28 ga slugs

[kody]

  Is it possible to alter a 20 ga slug for 28 ga. use, especially one of the types that are cast with  spiral grooves that are supposed to cause rotation?   Ken

[Rick Teal]

I have no specific knowledge, but my gut reaction is negative.

I believe a 28 gauge is close to the .410 in bore diameter, and the 20 gauge is something over .600 in size.  I would think that by the time you drew one down, the spiral grooves would be gone, and the projectile would likely be bent.

[jager]

   Considering the bore diameter of a 28ga is .550 vs .615 for a 20ga, I would suspect a slug could be cast that would fit this gage. I would think it would be far more effective on game than a .410 slug.
   The "spiral" grooves that are suppose to, theoritically, casuse rotation does not occur according to "slow mo" pictures recorded of shooting smooth bore shotguns. The "Foster" slug, named after its creator, derives its accuracy (or lack thereof) from its "forward weighed" design and not the "ribs" on the slug.

[Drilling Man]

  Actually, those ribs are there to give LESS bearing surface to the slug as it goes down the bore, and through the choke.  They never were put there to make the slug rotate.

  DM

[kody]

     "jager"  along that line you mentioned,if the movement of the finned slug through the air caused rotation in ,let's say a clockwise direction, wouldn't there have been a force from the powder blast inducing a rotaion in the opposite [ccw] direction because it was applied from the rear,on the opposite face of the fin,pretty much cancelling out each other!    Ken

[PHATINJUN]

Ken I ain't found nothin closest I can find to a bullet is the Burnside .551 and I have not found a mold for it yet but I think we could make it work for the 28 with soft lead...only real bullet pics I've seen have been civil war pick ups so I think it's either have a mold made or I may start playing with round balls after the shoulder heals. Kurt

[kody]

   I just talked with the ballistician at BPI and he claims that, for the money and trouble ,you would have to work very hard to achieve much improvement over the .505" roundball they offer in their 28 ga. loads. I mentioned that I sought a weight increase by the elongation of the projectile, perhaps balanced by a pellet shape to control weight and to provide front and rear saling points and allowing the slight chage in diameter of a modified choke. I mentioned that I had learned that my .50 cal. round ball gun was much less capable over a 100 yd. range than a .54 cal or a .58 cal both of which worked just as well in that 100 yd. range , but hit a lot harder! He countered that their 28 ga shell wasn't firing black powder and made up for the weight differential with velocity . I will take his word and try to squeeze the best performance I can out of their product and then think over the results!  Any body else want to dip their oar into the water?    Ken

[PHATINJUN]

I kind of thought that is what they would say otherwise they certainly would of made the 28 like the 20ga Dangerous Game slug . I think we could certainly come up with a very deadly load with thier round ball and carrier set up though. I think thats what I will work on until I decide to have a mold made lots farther down the road...we tried though. Kurt

[jager]

   Kody - you're probably right about the counter effects of the powder charge on slug rotation (huh?) . Rotation by a "shuttle cock" slug is not believed here unless it is shot through a "rifled" barrel.
   DM - I was not aware the original designer's intent of the fins, but certainly agree with your account as fact of the end result. I also believe Brenneke slugs, with its "deeper" fins, can be used in tighter choked shotguns than the "Foster" type (just as its manufacturer claims) for the very reason you cite.
   If a .505 diameter round ball will work for the 28ga, then just about any .50 caliber slug weighing about 3/4 of an oz. should work with the appropriate wad, where a folding crimp can be employed, and powder charge the same as the "pellet" weighted shell.  I would think a .50cal. Lee "Real" bullet or Hornady cast bullet might work if OAL permits a crimp. (I've shot a few of the Lee 7/8 oz slugs out of 12ga Improved Cylinder choke to expect at least 2 to 3" groups at 60 yards. I would expect as good a performance for the 28ga if the bore and bullet fit match.)