fold or crease, whereas normally a patch will wrap around the ball. Could get stuck, or not. ? In a fouled bore might be difficult to ram down. ? Personally I'd prefer the .690" ball over a .680" hollow base shotgun slug. I don't think one is more accurate over the other.