Shotgun Barrel Rifling - The Firearms Forum

Poppypaul · 09-10-2012, 08:03 AM

I have a 16 ga Browning shotgun that has a rifled barrel. Is there harm to the barrel in using any ammo other than a slug?

Alpo · 09-10-2012, 08:59 AM

There should be no harm to the barrel - the shot in most modern ammo comes in a plastic cup, so the lead shouldn't be hitting the rifling.

But because of the spin imparted to the shotcup by the rifling, the shotload is going to come out of the barrel like this

and you're not going to be able to hit anything.

If you want to use it as a "shotgun", and shoot "shotshells", you need to get a smoothbore barrel.

carver · 09-10-2012, 09:07 AM

Alpo, are you sure that twist is in the right direction?

howlnmad · 09-10-2012, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carver

Alpo, are you sure that twist is in the right direction?

For a southpaw scattergun it is.

Poppypaul · 09-10-2012, 11:12 AM

Alpo what is the difference between a rifled slug and a non-rifled slug? Since my barrel is rifled must I use a non-rifled slug? Or can I use either?

Alpo · 09-10-2012, 11:30 AM

You got, basically, two types of slugs. You got your Foster slug. This is what people are talking about when they say "rifled slug". But the curved lead wings do not give the slug any spin. Instead they center the slug in the barrel, and then when it gets to the choke, which is smaller than the rest of the barrel, they squish down, and still allow the slug to be centered in the barrel. They fly straight the same reason a badminton bird does. Heavy nose and hollow back-end. These were designed for smoothbore barrels, and although you can use them in a rifled one, they work better in a smoothbore.

Then you got your "sabot slug". This is an hour-glass shaped hunk of lead that sits inside a plastic collar. The plastic grips the rifling and gives the slug spin, and then when it leaves the barrel the collar drops off and leaves the lead flying down range. They were designed for rifled barrels, and while they can be shot in smoothbores, the accuracy is not there.

There are a couple of other designs, but those are the two main ones.

09-10-2012, 08:03 AM	#1
Poppypaul V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: CT Posts: 100	Shotgun Barrel Rifling I have a 16 ga Browning shotgun that has a rifled barrel. Is there harm to the barrel in using any ammo other than a slug? -->

09-10-2012, 08:59 AM	#2
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,662	Re: Shotgun Barrel Rifling There should be no harm to the barrel - the shot in most modern ammo comes in a plastic cup, so the lead shouldn't be hitting the rifling. But because of the spin imparted to the shotcup by the rifling, the shotload is going to come out of the barrel like this and you're not going to be able to hit anything. If you want to use it as a "shotgun", and shoot "shotshells", you need to get a smoothbore barrel. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

09-10-2012, 09:07 AM	#3
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,265	Re: Shotgun Barrel Rifling Alpo, are you sure that twist is in the right direction? __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

09-10-2012, 11:12 AM	#5
Poppypaul V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: CT Posts: 100	Re: Shotgun Barrel Rifling Alpo what is the difference between a rifled slug and a non-rifled slug? Since my barrel is rifled must I use a non-rifled slug? Or can I use either?

09-10-2012, 11:30 AM	#6
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,662	Re: Shotgun Barrel Rifling You got, basically, two types of slugs. You got your Foster slug. This is what people are talking about when they say "rifled slug". But the curved lead wings do not give the slug any spin. Instead they center the slug in the barrel, and then when it gets to the choke, which is smaller than the rest of the barrel, they squish down, and still allow the slug to be centered in the barrel. They fly straight the same reason a badminton bird does. Heavy nose and hollow back-end. These were designed for smoothbore barrels, and although you can use them in a rifled one, they work better in a smoothbore. Then you got your "sabot slug". This is an hour-glass shaped hunk of lead that sits inside a plastic collar. The plastic grips the rifling and gives the slug spin, and then when it leaves the barrel the collar drops off and leaves the lead flying down range. They were designed for rifled barrels, and while they can be shot in smoothbores, the accuracy is not there. There are a couple of other designs, but those are the two main ones. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.