Brenneke slugs in a rifled barrel

Just buy the sabot slugs. I have shot a few rifled slugs out of a rifled barrel. Sometimes it's like it was meant to be. Then one flys off 2 feet away. A good copper sabot for any game or even a BRI if just shooting at deer will be accurate every time.
@CJW: AGREE, and don’t understand why anyone would want to shoot a NON sabot slug down a rifled barrel? (Unless they ‘lost’ all their ammo and a rifled slug was all they had left). If you wanted a very heavy slug - Remington use to make a “Buckhammer” sabot slug that weighed 1 1/4 oz in 12ga and 1550fps. They were about as aero dynamic as a BEER CAN but very accurate (in my Browning Abolt slug gun) and averaged 2” groups @ 100 yrds - matching any other sabot slug brands I tested. I liked them so much, purchased 20 boxes on line in both 20 & 12 ga after they were discontinued a few years ago.
 
My wife has used a Savage 220 bolt action 20 gauge since they were introduced. She killed an Iowa 150” ish deer at 167 yds and many here at home at extended shotgun range. All using the Accutip. Amazing shotgun accuracy
IMG_7002.jpeg
 
Ahh the good old days of using shotgun and slugs for deer. I can honestly say I didn't feel handi-capped with them. They killed deer handily. None of my slug guns have seen use since NY allowed rifles. Shotguns with slugs taught me breathing and trigger control with a very healthy dose of recoil tolerance. Back on topic don't use rifled slugs in rifled barrels. It works great until the lead fouling builds up and accuracy goes to hell. Cleaning that lead fouling is not for the faint of heart. Use Sabot slugs in rifled barrels period.
 
Cleaning that lead fouling is not for the faint of heart. Use Sabot slugs in rifled barrels period.
BTDT. I got to the point where I considered just scrapping the barrel and buying a new one. Had strips of lead coming out like ribbons.
 
BTDT. I got to the point where I considered just scrapping the barrel and buying a new one. Had strips of lead coming out like ribbons.
Same.

Wasn’t my barrel, but I was being paid to clean it. What a PITA.
 
Just to confuse things even further, I went to the Brenneke USA page in the hope that they are importing TOG and TAG bullets to the US now. No such luck, but noticed on the "bear protection" page, it specifically states: "For smooth and rifled barrels." The same info can be found in the hunting section on the "Green Lightning" slug, which you might think is lead free ("green"), but is not. Ditto the "K.O". Went to the FAQ page and found this:

Can Brenneke USA slugs be used in either Rifles barrel or smooth bore barrel?​

Yes, all slugs, with the exception of the Brenneke Gold Magnum/Magnum Crush and all brass Super Sabot can be used. Both of these slugs are designed to be used only in full-rifled barrels and must not be fired from any type of choked barrel.

Thought this was interesting too:

The purpose of the ribs on the outside diameter of the slug (with the exception of the 3- inch Gold Magnum/Magnum Crush and the all brass Super Sabot which are designed for rifle barrel shotguns only) allows them, unlike most competitors slugs, to be used with any choke. As the slug passes through the three constricted areas, inside of the barrel, the Forcing Cone, Inside Bore, and then the Choke, the excess lead is squeezed into the gaps between the ribs with no damage to the barrel. Somewhat better accuracy may be noted when using the more open choke - Improved Cylinder.

Seems pretty definitive.

 
Last edited:
I’d hate to guess how many hundreds of deer have been shot with H&R rifled barrels shooting Winchester Super X rifled slugs here in Illinois. Lots of people will not pay $15 a box for slugs and just buy the cheap foster type. Rifled barrels or not.
@Wyatt Smith
Are you saying people in your state are a bunch of tight wads.
I pay $35aud for a box of 25 S&B 3" magnum slugs. At that price I bought 8 boxes. If I had more money I would have got more. Very accurate in my old Mossberg. Problem is in that sub 7# gun you know you have pulled the trigger but shit they hit hard.
Bob
 
@Wyatt Smith
Are you saying people in your state are a bunch of tight wads.
I pay $35aud for a box of 25 S&B 3" magnum slugs. At that price I bought 8 boxes. If I had more money I would have got more. Very accurate in my old Mossberg. Problem is in that sub 7# gun you know you have pulled the trigger but shit they hit hard.
Bob
Some are for sure. However it’s $15 (or more) for 5 rounds.
 
Getting OT here but in all the rifled barreled shotguns I've owned, Lightfield were the most accurate. AFAIK, they have been discontinued.
 
My wife has used a Savage 220 bolt action 20 gauge since they were introduced. She killed an Iowa 150” ish deer at 167 yds and many here at home at extended shotgun range. All using the Accutip. Amazing shotgun accuracy View attachment 648816
My wife shoots the exact same setup and it's very accurate. The AccuTip slugs do work best in the Savage 220.
 
Some are for sure. However it’s $15 (or more) for 5 rounds.

The last time I purchased slugs, which was a while ago and due to purchase some more soon, I purchased a case of 10- 5 count boxes at ~$6.00USD per box on sale, right at $60.00/ case including free shipping and hazmat deal.
 
I just picked up eight boxes of Federal Premium Vital-Shok, 3" 275 grain Tipped Sabot Slug for $15/box...$3/shell. I thought that was a pretty good deal.
 
This is all very interesting, but my experiences have been different. Using a rifled slug in a rifled barrel was terrible for accuracy. I had much better luck with a sabot. The rifled slug did a little better in a smoothbore. I do not understand the reasoning but was told that the rifled slug in a rifled barrel cause inconsistent spin??
 
This is all very interesting. I originally asked the question because I recently acquired a used gun I was thinking of using as a slug gun too. However it is discontinued and the only barrels I can find for it are rifled.
I have shot rifled Brenneckes in the past and like them. I do know people who do not like sabots as they have had situations of very little or no blood trail with them. I will have to ponder my options.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
57,925
Messages
1,243,112
Members
102,333
Latest member
lennonchapmancom
 

 

 

Latest profile posts

Grz63 wrote on Werty's profile.
(cont'd)
Rockies museum,
CM Russel museum and lewis and Clark interpretative center
Horseback riding in Summer star ranch
Charlo bison range and Garnet ghost town
Flathead lake, road to the sun and hiking in Glacier NP
and back to SLC (via Ogden and Logan)
Grz63 wrote on Werty's profile.
Good Morning,
I plan to visit MT next Sept.
May I ask you to give me your comments; do I forget something ? are my choices worthy ? Thank you in advance
Philippe (France)

Start in Billings, Then visit little big horn battlefield,
MT grizzly encounter,
a hot springs (do you have good spots ?)
Looking to buy a 375 H&H or .416 Rem Mag if anyone has anything they want to let go of
Erling Søvik wrote on dankykang's profile.
Nice Z, 1975 ?
Tintin wrote on JNevada's profile.
Hi Jay,

Hope you're well.

I'm headed your way in January.

Attending SHOT Show has been a long time bucket list item for me.

Finally made it happen and I'm headed to Vegas.

I know you're some distance from Vegas - but would be keen to catch up if it works out.

Have a good one.

Mark
 
Top