UThunter

especially because without expansion, they still are bigger in diamater than a lot of rifle calibers are when they do expand.

gorse

I agree that expansion of a 12 gauge slug is not nearly as important as with a rifle bullet. However, as to the concept that a slug is still traveling at "800 - 900" fps at 200 yards - this is very often not the case. Only the relatively high-velocity slugs, with muzzle velocities above about 1700 fps, still retain this much velocity at 200 yards. This, of course, rules out any slugs fired from a smooth-bore gun. Only some saboted slugs, fired from rifled barrels will exhibit this behavior. Expansion is not necessarily the issue, in this case - but penetration is. A slug, whether it expands or not, just doesn't carry enough energy to be sure of reliable penetration....if only traveling at 300-500 fps, as is the case with all but the high-velocity slugs. Certainly, under some conditions, a slug at only 300-500 fps could still kill cleanly, but it is much less likely (and therefore, risky) than at higher velocity. So, it is important to know the ballistics of a chosen slug load beforehand ....and to not exceed reasonable distance parameters. The assumption that, just because one can hit a game animal at some certain distance means that a clean kill will be achieved - is a dangerous one to make.