RE: Recovered 12ga sabot
There are better sabot loads than that. That looks like a basic rifled slug but a bit smaller. Probably had a plastic sabot around it when fired, but in essence is no different than a rifle slug load as far as bullet construction goes.
I'm suprised it didn't pass through the animal though, where did you hit it? Did it come in contact with any bones, like the shoulder or something?
Paul