21st century super slugs: deer hunting is changing

When "engineering samples" of a new slug load arrived, it was time to dust off the Savage slug gun and see just where shotshell technology is taking us. There were also several boxes of new slug loads I hadn't run over the chronograph or broken down or shot for accuracy.

The "engineering samples" were from Remington. Also on hand were the latest slug loads from Hornady and Federal. Three of the four loads featured colorful, plastic tipped slugs encased in bore-riding sabots. Looking down on the mouths of the shells, I couldn't help thinking how much they resembled the Titan missiles once surrounding Tucson before the days of mutual disarmament. These new slug designs are certainly attractive, in a wicked looking way.

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The shotshell is a complex combination of subsystems including the primer, powder, over powder wad, cushion wad, shot cup, sabot, shot or slug payload and crimp. Everything has to work just right under strict pressure limitations. That's why shotshell reloading manuals caution handloaders against changing any component of a specified load. Anyway, it's always interesting to tear down a new shell and see how the ballisticians put it together. It just takes a single-edge razor blade.

Big Green's Thumper

The "engineering sample" was Remington's new 12-gauge, 2-3/4" Premier Accutip Bonded Sabot Slug. The Accutip slug consists of a serrated, brass jacketed, bonded, lead-core bullet weighing 385 grains. It measures 1.145" long and .58" in diameter. Unlike its 50-caliber rivals, the Accutip is a full 58-caliber bullet. The green plastic tip is distinctive with six large ports. Called "Power Ports," the porting, according to Remington's claims, improves the accuracy of the slug.

The plastic over powder wad and sabot seem conventional, but the surprise in the load column was a 1/4" felt cushion wad seated between the over powder wad and the base of the sabot. Remington pegs the velocity of the new shell at 1,850 feet per second.

Next on the operating table was Homady's new 12-gauge, 2-3/4" SST Shotgun Slug. It features a 300-grain SST "Flex Tip," copper jacketed, lead-core bullet. The 50-caliber SST bullet measures .942" long. Again, the sabot and over powder wad seem conventional, but tucked down inside the base of the sabot was a rubber, cushion wad, 1/8" thick on which the SST bullet was seated. Homady claims a muzzle velocity of 2,000 fps.

Federal's new 12-gauge, 2-3/4" Premium Vital-Shok Barnes Expander Tip Sabot Slug is a mouthful, but it's a good looking shell. The 325-grain slug is based on Barnes 100-percent copper "Expander" line to which Federal has added a blue plastic tip. The "Expander" measures 1.185" long and is 50-caliber in diameter. The bore-riding plastic sabot seems conventional, but under it Federal has added a combination over powder and cushion wad. Federal lists the muzzle velocity as 1,900 fps.

Federal features another line of shotgun slugs under their Fusion label. Speer developed the "fusion" process in which a copper jacket is electronically plated onto a lead core then shaped to final bullet form under pressure. Speer's Gold Dot handgun bullet line is a good example of the process. In fact, the 12-gauge, 3" Fusion sabot shotgun slug looks just like a Gold Dot bullet. The 50-caliber bullet measures .708" in length and weighs 325 grains. The sabot seems conventional and similar to the preceding load, Federal has loaded a combination over powder and cushion wad. Velocity is listed at 1,900 fps.

Monster Tamer

First, testing full-power 12-gauge slugs off the bench borders on the masochistic. You have to block that kick and one of the best tools I've discovered is Shooters Ridge "Zero Kick Shooting Rest." It's a fully adjustable bench rest accepting barbell weights, shot bags, sand bags or whatnot to add mass to your gun. It's the perfect tool to tame raw recoil.

The second tool I use is a Savage Model 210F Slug Warrior. This highly accurate 12-gauge rifled slug gun sports a 3" chamber and readily accepts scope sights. I have it mounted with a Weaver 1.5-5X which is a perfect complement for a modern slug gun. Shooting 2-3/4" sabot rounds in a 3" chamber is not optimal, but who wants a 2-3/4"-chambered dedicated slug gun?

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Based on a combination of high velocity and excellent accuracy, Hornady lead the pack with 3-shot groups averaging 1-1/4" and a velocity of 1,873 fps measured 10' from the muzzle over a PACT Professional chronograph.

Not far behind was Federal's Barnes Expander Tipped load that also averaged 1-1/4" at a velocity of 1,739 fps. The advantage it has over the Hornady load is an additional 25 grains of bullet weight.

Remington's big 58-caliber, 385-grain missile impressed me with groups averaging 1-3/4" at 1,723 fps. There is something very comforting about big 58-caliber holes and ultra-heavy slugs.