Author Topic: WOW!! Sabot Slugs are getting more expensive! (Read 3575 times)

teddy12b · « **on:** January 23, 2008, 02:14:39 AM »

The other day I walk past the shotgun slug aisle at a local Gander Mountain. My 210F likes the Federal 3" barnes expanders. Those used to cost $15 for a box of 5 slugs. Now they cost $20 a box of slugs. What on earth happened? Thank goodness I already have several boxes just sitting around at the house. I won't be buying anymore though. When those slugs run out, that gun may retire. I thought it was bad enough when it cost $3 every time I pulled the trigger, now it's $4 a trigger pull. That's not too far behind what it costs to shoot a 50 BMG.

carbineman · « **Reply #1 on:** January 23, 2008, 04:54:49 AM »

Are those 12 ga. or 20's? We special ordered some 20 ga. 3" Win. Partiton Gold from Scheels and they were $18. I saw the same in 2 3/4" on sale for $13 at Scheels. We shoot these in our 20 ga. Tracker II NEF's. For trigger time (practise) we shoot the same gun in 30-30 that we handload for.

teddy12b · « **Reply #2 on:** January 23, 2008, 05:41:45 AM »

Those slugs were for a 12 gauge. The thing that really got me was when I looked at the price of the rest of the slugs and they all had gone up as much. It just doesn't seem realistic to shoot with sabots anymore. Every year I shoot more slugs sighting and that's usually at least 10 rounds at different range just to make sure I remember where it hits at the different ranges.

My state recently allowed the use of rifles chambered in straight walled pistol cartridges. I bought a puma 44 last fall and I couldn't be happier that I did that!

1187VX2 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 23, 2008, 07:24:04 AM »

I really think the manufacturers are going to put the price of sabot slugs to a point where the masses just say 'No'. I know I already have.

vabowhntr · « **Reply #4 on:** January 23, 2008, 08:22:30 AM »

Yep, when the 13 boxes I have left of the lightfields are gone for my Moss 695, I will be shooting the White or Omega muzzleloaders for field hunting. For in the woods I have a short barrel on an 870 that will shoot sub 3" groups at 75 with a couple of the rifled slugs. That will do for 90% of the hunting I do.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #5 on:** January 23, 2008, 08:32:29 AM »

maybe we can roll our own ?

wink_man · « **Reply #6 on:** January 23, 2008, 09:09:57 AM »

Quote from: vabowhntr on January 23, 2008, 08:22:30 AM

Yep, when the 13 boxes I have left of the lightfields are gone for my Moss 695, I will be shooting the White or Omega muzzleloaders for field hunting. For in the woods I have a short barrel on an 870 that will shoot sub 3" groups at 75 with a couple of the rifled slugs. That will do for 90% of the hunting I do.

BINGO !!! You took the words right out of my mouth, cept for a different brand sluggun, muzzleloader and sabot slugs.

These sabot slug manufacturers make smoothbore slug barrels and foster slugs more attractive each day for anyone with even a modicum of sense, and they are also becoming the muzzleloader manufacturers best salesman, LMAO.

teddy12b · « **Reply #7 on:** January 23, 2008, 09:10:33 AM »

Years ago I tried looking into reloading your own sabots. It was rare and way beyond my skill level. It's probably still way beyond my skill level.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #8 on:** January 23, 2008, 09:19:20 AM »

I saw an ad for sabots and a devise that went in a drill to roll crimp , it might not be as hard as it once was !
i reload shot now can't be but so hard !

teddy12b · « **Reply #9 on:** January 23, 2008, 10:21:19 AM »

To this day I still don't think loading up a sabot slug would be that difficult, but there isn't much for equipment for it or supplies. In any event, I bought that lever 44mag to take over when I run out of slugs and until then those slugs won't see much daylight.

teddy12b · « **Reply #10 on:** January 24, 2008, 02:31:12 AM »

WOW! I found a deal last night, and I may have to eat everything I've said on here so far. Last night after I got a haircut I went into a Dicks Sporting Goods store to see what they had on the shelves. They have the exact same Federal 3" Barnes Expanders on the shelf for $13 a box. It's not exactly cheap, but it's a better price than I've seen anywhere else in this town. I didn't buy any, but I might this weekend.

PHATINJUN · « **Reply #11 on:** January 24, 2008, 06:28:16 AM »

BPI has every thing you need to roll your own and they are not hard to do at all. My fear is more will start to do it and drive up the prices for components. Kurt

teddy12b · « **Reply #12 on:** January 24, 2008, 06:54:38 AM »

Never heard of BPI.

bakabob · « **Reply #13 on:** January 25, 2008, 03:05:31 AM »

Loading slugs is easy and for sure saves money. I load my own using CCS sabots and hornady bullets. Super accurate slugs with all the knock down power that is needed. The cost is about $1.25 each depending on where you buy your slugs and powder. If you use new primed hulls you don't even need a press for loading them. Only a powder scale and a roll crimper.

handi243 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 25, 2008, 12:30:30 PM »

Ammo is up everywhere

MSP Ret · « **Reply #15 on:** January 26, 2008, 03:17:27 AM »

bakabob, where can I get info on doing that? I reload for handgun and rifle but have never reloaded for shotgun. I do have a Le Loader that can use to deprime and resize shells and several drills and a drill press. All I need are some instructions and a list of needed items. Do you know where I might find them?...Thanks....<><....

carbineman · « **Reply #16 on:** January 26, 2008, 04:11:16 AM »

MSP you might be able to get that info from Lee Precision out of Hartford Wi, or Ballistic Products out of Minnesota.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #17 on:** January 26, 2008, 08:39:07 AM »

Thanks carbineman, both you and PHATINJUN have been good enough to reply or contact me with info, I do appreciate your help....<><....

New Guy · « **Reply #18 on:** February 01, 2008, 03:46:20 PM »

Everything I have heard is that the Gander prices are out of control. Couple of nights ago I stopped at both Gander and Wall-mart, ten dollar difference on 500 rounds of .22lr. Gander didn't get my business.

michaeldeer · « **Reply #19 on:** February 02, 2008, 12:17:53 PM »

Yes.22 long rifles are too high at gander too! Try $34 a brick ! I drove to wal-mart picked up the same thing for $9.50 .Mills Fleet Farm,always like to give them a pat on the back, still has CCI's for around $9 if you catch a sale. I go to Gander ,take a gander at thier prices and honk on out of there,ha ha.

12ptdroptine · « **Reply #20 on:** February 08, 2008, 04:52:29 PM »

Quote from: teddy12b on January 24, 2008, 02:31:12 AM

WOW! I found a deal last night, and I may have to eat everything I've said on here so far. Last night after I got a haircut I went into a Dicks Sporting Goods store to see what they had on the shelves. They have the exact same Federal 3" Barnes Expanders on the shelf for $13 a box. It's not exactly cheap, but it's a better price than I've seen anywhere else in this town. I didn't buy any, but I might this weekend.

It's your fault!!! I bought 3 boxes today.just to see if my H&R Ultra 12ga likes them...It doesnt like SST ...and really not Lightfield's that well...However I am hearing the Slugger likes to be shot dirty...

PHATINJUN · « **Reply #21 on:** February 09, 2008, 05:05:50 AM »

I'm loading Dixie full bore slugs for 87 1/2 cents each and BPI Dangerous Game slugs for 76 cents ea both are 20ga . I have not tested them yet as I am waiting for the new ultragon USHL to get released. But I think we are gettin gouged by these slug companies. I think you can do the sabot's as cheap or cheaper and the only special tool I've needed so far is the roll crimper . I had bought some of the brass hulls but have switched to the Fiochi primed hulls at 14 cents ea it's just to easy. You put your powder in push the wad and slug down tight with your finger and roll crimp. I also bought the vice jaw block set from BPI and modified a small vice to use on drill press but you can use a hand drill just as easy. Kurt

encore58 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 09, 2008, 03:36:13 PM »

Quote from: wink_man on January 23, 2008, 09:09:57 AM

Quote from: vabowhntr on January 23, 2008, 08:22:30 AM
Yep, when the 13 boxes I have left of the lightfields are gone for my Moss 695, I will be shooting the White or Omega muzzleloaders for field hunting. For in the woods I have a short barrel on an 870 that will shoot sub 3" groups at 75 with a couple of the rifled slugs. That will do for 90% of the hunting I do.

BINGO !!! You took the words right out of my mouth, cept for a different brand sluggun, muzzleloader and sabot slugs.

These sabot slug manufacturers make smoothbore slug barrels and foster slugs more attractive each day for anyone with even a modicum of sense, and they are also becoming the muzzleloader manufacturers best salesman, LMAO.

Ditto! I group less than 2" at 100 yards with fiber optic sights on an 11-87 barrel shooting Actic 3" rifled slugs at $1.75 a box and I bought a case. I just put my rifled 870 barrel up for sale. I am done with rifled slug barrels.

neophyte · « **Reply #23 on:** March 01, 2008, 02:48:02 AM »

Well don't give up just yet. Over the past 10 years I have been hunting with the Lyman Sabot Slugs. These are handloads that have performed exceptionally well for me in my H&R and Remington rifled slug barrels. They use a shotgun wad as the sabot and they perform better than you could believe. Just to keep a sense of perspective. I have an 870 with a MOSSBERG cantilever barrel. Other than tightening the fit on the barrel to receiver with "make ready tape" (you can use a alum.can shim) cleaning up the crown and FIRELAPPING it is a standard job.The barrel IS removable. The groups that it shoots at 50 yds are just unbelievable with my 525 gr. lyman handloads. At a 100 yds it will hold 2 " which is more than adequate for my needs. I will try to see if I can find the pic of the 50 yd. target from in my files. I sent the original target to Gardner's Cache. I think he is a bit reluctant to use it in his ads because the group is so small. People may think it is his fabricated BS. It is NOT. It was shot by a reporter with handloads he made at the range 5 minutes earlier. These use a FOLD crimp ! Note: I consider these loads not long range loads but within 80 yds they are terminal on the target. The only other COMMERCIAL ones I have had good luck with are Hastings and Lightfield. Probably because of the 1-35 twist rate of the barrel.
http://gardnerscache.com/index.html

The strange thing is that a REMINGTON cantilever barrel 21" that I originally had outshot this one. In a weak moment I sold it in an effort to get more velocity from the MOSSBERG barrel length.
THAT WAS REALLY A DUMB MOVE ON MY PART !
(The guy I sold it to will not part with it for double what he paid for it )
FOUND IT !
<a href="http://s80.photobucket.com/albums/j165/neophyte_2006/?action=view&current=DSCF0243.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j165/neophyte_2006/DSCF0243.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket">[/url]

neophyte · « **Reply #24 on:** March 01, 2008, 03:04:29 AM »

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j165/neophyte_2006/DSCF0243.jpg

dstegjas · « **Reply #25 on:** March 07, 2008, 03:29:20 PM »

Ok guys, you convinced me to do this. I just finished ordering everything I need to load up 200, 12 ga. sabots. My question is this. Can you re-use the hulls with this type of roll crimp and if so how many times (approx). I know from my days of reloading shot shells that this really depended on the hulls you use. I always liked the Winchester AA and the blue magics. These days you have a lot more to choose from.

Thanks,
Jim

dstegjas · « **Reply #26 on:** March 27, 2008, 11:14:39 AM »

Well guys, I finally got all the fix'ins to reload my own deer slugs. I have to tell you it wasn't hard at all to load them up. The only part that took some getting use to was the roll crimp. I haven't broken down the cost yet but it appears to be at least half off the shelf price if not more.

I have about 25 of them ready to go. This weekend is suppose to be pretty nice out. I think I will head down to the range and see how they do. If anyone is interested I will give a range report when I get back from burning some powder.

Thanks for all the help everyone.

Jim

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #27 on:** March 28, 2008, 01:12:42 AM »

please share the report .
thank you !

dstegjas · « **Reply #28 on:** April 06, 2008, 02:22:48 PM »

Well, I finally got out to the range to shoot the sabots I loaded up. I have to say, I was disappointed in the results. However, that may not be the slug or the guns fault. I guess that leaved me.

Well, maybe but I think it might be a scope problem. I had originally thought that a red dot would be a good choice for a scope on my Winchester Super X3. After shooting it today, I am having second thoughts on that decision. It seems like everything out to 50 yards was good for the first time out. All shots were within a a 4"circle at 50 yards. However beyond the 50 yard mark things started to deteriorate quickly. This could be a problem with my eyes. I am over 50 so that is a possibility.

More likely though, I think it is a lack of magnification at the longer distance. So my decision now is to decide what type and brand of scope to put on it.

Any thoughts or input from anyone out there is certainly welcome.

Jim

neophyte · « **Reply #29 on:** June 19, 2008, 02:45:35 AM »

This is what my rifled 870 can do with some handloaded Lyman 525gr Sabot slugs at 50 yds.
Optic sights. Not too shabby eh ? It opens a bit at 100 yds. I buy my slugs rather than cast them myself.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j165/neophyte_2006/DSCF0243.jpg