Rifled Slug/Ball Deer Side by Side

[William Davis]

Friend of mine has a Paradox 12 G English SxS Hammer gun. Built about 1870. He shoots it well Round ball & Black powder. It much admired by the other competitors using more modern Big bores in the stopping rifle class when we were operating the running target outfit at Vintage cup. Target runs about 60 to 20 yards & reverse. Diagonal and charging 2 shots for score.

Recoil much less than the smokeless African Cartridge guns. Paid off in scores. 50 yards moving target probably what the gun was built for

William

[Keavin Nelson]

I have a friend who has a Manton paradox, which he shoots slugs in, does very well out to 50yds.

[jeffery c]

I wonder about fitting up a set of cut-down shotgun barrels to a Parker, add a rifle rear sight and see how it does with factory slugs at 50 yards. The accuracy might not be too bad, or adequate.
On a related note, does anyone know how did Parker and others choke buckshot guns to group best with buckshot? I suppose factory letters may have referenced that at times, if anyone bought Parkers for deer hunting, and I have to guess some did.

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by jefferyconnor

I wonder how much more accurate the rifling actually makes foster slugs or balls anyway? Sherman Bell's gun was a Greener I think with sleeved Hastings barrels. It's got to be expensive to have that done!

Rifling is a waste of time for Foster slugs in my opinion . For punkin balls it may or may not help I’ve never tried , although I’ve seen some Ross Seyfried articles where he paper patched roundballs and shot them in double rifles . Obviously at ignition a roundball will obturate some initially and give the rifling more surface to grip . My two rifled barrels have only tasted factory sabot slugs so all the rifling touched was plastic .

[6pt-Sika]

This was with a GH 12 gauge 28” Damascus gun shooting my home cast Lyman 525 sabot slug . The hollow cavity was filled with hot glue and it was nestled in a CB knock off of a AA12 wad . Plunked this deer at 26 yards boom flop .

[Nick de Guerre]

You really should try a box of Sluggers (or other) just to see how your guns like them. I've tried, just for kicks, in several Lefevers and what I found is some guns shoot them surprisingly accurately out to 50, while others arent consistent enough for me to want to attempt an ethical shot on a deer. The manufacturers have improved the plastic "fins" enough that they do achieve some degree of rifling, I believe.

I'll leave it at this. If you find they work well enough to put 3 shots into a dinner plate at 50, it probably isnt worth the effort and money seeking to build a true Sabot slug gun (or choke). At least not for any reason other than you're just wanting a new project.

After several rounds of these you'll have newfound respect for your old 30-30...which will feel like a .270 compared to slugs in your double!

NDG

[jeffery c]

Originally Posted by CraigThompson

This was with a GH 12 gauge 28” Damascus gun shooting my home cast Lyman 525 sabot slug . The hollow cavity was filled with hot glue and it was nestled in a CB knock off of a AA12 wad . Plunked this deer at 26 yards boom flop .

Way to go! That is so cool, I love the stock repair on your gun.

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by jefferyconnor

Way to go! That is so cool, I love the stock repair on your gun.

The gun was manufactured in 1892 I suspect the “fix” was made pre 1940 or so .

[Double Lab]

Craig;
How was your GH choked in .001's?

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Daryl Corona

Craig;
How was your GH choked in .001's?

To be honest I’ve not measured it . But I think those barrels have been honed and of course I suspect the chokes opened atleast a bit .