New to shotgun sabot hunting

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So far in my life I have always rifle hunted for deer. Now that I am in southwestern ontairo there is no rifle season in my wmu. So I have recently picked up a rifled barrel for my 12ga mossberg. Just looking for advice and input on sabot rounds and uses? Thanks for the help
 
I hope this info helps. I use 2 3/4" sabot slugs rather than 3". I find I can keep them on target easier and they still have the take-down power. They're good out to about 100 yards. My preferred brand is Hornady.
 
I've mainly used Remington solid copper sabots in my 20 GA. and they've performed very well for me. I'm in the process of setting up some range time to used the Hornady SST which come hightly recommended to me. Buy one box of each kind that you can get your hands on, and try them for group.
 
So not to go off topic here but Im curious about something.

Your saying your wmu area is shotgun only, yet you can still replicate a rifle by using a rifled barrel and sabot for your shotgun?

Just asking as we have a few wmu out our way that are shotgun only but state multiple projectiles only which means we can't use slugs or rifled barrelled shotguns...ie buck shot only. :(
 
Shoot several kinds and when you find one that suits you buy several boxes.

3 in our hunting group used Hornady SST and had good luck with them over several years, this past year we bought some new SST slugs and they would not shoot under 8" at 100 yards in two Remingtons and one Mossburg, where they had previously shot in the 2" range. Not sure what changed but we all ended up switching to Winchester Supreme Partition slugs and shooting in the neighborhood of 2" groups.
I was told later that Hornady had increased the speed of their SST slugs and they were no longer compatible with the slower twist rifling of our slug barrels - not sure if this is true or not.

Dan

@Calum - that is correct many Southern Ontario WMUs are shotgun/muzzloader only and it gets better; in many of the same areas you can use rifles under.275 for hunting outside of deer season - say for coyotes or groundhogs. So I can use a 270 Weatherby to shoot squirrels one week but not for deer during hunting season and never carry a rifle in say .38/.357 for varmints.
 
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Calum said:
So not to go off topic here but Im curious about something.

Your saying your wmu area is shotgun only, yet you can still replicate a rifle by using a rifled barrel and sabot for your shotgun?

Just asking as we have a few wmu out our way that are shotgun only but state multiple projectiles only which means we can't use slugs or rifled barrelled shotguns...ie buck shot only. :(
Click to expand...

There is no rhyme or reason with the Ontario MNR. The only restrictions they put for "shotgun only" or "shotgun and muzzleloader only" is "No person shall use a shotgun smaller then 20 gauge when loaded with shot or any shotgun with with shot smaller then SG".

Then again, they put a caliber restriction in SW Ontario too. Nothing larger then .275 Caliber for small game. I can use my .243 or .270 Win (since they classify it as .270 not the nominal .277 bullet diameter) but I can't use a 30-30. So I can use a small fast bullet with a longer lethal range; but I can't use a fatter and slower bullet with a shorter range.

It has once been explained to me (by no one in official capacity, but rather local lore) that the shotgun law was passed, since it has a smaller range and is "safer" in heavily populated areas.


Back to the original question.

I use a Mossberg 930 with a rifled barrel.

I like the Winchester Supreme Elite Dual bond in 3"; for some reason the 2 3/4" don't group well.
But on the other hand, the Winchester Super-X 2 3/4" shoots well, but the 3" does not
Federal Barnes Expander works the same as the Dual Bond 3", but is pricier, so I don't use them (I'm cheap)

I've tried and really like the Hornady SST 2 3/4" (on paper only---they group really well and not to harsh on the shoulder); but I've also moved away from them. I used the SST in my .50cal muzzleloader and I've had mixed results. I find that the SST's in my ML have 3 results (all shots with 100gr Pyrodex pellets in the 100-125 yrd range)

1. They seem to fragment on the surface and don't penetrate very deep (on 3 deer)
2. They pass right through and don't really expand (once on a deer)
3. They expand and do like they are suppose to (once)

With these results, I'm kinda "once bitten twice shy"--I'm sure there is a difference between a slug gun vs a ML; but that is what I've justified in my own mind. The Hornady XTP bullet on the other hand, is the cat's meow. I love them. They fly straight and they haven't failed me the 5 times I've had the chance to use them.
 
Wow those Ontario regs are crazy lol.
Thanks for the info.

Anyway as for sabots... Anyone try those hourglass shaped BRI sabots by Winchester?

I have an older shotgunners digest that said they were quite impressive when they first came out.
 
I used 2 3/4" remington accutips in my slug gun for a few years with no problems but a buddy gave me a few boxes of federal barnes expanders to try this past year and I think they group better and dropped a doe right where she stood. Stick with the 2 3/4" in whatever you find groups well, they are cheaper and your not gaining anything but a sore shoulder to go up to 3" or 3 1/2" IMO.
 
Thanks for all the info and quick replies. I am using a mossberg 500, so 3 1/2 are out of the question. But I will keep the sore shoulder in mind. (also I am cheap so 2 3/4 should serve me well on both accounts) I have read much about the sst but you cant always believe the manufacture provided info, I believe I will buy a few boxes of everything as suggested. I have until next fall to figure this set up out so should be fun.
Has anyone used or heard use of the federal fusion sabot rounds? Seems like bass pro is the only place that carries them and there info is fairly vage.
As to the crazy wmu thing, yea it's kinda messed up. One mile road over is muzzleloader only. It's a learning curve. But hey not much we can do about.
Thanks again
 
Try challenger slugs. Cheaper and work in rifled or smooth bore. I run Winchester partition golds but the 3'inch pack a punch and are 15 a box for 5. I going to try the challenger next.
 
This year I shot Hornady SST 2 3/4" 2" group at 50 yards out of Mossberg 835. I also tried Challengers out of the same gun and they were not even on paper and 1 shot 18" higher than the other.
 
Winchested said:
This year I shot Hornady SST 2 3/4" 2" group at 50 yards out of Mossberg 835. I also tried Challengers out of the same gun and they were not even on paper and 1 shot 18" higher than the other.
Click to expand...

I had a Mossberg 835 about 10 years ago or so(picked up the rifle barrel for sabots). I got the best results with Winchester Partition Gold and Remington Copper Solids.
 
I did a limited test with sabot rounds about 10 years ago. I am sure the ammo is all different now. I put a scope on the gun for accurate aiming off a bench.

I found a very big difference in grouping results between brands.

So I suggest you buy a good sampling and test them all.

My general experience in hunting is that penetration trumps expansion, so personally I would avoid hollow points.
 
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