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Old 12-15-2005 | 10:41 AM
  #4  
Paul L Mohr
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,293
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From: Blissfield MI USA
Default RE: rifled choke tube with slug question

I did a search and only came up with one rifled choke that says sabots only. The others say you can use either or don't specify. I will give you my opinion on it though.

Many people get confused and think rifled barrels and chokes were designed to use modern sabot slugs. Unfortunately that is not the case. I am sure the ammo makers selling slugs for 13 bucks for 5 rounds would love you to think that though.

Rifled barrels and I believe chokes were around before the consideration of saboted slugs. It was simply a means of helping stabilize the current foster type slugs on the market. Many also believed the fins on the rifled slugs imparted a spin to the slug. This was found to not be the case either. They simply let the slug crush to accomidate different size chokes in different shotguns.

Later sabots came along, I bet you can thank inline ML's for that, and improved things a bit more as far as accuracy and range are concerned. There are some slug guns specifically designed for sabots. Most have a faster twist rate like 1 and 28 or so to help stabilize the faster smaller bullet. Most inline muzzleloaders use the same twist rate or a faster 1 and 24 in some cases. Where most rifled slug guns use a 1 and 30 something twist for a 12 gauge. This is probably why some (like me) have trouble shooting the really fast light bullets at longer ranges.

I honestly don't think a rifled choke tube is going to work that great with the modern style sabots. They may work with the slower heavier saboted slugs though. I mean you only have a few inches of rifling vrs a whole barrel. If a plastic sabot is moving fast enough the chances are it will impart no spin at all to it. It might slip right past the rifling. And if it did spin it might just spin the sabot and not the bullet.

I'm not saying it won't work, it really depends on how much accuracy you want at what distance. Just don't be shocked if the performance is not outstanding. Especially for what the saboted rounds cost. Sabots were really designed to work in a fully rifled barrel.

If you decide to go with a rifled choke, I suggest the Remington Buck Hammers. I bet they will perform pretty well, sort of the best of both worlds. Or one of the brenneke rounds.

And remember, these are just my opinions, nothing more.

Paul
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