Smooth bore with sabot choke...what should I be shooting??

[suedehead]

Hey all,
So I have a Winchester 1300 with a 22" barrel. It's currently unfired, so I have zero experience with performance. I have a sabot choke that is rifled, but it's perhaps 2 inches long. What should I be shooting through it....sabots or foster slugs? My gut tells me the small amount of threading won't impart a great deal of spin on either....what is your experience?
Thanks!!

 

[Squadron303]

I think sabot slugs will keyhole and tumble, not enough spin/rifling. That's my two cents from experience.

 

[suedehead]

I think sabot slugs will keyhole and tumble, not enough spin/rifling. That's my two cents from experience.

I agree. But will the foster slug's performance be hindered by the rifling?

 

[Squadron303]

I don't think so... I think I've tried it but don't remember what happened. You might get a bit more leading, but probably not noticeable. Should be ok.

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

Try a few sabot slug loads from the Winchester at 50 yds. to see how well they group. The rifled choke tube is designed for these and will not work worth a dang with Foster type slugs.

 

[suedehead]

Try a few sabot slug loads from the Winchester at 50 yds. to see how well they group. The rifled choke tube is designed for these and will not work worth a dang with Foster type slugs.

So assuming I want to shoot foster slugs....yank the chokes altogether? Or pop in an improved?

 

[Brutus]

Try a few sabot slug loads from the Winchester at 50 yds. to see how well they group. The rifled choke tube is designed for these and will not work worth a dang with Foster type slugs.

Hhhmmm.........good luck getting that short rifled choke tube off of that smoothbore barrel after a barrage of foster or sabot slugs.

my 2 bits

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

So assuming I want to shoot foster slugs....yank the chokes altogether? Or pop in an improved?

Pop on an improved or cylinder bore tube for Foster type slugs.

 

[Winchested]

Try Challengers through the rifled choke, they are supposed to fly well through rifled chokes.

Otherwise I'd run an IC choke.

 

[peterf]

Foster slugs will work better with a more open choke. Go with an improved choke.

 

[dutchhunter]

try some challengers thru your rifled choke should be okay .Dutch

 

[farmer47]

i have shot sabot slugs through a rifled choke tube and they tended to tumble . i would try rifled slugs in your rifled choke tube just to see what results you get .shotgun barrels are notorious for shooting well with one brand and poor results from another . it is trial and error. always use a choke tube in your barrel to protect the barrel threads .

 

[Ganderite]

Sounds like you need two brands of sabot slugs, two boxes of Fosters, rifled tube and a IC tube, some targets and some range time.

Lucky you.

please report back.


All I can contribute is that sabots did not work in my smoothbore.

 

[suedehead]

Try Challengers through the rifled choke, they are supposed to fly well through rifled chokes.

Otherwise I'd run an IC choke.

I'll try the Challengers, and perhaps a box of sabots just for fun. I will report back when results are in!