Which 20 ga Sabot ?

[fast*eddie]

I bought the Savage 220F bolt action shotgun . Tried out some Federal Power Shok Sabots at 50 yards and they were okay . Some folks recommend the Federal Vital Shok Trophy copper sabots . I want to shoot something that will give me accuracy at long range without destroying the meat . I think some of the sabots with the polymer tips do a lot of damage to the meat on a deer .
Looking for the ideal slug for the Savage .

[LanceR]

Eddie, I have had a 220 since they first came out and had two 210F 12 gauge Savages before that.  Having lived in a shotgun only area for many years I have found that slug guns are often  the most load sensitive guns going and as a general thing what your 220 likes has no relation to what mine may like.  If your Savage came with a hang tag listing recommended slugs that's where I'd start. 

The two Remington Accu-tip bonded slugs (PRA20 & PRA20M) work in a lot of 220s as did the now discontinued Federal/Barnes Expander load which has been replaced by the Federal Vital-Shok P209TC load.

The Federal/Barnes used to shoot very well out of my gun but my gunsmith's 220 would hold better than 4" with it and his shoots the PRA20M into itty bitty groups while mine does not like them.  It all goes to show that you'll have to experiment to see what shoots best out of your 220.

I picked up 3 boxes of the newer Federal P209TC to see how they shoot in my gun and if it ever gets above the low teens again in temperature I'll scoot to the range to find out.

Lance

[fast*eddie]

I'm not looking for something that just shoots well out of the Savage 220F . I want something that isn't going to destroy the meat when shooting deer .
I bought a couple boxes of Winchester Supreme Dual Bonded slugs as well as a couple boxes of the Hornaday SST slugs . Now I need the weather to cooperate so I can try them out . It is presently 15 degrees outside .

[blind ear]

You need to get lower velocity lighter slugs and see which one groups to suit you.  Accuracy at long range is working against you at not destroying meat at close range.  ear

[LanceR]

All slugs will destroy meat if we put them in meat.  If we shoot the deer through the lungs while avoiding the lion and shoulders we don't loose more than a few ounces.  Given the nature of sabot slug loads they all make pretty big wound channels and I can't think of one that's not designed for wide expansion.

Please let us know if you find one that doesn't though.  Personally, I want a big wound channel but others might not and the info could help someone else.

Good luck in the search.

Lance

[Deerhunter#1]

Lancer I shot those new federal loads out of my new 220 as the accutips really didnt shoot well. I tried both the 3 inch and 2 3/4 and 3 shot groups with both were 1 inch. the accutips were more like 3 inches. That said the rem copper solids 2 3/4 also shot just as good. The advertized velocity for the new federal 2 3/4 is 1700 w/275 grain copper bullet. The rem copper solid is 1550 w/260 grain. trying to decide which one to stick with as they both shoot great. On thing is that remington when the rebate kicks in about july allows $20($5 a box 4 max) dollars for 4 boxes" per person". Fedeeral allows $10 dollars" per household"($5 a box with 2 max). The remington rebate is way better than federals and allows more shooting. My local dicks usually has the copper solids for 11.99 on sale and 5 bucks off with rebate is pretty good as last year i bought 12 boxes and the family got thr rebates. At 6 dollars a box after rebate that is pretty good and allows more range time. My real concern and question to you guys is do you feel the 20 guage copper solids are good out to 150 yards on say deer and black bear? or would the federal with the extra 200 ft second and 15 grain extra weight be that much better. Really my shots are under that but would limit my shots to no further than 150 just dont know if there will be that big a difference to dictate spending the extra money for the federal loads.

[epanzella]

I'm not looking for something that just shoots well out of the Savage 220F . I want something that isn't going to destroy the meat when shooting deer .
I bought a couple boxes of Winchester Supreme Dual Bonded slugs as well as a couple boxes of the Hornaday SST slugs . Now I need the weather to cooperate so I can try them out . It is presently 15 degrees outside .

This past November I shot a buck at 80 yards with a Federal P209TC from my 220. Hit behind near shoulder and lodged in opposite shoulder. No exit. The meat was fine. Velocity is the destroyer of all things meat due to temporary wound cavity size. I wouldn't worry about any shotgun slug ruining a lot of meat due it it's modest velocity.  In my 220 that Federal load chronos 1800fps and groups an inch at 100 yds. Only shot it once at 200 but it went into 7-8 inches (3 shots) and dropped about 14 inches from the 100 yd (+3") zero.

[SHOOTALL]

Like mentioned some guns shoot some slugs better. Then there are some slugs that shoot well in most guns and great in a few. The savage bolt gun is a gun that makes it easy for a slug to shoot good. I have the 12 ga and like it alot. I tried a lot of slugs back before they got expensive and found Lightfield slugs to group the best. Also a 3 inch shell seems to group better in a 3 inch chamber . Check out the Tar Hunt site for shooting slug guns , worth the read.

[Deerhunter#1]

One thing of note the remington accutips leave a dirty barrel after three shots. I tried them this week with a clean barrel and they shot better still not as good as the federals but not that much. I guess at this ppint whatever i can get cheaper when season comes around is what i will get.

[PreciousVideoMemories]

Greetings, how about trying my little baby slug:

I personally have pushed them to 1800+ fps in my Savage F-220, they are very accurate and deadly!
Hoping it helps my Slug Shooter Family!


Best regards,
Precious Video Memories

[fast*eddie]

One thing of note the remington accutips leave a dirty barrel after three shots. I tried them this week with a clean barrel and they shot better still not as good as the federals but not that much. I guess at this ppint whatever i can get cheaper when season comes around is what i will get.

What is it about Remington ammo that is sooo dirty . I gave away several boxes of Remington 22 ammo a few years ago . It crapped up the barrel on my 22 pistol as well as my Marlin rifle . I thought just the 22 stuff was dirty . Now I am hearing that to 20 ga ammo is the same .