Shot Gun Slugs and Barrel Leading

[GregLaROCHE]

I was just wondering how things work, as far as barrel leading with shotguns and slugs. Especially, the now becoming very popular, rifled barrels for shotguns. The projectile has to be in contact with the bore, doesn’t it? Do these guns just get lead build up that needs to be cleaned out, or is there something I am unaware of that prevents it?

[toallmy]

I have tried a lot of different types of slugs over the years rifled & smooth bore , and have never had a barrel lead problem . Wad , sabot or other type fouling yes but never lead .

[dondiego]

A shotgun slug is typically encased in a wad which acts a sabot, a plastic coating.

[mr surveyor]

when the wad peels off the slug early in flight, does that have any detectable affect on the trajectory of the slug?



jd

[mehavey]

None as far as I've experienced.... whether smoothbore or rifled, commercial or handloaded (using Lyman 525 slug and a WAA12)

[Thumbcocker]

The old foster slugs would lead some in rifled barrels. Also the Brenneke 3" gold ones would lead some, at least in my rifled barrel. The Lyman 525 grIn using a wad cup for a sabot never did lead.

[GregLaROCHE]

A rifled slug has rifling bands on it. So how does it engage with the bore if there is a sabot type plastic between the slug and bore?

[mehavey]

slug has rifling bands on it. So how does it engage with the bore ....
It doesn't. The grooves are supposed to weather-vane in the slipstream.

[GregLaROCHE]

It doesn't. The grooves are supposed to weather-vane in the slipstream.

Ok. That makes sense. Thanks for explaining it.

[mehavey]

..."supposed".... :veryconfu [smilie=s: :kidding:

Note: grooves also provide displacement space for lead when squeezed through various chokes

[fastdadio]

Leading does happen in some cases. Minor streaking that is easily brushed out at most, but in my case, I bought a new Weatherby PA459 pump 20ga. smooth bore and a couple boxes of Win Super-X foster type rifled slugs. First outing I shot 10 slugs at 25 yds. to adjust the sights. Those slugs completely lead coated the entire bore from chamber to muzzle. What a mess. Never had that happen before.