OT - What type Shotgun Slugs for Calipornia

[JohndeFresno]

Here is certainly a topic that I know nothing about - shotgun slugs. Outside of firing them as a matter of yearly practice for work related duties, I have never used them for anything, including hunting. Now, I am considering hunting around a lake in California that only allows slugs due to the area's proximity to campers and whatnot.

I have heard about slugs filled with iron and brass, as well as all copper slugs. I see that the latter is sold by Cabela's; and no doubt other suppliers. I don't reload shotgun shells, so I will have to make a purchase. Does anybody here have experience with store-bought non-lead 12 gauge slugs for hunting? How do they compare with the heavier lead slugs? My target would be a deer or California wild pig; not anything as big as a bear.

Thank you in advance for any comments or advice.

[Old Ironsights]

I like the 3" Remington Copper Solids.

If you can find them, the old ones from the 90s are better than the current bullet design.

[Modoc ED]

Remington Copper Solid Slugs. I use 2¾" ones and the difference between them and the 3" ones isn't enough to justify the beating given out by the 3" ones.

There is no difference between the Remington Copper Solids from the 90s and the ones made today.

I think the bullet design that "Old Ironsights" is talking about is the newer Remington "Premier Accutip Bonded Sabot Slug" and the Remington "Premier Core-Lokt Ultra Bonded Sabot Slug" but both of those slugs are NOT lead free.

If you get the Remington Copper Solid Slugs, get one box to sight in and maybe four more for field use. They are pricy as heck.

Don't forget that all Sabot Slugs are meant to be shot from a fully rifled barrel or rifled choke.

Where are you thinking of hunting where only slugs or buckshot is allowed?

[Nath]

How is a slug of 400grn plus safer than a bullet?

Nath.

[Modoc ED]

How is a slug of 400grn plus safer than a bullet?

Nath.

Range!!

[Old Ironsights]

Remington Copper Solid Slugs. I use 2¾" ones and the difference between them and the 3" ones isn't enough to justify the beating given out by the 3" ones.

There is no difference between the Remington Copper Solids from the 90s and the ones made today.

I think the bullet design that "Old Ironsights" is talking about is the newer Remington "Premier Accutip Bonded Sabot Slug" and the Remington "Premier Core-Lokt Ultra Bonded Sabot Slug" but both of those slugs are NOT lead free.

If you get the Remington Copper Solid Slugs, get one box to sight in and maybe four more for field use. They are pricy as heck.

Don't forget that all Sabot Slugs are meant to be shot from a fully rifled barrel or rifled choke.

Where are you thinking of hunting where only slugs or buckshot is allowed?

Actually this design:


is significantly different than the Copper Solids I have at home that I kept from my "Alaska bear defense" days.

I'll post a pic later, but the old design was not a spitzerish hollowpoint but rather a Round nose with a single cyllindrical cavity running 1/3 the length of the slug and cross-bisected.

It was not designed to mushroom as the newer ones are. The intent was that the 4 petals would fracture off at pre-stress points and the solid sharp-edged cylindrical ballance would plow on.

[Nath]

Still go a bloody good way though yes?

Nath.

[Old Ironsights]

Far enough.

[Modoc ED]

Remington Copper Solid Slugs. I use 2¾" ones and the difference between them and the 3" ones isn't enough to justify the beating given out by the 3" ones.

There is no difference between the Remington Copper Solids from the 90s and the ones made today.

I think the bullet design that "Old Ironsights" is talking about is the newer Remington "Premier Accutip Bonded Sabot Slug" and the Remington "Premier Core-Lokt Ultra Bonded Sabot Slug" but both of those slugs are NOT lead free.

If you get the Remington Copper Solid Slugs, get one box to sight in and maybe four more for field use. They are pricy as heck.

Don't forget that all Sabot Slugs are meant to be shot from a fully rifled barrel or rifled choke.

Where are you thinking of hunting where only slugs or buckshot is allowed?

Actually this design:


is significantly different than the Copper Solids I have at home that I kept from my "Alaska bear defense" days.

I'll post a pic later, but the old design was not a spitzerish hollowpoint but rather a Round nose with a single cyllindrical cavity running 1/3 the length of the slug and cross-bisected.

It was not designed to mushroom as the newer ones are. The intent was that the 4 petals would fracture off at pre-stress points and the solid sharp-edged cylindrical ballance would plow on.

Dang!! I think you may be right. Seem to remember something about the "breaking pedals". Crappy old mind memory sometimes betrays me. Anyway, would appreciate a picture of the old style you are describing.

The advantage as far as CA goes is that they are non-toxic.

[Old Ironsights]

...Dang!! I think you may be right. Seem to remember something about the "breaking pedals". Crappy old mind memory sometimes betrays me. ...

If you look up the current model at the Cabelas or Midway sites and look at the user comments several folks reference the old style.

I'll get the pics out once I get home & down into the shop. FWIW the easies way to think about the old style is to imagine that rather than being a pressure-swaged design the old one was actully just turned on a lathe/screw machine and had its HP/nose petals cut in situ.

[Modoc ED]

I currently have 5-boxes of I guess the newer style and don't plan on buying any in the near future. They cost a bundle.

I have a 12ga Remington 870 Pump Shotgun with a 20" fully rifled barrel with iron sights that I use exclusively for slugs and it is sighted in for Remington Copper Slugs. Even so, it shoots plain old rifled slugs (foster type) just fine and the rifled barrel increases the accuracy of them.

[Old Ironsights]

Yeah, FWIW the current Rem Coppers are designed specifically for the Rem Slug Barrel & whatever twist it uses - so they are super accurate there.

When I have to use slugs in my Mossy, I generally use cheap lead Brennekes - even from the rifled tube. The old Rems were bought on the advice of some F&G guys in AK who said at the ranges I'd be using them cranking them out of an 18" smoothbore wouldn't matter.

[JohndeFresno]

Thanks, all. I'll probably just find the Remington "new" style, but now I know what I'm looking for. And I am forewarned that the tipped rounds in two or more brands have some lead in them.

I looked at some of the comments, and I see where one person claimed that the Federal Premium Barnes Expander Sabot slug can bring down game out to 150, even 200 yards - much further than I plan shoot with a non-scoped shotgun!

[Modoc ED]

Thanks, all. I'll probably just find the Remington "new" style, but now I know what I'm looking for. And I am forewarned that the tipped rounds in two or more brands have some lead in them.

I looked at some of the comments, and I see where one person claimed that the Federal Premium Barnes Expander Sabot slug can bring down game out to 150, even 200 yards - much further than I plan shoot with a non-scoped shotgun!

I hear those Barnes Expander Sabot slugs are doing a good job too. I lean toward the Remington Copper Solids slug but then I have 5-boxes. I think if I were getting some non-toxic slugs for the first time, I would get the ones that were the cheapest between the Federal and Remington slugs. Both are good companines and both put out first rate products.

I have a bunch of Winchester Super X and Remington Slugger Foster type Rifled Slugs and use them for plinking, shooting for fun. They are relatively cheap and shoot well out of most smooth-bore shotguns but shoot even better out of rifled barrels or rifled choke barrels.

[tman]

i like the brenneke slugs. they shoot well out of my 870rem 18" barrel, rifled choke tube and my 1887 repro lever shotgun. they are inexpensive and group wll to 50yrds. these slugs are hardcast,weighing about 600 grains. they were used in africa as stopping rounds on dangerous game, years before the modern slugs showed up.

[Old Ironsights]

... Anyway, would appreciate a picture of the old style you are describing...

Oh.. these weren't 3"... these were 2.75"... my bad.
From the top, the slug & sabot, and on the side.


Here you can see how each turned slug was actually machine-bored & saw-cut to make the HP...


Certainly not as aerodynamic or "cool", but IMO would likely be a better bear thumper.

[Modoc ED]

Thanks for the pictures. I see the difference now. Ever had something happen and you've said, " I knew that"!! Well, "I knew that". Just lost it in the ole bean somewhere.

Anyway, even the newer ones are good on game. I've shot a deer with the Remington Copper Solid (in GA, Thanksgiving of 1992) and it went down on the spot as have several hogs.

I like my shotgun rigged without a scope as some of the brush we go through to get at some of the hogs is awfully thick and the gun without the scope carries better.