boo711 Posted February 14, 2023 Share Posted February 14, 2023 (edited) What is everyone shooting for 12 ga Sabots? Just bought a cantilevered rifled barrel for my Browning BPS. Going to need to start grabbing some slugs. Wanted to see what others were shooting. Thanks in advance!! Edited February 14, 2023 by boo711 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucksnbows Posted February 14, 2023 Share Posted February 14, 2023 One thing I learned about slug guns is that no two are alike. Even if you have two of the exact same models, one will shoot differently than the other. That is what has always been frustrating about sabot slugs in rifled barrel shotguns. That said, I always recommend trying 2-4 different brands to see what shoots best in your particular slugger. I used to shoot Remington Copper Solids until they changed that slug ever so slightly. Suddenly I struggled to hold a 2 and 1/2" group at 75 yards. That's not an acceptable group to me, so I wound up switching to Hornady SSTs out of my Remington Special Purpose 870 in 12 gauge. I purchased something like 12 boxes of the same lot of ammo as well, enough for a lifetime here in NJ since I maybe take 2 shots per year and one of those to confirm sight in hasn't changed. DoubleDose, grampy, Rob-c and 2 others 2 2 1 "A sinking fly is closer to Hell" - Anonymous https://www.troutscapes.com https://nativefishcoalition.org/national-board Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYRturkeycall Posted February 15, 2023 Share Posted February 15, 2023 Not sure of this counts toward your 12 gauge thread but I shoot Winchester XP copper sabot slugs for my 20 gauge Savage 220 and it's a decent tackdriver at 100 yd. I also have Hornady SSTs but I haven't switched over sighted in for them but I've heard good reviews. Remington accutips are supposed to be pretty good, but in my opinion not worth the price because I'm not doing competitive target shooting. I'm looking to hit a 3-in target on a deer. boo711 1 Palma non sine pulvere Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robhuntandfish Posted February 15, 2023 Share Posted February 15, 2023 My Remington 12g loved the Hornady SSTs. Sold the gun cause it was a heavy carry but it shot nice groups. Bucksnbows and boo711 1 1 "it's pointless for humans to paint scenes of nature when they can go outside and stand in it"- Ron Swanson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grampy Posted February 15, 2023 Share Posted February 15, 2023 I have an Ithaca Deerslayer 2 that I haven't shot since going to rifle here in 4H. But for years the Remington Copper Sabots were by far the best slugs I ever put through that barrel. And towards the end the Accu Tips shot nicely as well. Tried many other brands over the years. But that slug gun only liked the Remingtons. boo711 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob-c Posted February 16, 2023 Share Posted February 16, 2023 You will need to experiment with different slugs. My 870 12 gauge and my sons 870 20 hated the SST’s, but both shot the copper solids and the accu tips very well . boo711 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surmn8er Posted February 16, 2023 Share Posted February 16, 2023 My 870 won’t shoot the SST’s for crap. It loved the Federal Barnes Expanders but they’re not available anymore. Luckily I still have 5 or 6 boxes of them. boo711 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 (edited) I'm not too familiar with sabots, I still shoot rifled slugs mainly because of cost. $5 rather than $20+ for 5 rounds. I did however get a smoking deal on 10 boxes of Remington accutips a few years back. I set up an 870 cantilever for longer distance shooting with these sabots, but i have yet to shoot it. I've always heard good things about the Hornady SST, but i've heard mixed reviews on the Rem copper solids. Mostly negative. Edit: I should add, the bad reviews on copper solids i've heard always had to do with expansion, not accuracy. Edited February 22, 2023 by Hank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucksnbows Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 On 2/15/2023 at 9:40 PM, Surmn8er said: My 870 won’t shoot the SST’s for crap. It loved the Federal Barnes Expanders but they’re not available anymore. Luckily I still have 5 or 6 boxes of them. This is why I always say no two slug guns are alike, even between makes and models. My 870 loves 12 gauge SSTs. I have shot black bear and deer with it and it has killed to 128 yards on a bear. I couldn’t get decent groups from Remington Accutips "A sinking fly is closer to Hell" - Anonymous https://www.troutscapes.com https://nativefishcoalition.org/national-board Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolc123 Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 2-3/4” SST’s group as good or better than any other slugs that I have tried in my Marlin 512. Long range accuracy is my primary concern, when I hunt with that gun, and they have that covered. The two things that I don’t like about the SST sabots, compared to full-diameter foster slugs, are: 1) cost, 2) They don’t make a great blood trail, on broadside center-lung shots. I’m guessing that the SST bullet was mainly designed for the higher velocity of rifles, which a shotgun just can’t deliver. They’d surely expand more, if they were moving faster. The downside would be significantly more meat loss, if bones are struck. If I have a good rest, I’ll go for the shoulder blade every time, with the 12 ga SST. I didn’t have a good rest for last year’s shotgun season deer, so I went center-lung and dealt with the crappy blood trail. That one left less than 20 drops of blood total, on a 50 yard trail on the snow, and none for the last 15 yards. The exit hole, from the 60 yard center-lung broadside shot, was almost the same diameter as the entry hole. PraiseDiana 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boo711 Posted February 22, 2023 Author Share Posted February 22, 2023 Thanks for the info. I’ve always used Federal Power Shok, 1 oz slugs in my smoothbore. My Ithaca and Browning have never liked anything else. Both shot the Winchester Super X (I think that’s what they were) pretty decent but I won’t even load a Remington slugger in a gun. Grabbed a few boxes of Federal sabots this weekend. Need to get a scope so I can get that mounted after I decide if I’m going to leave the camo on the barrel or have it removed and reblued. Guess I’ll be starting a scope topic. Lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now