20ga slug loads

[GunnyMack]

This started in my 'new pellets' post, decided to go to a fresh post.

So after trying the Lyman sabot slug last weekend and getting decent results at 50yds I set a target at 100 today. I shot the same load, 23.5 Longshot, gas seal, 4 card wads , the slug with pieces of hull cut to fit around the slug as a sabot. Yesterday I made a jig for cutting hulls to size for sabots.
Anyhow I loaded 6 of these using 2 methods. 3 were charged using the Lee scoops and digital scale for 23.5 grains. The second set I used my Hornady auto charger to throw the same charge. Sadly I don't know which is which as I neglected to make the hulls!
First group was right at 4" CtoC, nice round holes so they are good!
The third of the second group i decided to shoot a 12" gong- it swung hard!

I also tried a factory sabot that came with solid copper bullet. I traded out the coppers for a factory 2nd .50 jhp. At 50 these shot well and I'll try these again!

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[JimT]

That's Minute-of-Whitetail!

[Bill in Oregon]

Awesome results Will!

[GunnyMack]

Yes Jim they will definitely work. Id like a little smaller groups but I'm not complaining about this.

Thanks Bill, better results than I expected !
Last year I tried the Thug Slug and they were lackluster until I stumbled on coating them in Alox, then they shot better.

The commercial sabot really let me down last year , the original load had a plastic wad under the sabot and it was too violent shredding the sabot. Today I found 2 intact. No idea where the third went. Now that I'm putting card wads under them they have have given some hope. Need to load some more for distance tests.

[Bronco]

Have you tried a 20ga wad as a sabot?
After I get my 410 mold I will no doubt be following your journey but on a smaller scale. I will have to try cutting the hull method and the wad method to see what works best for the 410. It's a 1100 ,so smooth bore. Have you tried any loads in a smooth bore?
John

[EdinCT]

I had bought the Lyman 20 ga mold years ago for use in a 870 with a rifled choke I bought my youngest Son. I never have used it but keep thinking one of these days. You have relit the thought process. Looks really good compared to the groups of my youth!

[GunnyMack]

Bronco, yes I started with the slug in a AA wad. Accuracy was out the window from my rifled barrel. I was finding the wad petals ripped from the wad. The petals did not show rifling just smears and bubbles from friction. These Lyman slugs and data are more for smooth bore than rifled bores. I'm in a shotgun state , my Savage loves the 3" Remington acutio slugs- at more than 5 bucks a piece and availability I needed to start looking for an alternative.

EdinCT, I have tried some slugs through a rifled choke in the past, some were ok, others terrible. I found full bore foster style worked best. A rifled choke gets em spinning but I don't think it's enough spin upon exit to really stabilize a slug. Would be an interesting testing protocol though.