On the weekend I tested four difference slugs to see the difference in penetration on a plywood target. I chose plywood because it was readily available, not too expensive and seemed tough enough to defeat the slugs. Secondarily I wanted to test sabot rounds to determine how they functioned in a smooth bore shotgun.
I constructed the Test Target using six ¾” plywood sheets duct taped together to form one piece. I then used one 1 ½” piece of wood as final backing.
I used my Fabarm Shotgun 12GA 14" Shotgun to fire the slugs at a range of about 15 yards. All shots fired, I had no misfires. I fired about 3 shots of each and averaged the findings below.
1. Remington Slugger Riffled Slug 1oZ 2 ¾”
The Remington on average penetrated about 2 or 3 sheets of plywood. Recoil felt light on these rounds.
2. Federal Premium 2 ¾” Truball Rifled Slug 1oZ
I got good penetration on this round and a little higher recoil. Average was four sheets of plywood.
3. Remington Premier CopperSolid Sabot 1oZ 3”
I noticed every round keyholed the target. I found one slug facing backwards in a sheet of plywood. Average penetration was still three boards. Interesting I have the slug sitting here beside me and it looks like it could be reloaded and fired again.
4. Winchester Supreme Platinum Tip Sabot Slug 2 ¾” .91 oZ (400 grains)
The winner of my tests. I noticed very minimal if any keyholing from this sabot round. Penetration was incredible. Thought all six plywood boards and then through 1 ½” wood backer board. Depending on the application I highly recommend this round.
Next time out I want to test some 3” rounds and will need to construct a thicker test target.
I constructed the Test Target using six ¾” plywood sheets duct taped together to form one piece. I then used one 1 ½” piece of wood as final backing.
I used my Fabarm Shotgun 12GA 14" Shotgun to fire the slugs at a range of about 15 yards. All shots fired, I had no misfires. I fired about 3 shots of each and averaged the findings below.
1. Remington Slugger Riffled Slug 1oZ 2 ¾”
The Remington on average penetrated about 2 or 3 sheets of plywood. Recoil felt light on these rounds.
2. Federal Premium 2 ¾” Truball Rifled Slug 1oZ
I got good penetration on this round and a little higher recoil. Average was four sheets of plywood.
3. Remington Premier CopperSolid Sabot 1oZ 3”
I noticed every round keyholed the target. I found one slug facing backwards in a sheet of plywood. Average penetration was still three boards. Interesting I have the slug sitting here beside me and it looks like it could be reloaded and fired again.
4. Winchester Supreme Platinum Tip Sabot Slug 2 ¾” .91 oZ (400 grains)
The winner of my tests. I noticed very minimal if any keyholing from this sabot round. Penetration was incredible. Thought all six plywood boards and then through 1 ½” wood backer board. Depending on the application I highly recommend this round.
Next time out I want to test some 3” rounds and will need to construct a thicker test target.
While it is interesting to see what a certain munition might do, shooting plywood has no relevance to actual effect on real subjects. Balistic compound which is basicaly duct putty, is not easily available to most amateur testers. A reliable alternative, is our beloved white and yellow pages. By soaking them through, one would get a good aproximate of pentration and deformation in a real situation. I have done some extensive tests with handgun, rifle and some shotgun munitions using soaked phone books. The test replicated quite closely what happenned in the field. 
