DO SABOT SHOTGUN SLUGS SHOOT FARTHER?
As human and whitetail deer populations expand and compete for elbow room, more and more municipalities are mandating the use of shotguns and slugs for deer hunting rather than the far longer range of the modern rifle. As the slug hunter market grows, manufacturers are putting more and more technology into the development of loads. The latest slug designs, known as sabots, incorporate a plastic sleeve that envelopes the 50-caliber slug and grips the rifling in the shotgun bore, imparting a stabilizing spin on the slug. The saboted slugs are more stable, accurate and retain their energy farther than conventional slugs. The question is now circulating whether or not the saboted slugs shoot farther than conventional slugs — which would decrease their appeal to municipalities seeking to limit range. “The saboted slugs have a longer effective range,” says shooting expert Frank Ventimiglia, vice-president of Shooter’s Choice. “They are more accurate for a longer distance than conventional s
