The safe slug myth

[DeanC]

FindArticles > Guns Magazine > Nov, 2007

The "safe" slug myth: shotgun slugs are required in some areas, but why?
Holt Bodinson

The shotgun slug is less safe and more dangerous in the field than a 150 grain .30-06 bullet or a 50-caliber muzzleloading projectile. Does that statement sound improbable? Conventional wisdom would say so.

I've just finished digesting a 67-page technical report commissioned by the Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee that blows a hole in conventional wisdom and the increasing establishment of shotgun-slug-only zones by state's game agencies.

What prompted the study? A lawsuit involving a hunting accident in which a woman sitting in a car was struck by a stray rifle bullet coupled with increasing sportsmen's opposition to the expansion of shotgun slug and muzzleloading-only zones on the decision of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

When the professional staff of the Game Commission questioned other states with about their slug policies, they found no state had any definitive safety data to support the decision to restrict zones to shotgun slugs. Quoting from the report, "They found in the shotgun-only states, this appears to be an issue driven by emotion and politics rather than sound scientific data."

The Army Weighs In

The research firm, Mountaintop Technologies, conducted the resulting outside-contracted study. Its prime subcontractor was the US Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center at the Picatinny Arsenal.

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The Picatinny research team used the concept of Surface Danger Zones to compare the relative risk performance of three projectiles: a 150-grain SP fired from a .30-06 with a muzzle velocity of 2,910 fps, a 385-grain, 12-gauge, 50-caliber sabot load with a hollowpoint, semi-spitzer projectile at 1,900 fps and, for the muzzleloaders, a 348-grain, 50-caliber CVA Powerbelt projectile at 1,595 fps.

The March 2007 study looked at the maximum range a projectile would reach at various firing angles of elevation plus the distance the projectile would ricochet after impacting the ground. The data is intriguing.

At a maximum firing angle of elevation of 35-degrees, the rifle, shotgun and muzzleloader projectiles travel 13,926', 10,378', and 9,197' respectfully. Because of the angle of descent, there are no ricochets.

At a firing angle of 10-degrees, the rifle, shotgun and muzzleloader projectiles travel 10,004', 7,163' and 6,247' respectfully plus additional ricochet distances of 702', 949' and 913' respectfully.

Ah, but the big surprise comes at 0-degrees of elevation which would be more or less a typical shot at a deer on level terrain. Here the rifle, shotgun and muzzleloader projectiles travel 1,408', 840', and 686' respectfully plus ricochet distances of 3,427', 4,365', and 3,812' respectfully. Now the total distances traveled by the projectiles are 4,835' for the rifle, 5,205' for the shotgun and 4,498' for the muzzleloader.

"The smaller cross sectional area of the .30-caliber projectile and its shape contributes to a higher loss of energy on impact and, after ricochet, the 30-caliber projectile tends to tumble in flight with a high drag. Test data confirm that the 50-caliber projectile's larger cross sectional area and its shape contribute to less energy loss on shallow angles of impact and, after ricochet, the projectile exhibits less drag which results in a greater total distance traveled.

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"It is recommended the Pennsylvania Game Commission address the public perception a shotgun with modern high-velocity ammunition is less risky than centerfire rifles in all circumstances ... Frangible, or reduced ricochet, projectiles for hunting firearms should be investigated as an alternative to the mandatory use of shotguns or muzzleloaders."

Far Reaching

I think the effect of this study may be far reaching and it's why I have covered it in such detail. State game agencies tend to talk to one another and, indeed, tend to copy each other's regulations. It will be interesting to see what impact this study may have on present or future slug-only zones and on shotgun slug design itself.

The answer may be in making the shotgun slug more frangible. Slug design is increasingly taking on the structure and composition of a jacketed bullet. Looking at the design of the new xp3 Winchester, the Hornady SST, and Federal Fusion slugs, it's clear we are already there. They're built like jacketed bullets, and they upset and expand like jacketed bullets. They're the finest rifled shotgun slugs we've ever had plus muzzle velocities keep increasing with every passing year.

I'm sure the major ammunition companies are studying this groundbreaking report from Pennsylvania with keen interest. Knowing them as I do, they will have a solution to slug ricochet problem within months so stay tuned.

COPYRIGHT 2007 Publishers' Development Corporation
COPYRIGHT 2007 Gale Group

[westhope]

It would have been interesting to include the "old" style rifled shotgun slug in the test too.

[DeanC]

Yeah - that was my thought too.

[1911fan]

I am suspect about ricochets, as I find them to be almost nonexistent in field use.

[Dick Unger]

Most slug hunters never visit a rifle range to test their guns. The concept of backstop is never discussed with shotguns, only with rifles. I've always suspected that rifles v shotguns would not change the safety factor, except that people are more careful with rifles. Fortunately, the odds of a stray slug actually hitting anything are tiny, so it doesn't happen often.

The DNR wants more hunters. If people could use rifles in the south, it would be easier to start kids hunting. A 12 year old has a hard time with shotgun recoil.

And people who move here from rifle zones, often won't switch to shotguns; they just don't hunt. They enjoy rifles. While some shotguns are effective hunting guns, you just don't see gun hobbyists enjoying these guns at the range as they do with rifles.

Of course in "Safer than thou" Minnesota, we're more likely to have to dumb down our shotguns than switch to riles.

[Rem700]

I dont like the thump of slugs or the expense 5-$12
I usually shot 3 rds or so prior to the opener just to confirm POI, With a rifle I might sit down and shoot 50rds at a time or so thru out the year. I wish they would come up with a 180gr saboted round to reduce recoil but then I suppose the additional weight of the increased sabot size would offset the decreased bullet weight. Maybe a bolt action .410 with a saboted .260 120gr bullet at about 3000fps might just be the perfect setupfor 12 year olds I might just be inclined to do so some field study just to make sure it would work. I have also found that the 7mm-08 in a T/C Encore pistol has less recoil then a slug and has way more fun factor Only slightly wished I had gotten a .260 barrel instead now to justify the .260 barrel for the T/C barrels are cheap right its not like having to buy a whole nother pistol

[Rem700]

Guess 3000fps was being a little optimistic was just going off the top of my head. Book on the .260 remington is right around 2800fps so I will go with with that.

[Ironbear]

I recall reading an article years ago, where they were doing some casual field testing of slugs. They were shooting completely through a trailer house the long way, with slugs! I would think a rifle bullet may destabilize enough to not do that. Along the same lines, if a stay rifle bullet and a stray slug, traveled through brush or treetops, I would think the rilfe bullet would destabilize and the slug would go on busting brush a lot farther.

[selurcspi]

I recall reading an article years ago, where they were doing some casual field testing of slugs. They were shooting completely through a trailer house the long way, with slugs! I would think a rifle bullet may destabilize enough to not do that. Along the same lines, if a stay rifle bullet and a stray slug, traveled through brush or treetops, I would think the rilfe bullet would destabilize and the slug would go on busting brush a lot farther.

In an old Guns and Ammo Video, called "Deadly Weapons", they shot all kinds of bullets (.22 - .50Browning) through brush and glass etc. and everything deflected. It's worth checking out if you can find a copy.

[Ironbear]

In an old Guns and Ammo Video, called "Deadly Weapons", they shot all kinds of bullets (.22 - .50Browning) through brush and glass etc. and everything deflected. It's worth checking out if you can find a copy.

Well... technically even a largish asteroid would deflect! It's a question of how much deflection and energy retention.

[BRIT_in_the_weeds]

This MN season, IIRC, there was a hunter hit in the leg with a slug, fired by a hunter 500 yards away. It was in one of the papers.